Rates of Origination and Extinction of Genera and the General Scheme of the Diversification of Phanerozoic Marine Animals

The main characteristics of the origination and extinction of marine animal genera during the Phanerozoic are considered. The independence of the rates of origination and extinction of taxa is explained. The main tipping points of changes in characteristic rates are revealed and a piecewise-linear model of Phanerozoic diversification of marine animals is briefly described. The existence of mechanisms for self-regulation of the rates of origination and extinction is proved based on the evolutionary unity of biota.