Evolutionary trends in the Plio-Pleistocene ichthyofauna of the Mediterranean Basin: nature, timing and magnitude of the extinction events

Evolutionary trends related to the biogeographic structure of the association are identified. In particular the most meaningful are: (1) the progressive loss of Indo-Pacific taxa; (2) the relative increase of endemic taxa; (3) the increase of Atlantic taxa; (4) the decline of cosmopolitan taxa. Among the causes responsible for these events, the influence of the Plio-Pleistocene climatic oscillations is important, even if the substantial non-selectivity of the events suggests the involvement of other mechanisms such as change of the circulation models and mechanisms of biotic interchange.