Dynamics of competing species in a model of adaptive radiation and macroevolution

We present a simple model of adaptive radiation in evolution based on species competition. Competition is found to promote species divergence and branching, and to dampen the net species production. In the model simulations, high taxonomic diversification and branching take place during the beginning of the radiation. The results show striking similarities with empirical data and highlight the mechanism of competition as an important driving factor for accelerated evolutionary transformation.