A Simple Model of Large Scale Organization in Evolution

A mathematical model of interacting species filling ecological niches left by the extinction of others is introduced. Species organize themselves into genera of all sizes. The size of a genus on average grows linearly with its age, confirming a general relation between Age and Area proposed by Willis. The ecology exhibits punctuated equilibrium. Analytic and numerical results show that the probability distribution of genera sizes, genera lifetimes, and extinction event sizes are the same power law P(x)~ 1/x², consistent with paleontological data.