title: Diversity in time and space: wanted dead and alive.
abstract: Current patterns of biological diversity are influenced by both historical and present-day factors, yet research in ecology and evolution is largely split between paleontological and neontological studies. Responding to recent calls for integration, we provide a conceptual framework that capitalizes on data and methods from both disciplines to investigate fundamental processes. We highlight the opportunities arising from a combined approach with four examples: (i) which mechanisms generate spatial and temporal variation in diversity; (ii) how traits evolve; (iii) what determines the temporal dynamics of geographical ranges and ecological niches; and (iv) how species-environment and biotic interactions shape community structure. Our framework provides conceptual guidelines for combining paleontological and neontological perspectives to unravel the fundamental processes shaping life on Earth.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) and Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany. susanne.fritz@senckenberg.de
authors.forename: Susanne A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnitzler
authors.forename: Jussi T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Eronen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Böhning-Gaese
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D004777:Environment; D005843:Geography; D008954:Models, Biological; D010163:Paleontology