Abstract
The foundation of ecology is how organisms interact with their environment. Two main models have been proposed to explain the evolutionary consequences of these ecological interactions: the "Red Queen" model emphasises competition among species, while the "Court Jester" emphasises the impact of abrupt, seemingly-unpredictable environmental perturbations. Using the unparalleled fossil record of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera, I'll show how the impact of the Jester depends upon who is present in the Queen's court: the ecology of species can give clearer insights into speciation, extinction and diversification than is possible by treating all species as one and the same.
Thomas H.G. Ezard