ABSTRACT
A configuration (individual-based) model (MoD) was constructed to examine the origins and maintenance of species diversity through time. The model represents a species as a connected component in a graph of the potential mating relationships between organisms. Evolutionary biology is characterized by a relatively solid understanding of microevolutionary phenomena, but little understanding of macroevolutionary phenomena. The hypotheses for the diversification of life fall into two broad categories: abiotic and biotic explanations. Hypotheses for the diversification of species that depend on physical characteristics of the environment inevitably make reference to topology and/or climate. Biotic causes for diversification have been more popular in the literature as compared to abiotic causes. MoD exhibits a striking influence of geographical barriers on diversification. The results of the model must be predicated on acceptance of the simplifications in the abstractions and their implementations in the simulations. The predictions of the model should be tested with laboratory experiments, perhaps with Drosophila or Saccharomyces, and comparative phylogenetics.
