Continuous versus pulsed origination and extinction and biozones

Abstract

The count of biozones as an approximate measure of the origination and extinction rates of index taxa (mostly species) is proposed. The mean number of extinctions of these taxa per m.y. is 1.136 (Palaeozoic mean 0.902, Mesozoic mean 1.680, Cenozoic mean 0.789). In contrast with the majority of taxa, the originations and extinctions of index taxa, as well as of other taxa belonging to biostratigraphically important systematic groups,seems to be continuous.