What does this research mean for the field?

The geographic distribution of modern and Eocene Diploptera cockroaches is constrained by the coldest month mean temperature (CMMT) rather than mean annual temperature, explaining the presence of mixed tropical and temperate fossil taxa in microthermal Eocene communities. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how mean annual temperature and coldest month mean temperature influenced the geographic distribution of Diploptera cockroaches during the Eocene greenhouse period compared to modern climates.

September 8, 2026Journal of PaleontologyOpen Access

Winters and biogeography: Diploptera cockroaches and biotic sorting in greenhouse and icehouse climates

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SAS. Bruce ArchibaldRoyal British Columbia Museum RMRolf W. MathewesSimon Fraser University LŠLucia ŠmídováCzech Academy of Sciences

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Paleontological analysis reveals winter cold limits Diploptera cockroach distributions across greenhouse and icehouse climates, indicating post-Eocene cooling drove tropical retreats.

Key Points

To evaluate how mean annual temperature and coldest month mean temperature influenced the geographic distribution of Diploptera cockroaches during the Eocene greenhouse period compared to modern climates.
Examined modern geographic ranges and climate regimes (mean annual temperature and coldest month mean temperature) of Diploptera across Sino-Japanese, Oriental, and Oceanian realms.
Analyzed Eocene fossil specimens across North America and Europe, classifying two previously published species, describing four new species, and examining eight incertae sedis specimens.
Identified that Eocene Diploptera inhabited regions spanning microthermal to megathermal annual temperatures, but all locations consistently shared mild winter temperatures with rare frost.
Determined that Diploptera distributions are constrained primarily by coldest month mean temperature rather than mean annual temperature, causing the genus to retreat exclusively to tropical latitudes as post-Eocene climates cooled.

Cite This Study

Archibald et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7ab58e84d0ff5b46935 https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2026.10239

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Paleontological analysis reveals winter cold limits Diploptera cockroach distributions across greenhouse and icehouse climates, indicating post-Eocene cooling drove tropical retreats.

Winters and biogeography: Diploptera cockroaches and biotic sorting in greenhouse and icehouse climates

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Winters and biogeography: Diploptera cockroaches and biotic sorting in greenhouse and icehouse climates

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider