Phylogenetic Paleobiology: Phenotypic Diversification and Evolutionary Radiation In
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Phylogenetic Paleobiology: Phenotypic Diversification and Evolutionary Radiation in Paleozoic Crinoids DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By David F. Wright Graduate Program in Geological Sciences The Ohio State University 2016 Dissertation Committee: William I. Ausich, Advisor Matthew R. Saltzman Lawrence A. Krissek John V. Freudenstein Copyrighted by David F. Wright 2016 Abstract Phylogenetic paleobiology is an interdisciplinary research program at the nexus of paleontology, systematics, and evolutionary biology. Specifically, phylogenetic paleobiology integrates the deep-time data, techniques, and geologic perspectives of paleontology with phylogeny-based statistical and computational approaches in macroevolutionary biology. Chapters contained within this dissertation revolve around two primary themes: (1) understanding patterns of biodiversity change over geologic time, and (2) assembling a clearer picture of the phylogeny, evolution, and geologic history of marine invertebrates, especially the Crinoidea (Echinodermata). Under the umbrella of phylogenetic paleobiology, the primary objective of this dissertation is to help bridge the disciplinary gap between specimen-based paleontology and statistical approaches in phylogenetic comparative methods. The chapters herein use advanced statistical phylogenetic methods, such as Bayesian “tip-dating” approaches, to infer phylogenetic trees of fossil species, quantify rates of phenotypic evolution, and document patterns of morphospace occupation among fossil members of the Crinoidea (Echinodermata). In addition to these broader studies, a major taxonomic revision of fossil and extant Crinoidea (Echinodermata) is proposed herein, as well as taxonomic description of a new genus of fossil crinoid from the Ordovician (Katian) of Ontario. ii This work is jointly (and lovingly) dedicated to (1) my parents, for being supportive of my decision to pursue academic interests; (2) to my wife Lena, for her encouragement, friendship, and kindness; and (3) to my dog Gluey, for showing me how beautiful the world can be. iii Acknowledgments This dissertation would not have been possible without the assistance and support of many individuals. I would like to thank to following people for their gracious assistance to museum collections: K. Hollis (United States Museum of Natural History), T. Ewin (Natural History Museum), P. Mayer (Field Museum of Natural History), and K. Riddigton (Lapworth Museum of Geology). J. Koniecki is thanked for collecting and generously donating specimens used in this dissertation. This dissertation was supported by numerous student research grants, including those from the Paleontological Society, Sigma Xi, the Palaeontological Association, the American Federation of Mineralogical and Geological Societies, the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences, Friends of Orton Hall, and a Presidential Fellowship from The Ohio State University. Additional support for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation’s Assembling the Echinoderm Tree of Life (DEB 10364116) to W.I. Ausich. I have been very fortunate in my academic career to have had wonderful and gracious academic mentors who have helped guide my path. Greg Farley is thanked for igniting my earliest interests in science (pretty late by most standards!), letting me borrow his personal copy of S.J. Gould’s The Flamingo’s Smile, and encouraging me to seek a university degree. Bruce Lieberman is thanked for warmly encouraging my interests in macroevolutionary biology and paleontology when I was an undergraduate at the iv University of Kansas. I thank Alycia Stigall for her delightful (and highly contagious) enthusiasm for specimen-based paleontology. I cannot overstate how much my academic trajectory benefited from her guidance and training when I was a M.Sc. student at Ohio University. Alycia has continued to be a mentor and I thank her for her support and friendship. I would especially like to thank my Ph.D. advisor, Bill Ausich, for his invaluable (and seemingly encyclopaedic) knowledge of fossil crinoids and willingness to have a scientific discussion with me at a moment’s notice. Bill has been an excellent Ph.D. advisor, mentor, and friend. Most of all, I thank Bill for instilling in me a passion for studying fossil crinoids and introducing me to the delectable wonder of Bell’s Two- Hearted Ale. Many ideas presented in this dissertation were greatly aided through informal conversations with friends and colleagues over the years, including Dave Bapst, Tom Baumiller, Lena Cole, Tom Kammer, David Polly, Dan Rabosky, Graham Slater, Jeff Thompson, and Peter Wagner. I would also like to thank those who provided specific feedback on earlier drafts of the chapters presented herein and/or peer-reviewed the published portions of this dissertation, including W.I. Ausich, S.R. Cole, A. Gavryushkina, T.W. Kammer, G.D. Sevastopulo, G.J. Slater, and two anonymous reviewers. Stig Bergström and Dale Gnidovic are thanked for contributing an atmosphere of fossil-based comraderie that makes me proud to have been a part of Ohio State paleontology. I am thankful to have participated in several workshops that greatly improved my programming skills in R and led to my better understanding of analytical approaches in v the fields of paleontology and phylogenetic biology. I would like to thank the organizers, instructors, and fellow participants of the 2013 Analytical Methods in Paleobiology course held in Sydney, Australia; the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center sponsored “Paleobiological and Phylogenetic Approaches to Macroevolution” course held in Durham, NC; the Computational Macroevolution workshop at the 2015 meeting of the Society of Systematic Biologists in Ann Arbor, MI; and the “Phylogeny developeR bootcamp” held at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s field station in Nantucket, MA. I thank Lena Cole for putting up with my perambulating (and at times incomprehensible) vocalizations on various topics related to this dissertation. No one has listened to me ramble, rant, and think out loud about inferring phylogenies, statistical methods, comparative biology, and macroevolution more than her. Lena also read and helped edit my manuscript drafts and generously provided assistance with specimen illustration and photography. I have greatly benefited from her company both in and out of the office and will always appreciate her accompanying me on my daily walks to get coffee. I especially thank Lena for being my best friend, office mate, colleague, and loving spouse. I’ve never been able to relate to the well-circulated blog posts and comics on social media that promulgate the stereotype of unhappy, disgruntled graduate students. My experience has been the exact opposite. These four years as a Ph.D. student at Ohio State have been the best of my life. Many thanks to all of those whom I have not mentioned yet were a part of this wonderful experience. Cheers. –Davey vi Vita 2010................................................................B.S. Geology, University of Kansas 2012................................................................M.S. Geological Sciences, Ohio University 2012 to 2016 .................................................Graduate Teaching Associate, School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University 2016 to present ..............................................Presidential Fellow, The Ohio State University Publications Wright, D.F., W.I. Ausich, S.R. Cole, M.E. Peter, and E.C. Rhenberg, in press, Phylogenetic taxonomy and classification of the Crinoidea (Echinodermata). Journal of Paleontology. Wright, D.F. in press, Bayesian estimation of fossil phylogenies and the evolution of early to middle Paleozoic crinoids (Echinodermata). Journal of Paleontology. Wright, D.F., 2015, Fossils, homology, and “Phylogenetic Paleo-ontogeny”: a reassessment of primary posterior plate homologies in fossil and living crinoids with insight from developmental biology. Paleobiology, 41:570-591. Ausich, W.I., T.W. Kammer, E.C. Rhenberg, and D.F. Wright, 2015, Early phylogeny of crinoids within the Pelmatozoan clade. Palaeontology, 58, 937-952. Wright, D.F. and W.I. Ausich, 2015, From the stem to the crown: phylogeny and diversification of pan-cladid crinoids. Pp. 199-202 in Progress in Echinoderm vii Palaeobiology. S. Zamora and I. Rábono (eds.), Cuadernos del museo Geominero, 19, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, 292 pp. Ausich, W.I., T.W. Kammer, D.F. Wright, S.R. Cole, M.E. Peter, and E.C. Rhenberg, 2015, Toward a phylogenetic classification of the Crinoidea (Echinodermata). Pp. 29-32 in Progress in Echinoderm Palaeobiology. S. Zamora and I. Rábono (eds.), Cuadernos del museo Geominero, 19, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, 292 pp. Wright, D.F. and A.L. Stigall, 2014, Species-level phylogenetic revision of the Late Ordovician orthid brachiopod genus Glyptorthis. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, DOI 10.1080/14772019.2013.839584 Wright, D.F. and A.L. Stigall, 2013, Phylogenetic revision of the Late Ordovician orthid brachiopod genera Plaesiomys and Hebertella from North America. Journal of Paleontology, 87: 1107-1128. Wright, D.F. and A.L. Stigall, 2013, Geological drivers of Late Ordovician faunal change in Laurentia: investigating links between tectonics, speciation, and biotic invasions. PLoS ONE, 8(7): e68353. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068353 Wright, D.F. and P.A. Selden,