For taxonomic levels higher than species, the abundance distributions of the number of subtaxa per taxon tend to approximate power laws but often show strong deviations from such laws. Previously, these deviations were attributed to finite-time effects in a continuous-time branching process at the generic level. Instead, we describe herein a simple discrete branching process that generates the ...

Citation: Lantz CA, Carpenter RC, Comeau S and Edmunds PJ (2017) Organisms Composing an Experimental Coral Reef Community from Mo’orea, French Polynesia, Exhibit Taxon-Specific Net Production: Net Calcification Ratios. Front. Mar. Sci. 4:298. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00298 Organisms Composing an Experimental Coral Reef Community from Mo’orea, French Polynesia, Exhibit Taxon-Specific Net Producti...

A redescription of Magneuptychianebulosa (Butler, 1867), a poorly known euptychiine butterfly, is given here, and accurate distributional data are provided for the first time. Taxonomic status of this taxon has been discussed by comparing its morphology against its possible congeners. In addition, lectotype designation for Magneuptychianebulosa is provided in order to objectively establish the ...

—Vertebrate tracks are a unique, abundant source of fossil data that supplements the skeletal record in many ways. However, the utility of ichnofossil data depends on how specifically the authors of tracks can be identified. Despite this fact, there is little consensus about how to identify potential trackmakers, and existing methods differ in their bases, assumptions, and corresponding implica...

Three-taxon statement analysis (3TA) and standard cladistic analysis (SCA) were evaluated relative to propositions of taxic homology. There are definite distinctions between complement relation homologs and paired homologs. The complement relation is discussed, relative to rooting, parsimony, and taxic propositions of homology. The complement relation, as implemented in SCA, makes sense only be...