What does the ‘Lilliput Effect’ mean?

The ‘Lilliput Effect’ represents a pronounced reduction in the size of the biota associated with the aftermath of mass extinctions. Although there is empirical evidence that suggests that it may be a common pattern during the recoveries from various mass extinction events, it remains to be analyzed in more detail to understand how pervasive the trend is from temporal, spatial, and taxonomic perspectives. The ‘Lilliput Effect’ could represent dynamics associated with or important diversions from a variety of biologic ‘rules’, such as Copeʹs and Bergmannʹs, governing size changes. Furthermore, there are a variety of possible patterns that could produce the ‘Lilliput Effect’ including: 1) the survival of small taxa; 2) the dwarfing of larger lineages; and 3) the evolutionary miniaturization from larger ancestral stocks. Finally, an interdisciplinary approach, involving stratigraphy, phylogenetics, and sclerochronology, is necessary to better understand the ecologic and evolutionary underpinnings of the ‘effect’. This approach needs to be more uniformly applied to different extinctions and taxonomic groups, allowing a more effective comparison and resulting in a more holistic perspective on the ‘Lilliput Effect’.