摘要: The fossil record offers unique insights into the environmental and geographic partitioning of biodiversity during global diversifications. We explored patterns Cambrian radiation, most dramatic radiation in Earth history. assessed how overall increase diversity was partitioned between within-community (alpha) between-community (beta) components beta among environments regions. Changes gamma were chiefly driven by changes diversity. combined trajectories alpha initial diversification suggest low competition high predation within communities. Beta has similar both regions, but turnover adjacent paleocontinents probably main driver diversification. Our study elucidates that niche contraction at local scales vicariance continental scales. latter supports previous arguments for importance plate tectonics namely breakup Pannotia.