This document discusses the concepts of deep time and the tree of life through examples of evolution across different species. It explores how evolution can occur at different rates, from rapid short-term changes to stasis over hundreds of millions of years. While evolution produces both diversity and similarity among species, the tree of life framework shows evolution is often predictable and leaves historical marks. Examples illustrate evolution's speed in response to environmental changes and among island populations.

1. Deep Time
and the
Tree of Life
Luke J. Harmon
University of Idaho
lukejharmon.github.io
@lukejharmon

4. Fan lizard, Fanisaurus pennatus

9. NASA

10. NASA
NGC 2818

11. www.onezoom.org

12. Learning about Deep Time
from the
Tree of Life

13. How are there so many species?
Why are they so different from one another?
And is any of this predictable?

14. How Fast is Evolution?

21. Traitvalue
Time

22. Traitvalue
Time
Δt
Δx
Δx
Δt
Rate =

23. Mammalia
(Mammals)
Squamata
(Lizards + snakes)
Sphenodontida(Tuatara)
Aves
(Birds)
Crocodylia
(Crocodilians)
Turtles

24. Large ground finch. Photo by Peter Wilton. From wikipedia.

25. Grant and Grant 2002, Science 296: 707

28. Evolution is faster...
... the closer you look

30. Days
GrowthRate

31. Wichman et al. 1999, Science 285: 422

32. Sculpture by Wichman; surface by A. Johnston, and photo by J. Palmersheim

37. Control
Treatment
Losos et al. 2006 Science 314: 1111

38. LinearSelectionGradient
Year of Study
Mammals
Siepielski et al. 2009, Ecol. Lett. 12: 1261.

39. LinearSelectionGradient
Year of Study
Reptiles and
Amphibians
Siepielski et al. 2009, Ecol. Lett. 12: 1261.

40. LinearSelectionGradient
Year of Study
Fish
Siepielski et al. 2009, Ecol. Lett. 12: 1261.

41. Rapid short term change

42. Many reversals

43. Mammalia
(Mammals)
Squamata
(Lizards + snakes)
Sphenodontida(Tuatara)
Aves
(Birds)
Crocodylia
(Crocodilians)
Turtles

45. Coelacanth, a fossil fish

50. How do species stay the “same”
for hundreds of millions of years?

51. How are there so many species?
Why are they so different from one another?
How are there so few species?
Why are they so similar to one another?

52. And is any of this predictable?

53. www.onezoom.org

54. Caribbean islands
Indian Ocean
islands
Google Earth
Anoles Day geckos

58. Science Daily
New York Times
Day gecko (Madagascar) Anole (Caribbean)

59. Hagey et al 2014
Toe-detachment angle

62. Evolution is fast

63. Evolution of antibiotic resistance
Emerging disease
Evolutionary changes caused by humans

64. History leaves a mark

65. Diverse relatives
Shared inherited body plans
Wide variation in diversity

66. www.onezoom.org

68. Thanks to NSF, U Idaho, and all collaborators
Sam Scheiner and Holly Wichman for inviting me
James Cameron for inspiration