It is often said that the timescales for evolution are too long to allow speciation to be studied experimentally. Consequently, researchers look to the fossil record to provide the evidence base. However, this also has its limitations. With fossils, molecular analyses are not possible because soft tissues decay rapidly. Furthermore, the drivers of speciation are often a matter of speculation. Nevertheless, by selecting a depositional environment that provides a sequence of stratigraphical horizons that allow analysis of environmental factors, some informative studies are possible. “Long-lived lakes are virtually predetermined for these studies, because of their duration and relative stability, being therefore often called ‘islands of evolution’. Many studies have proven this fact repeatedly, including the papers on the impressive morphological Read More ›