Summary: Mahler et al. (2013)

 In 1944, G. G. Simpson proposed the concept of a macroevolutionary adaptive landscape. This concept suggests that there is a multivariate phenotype surface upon which species evolve up local
adaptive peaks, leading to diversification. However, Mahler et al. (2013) note that current landscape models generally rarely study adaptive divergence in large radiations. They studied Caribbean Anolis lizards and found that diversification on Simpsonian landscapes results in convergence on four different islands of entire faunas. These parallel radiations over large time scales highlight the process of adaptive diversification. Furthermore, this is suggestive that predictable evolutionary patterns may arise from adaptive landscapes. In addition, Mahler et al. (2013) propose that these adaptive peaks are evolutionary stable over time and that available geographic area may influence lineage ability to discover adaptive peaks.