The Silurian–Devonian terrestrial revolution: Diversity patterns and sampling bias of the vascular plant macrofossil record

During the mid-Palaeozoic, vascular land plants (i.e., tracheophytes) underwent a great radiation that triggered development of biosphere – so-called Silurian–Devonian terrestrial revolution. However, little is known about how different plant groups impacted this process. A newly constructed dataset macrofossil genera used to characterize tempo and mode vegetation it spread out over subaerial habitats. Important fluctuations diversity evolutionary rates are linked dynamics particular tracheophyte groups. Despite general increase taxonomic richness through Devonian, there was clear stepwise pattern origination extinction events resulted in main floral transitions time, such as change forested landscape. To test if sampling bias may be affecting observed patterns, latter were compared with number localities proxy for effort. This suggested highly significant correlation between effort, but not homogeneous, suggesting at least some have potential biological explanation. The sampling-corrected standing suggests Pragian (Early Devonian) Givetian (Middle Devonian), which related early expansion clades initial diversification ecosystems, respectively. Further works should focused on elucidate impact rock record our understanding Devonian diversification.