Evolution and the latitudinal diversity gradient: speciation, extinction and biogeography.
A latitudinal gradient in biodiversity has existed since before the time of the dinosaurs, yet how and why this gradient arose remains unresolved. Here we review two major hypotheses for the origin of the latitudinal diversity gradient. The time and area hypothesis holds that tropical climates are older and historically larger, allowing more opportunity for diversification. This hypothesis is supported by observations that temperate taxa are often younger than, and nested within, tropical taxa, and that diversity is positively correlated with the age and area of geographical regions. The diversification rate hypothesis holds that tropical regions diversify faster due to higher rates of speciation (caused by increased opportunities for the evolution of reproductive isolation, or faster molecular evolution, or the increased importance of biotic interactions), or due to lower extinction rates. There is phylogenetic evidence for higher rates of diversification in tropical clades, and palaeontological data demonstrate higher rates of origination for tropical taxa, but mixed evidence for latitudinal differences in extinction rates. Studies of latitudinal variation in incipient speciation also suggest faster speciation in the tropics. Distinguishing the roles of history, speciation and extinction in the origin of the latitudinal gradient represents a major challenge to future research.
Mittelbach
Gary G
GG
W.K. Kellogg Biological Station and Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA. mittelbach@kbs.msu.edu
Schemske
Douglas W
DW
Cornell
Howard V
HV
Allen
Andrew P
AP
Brown
Jonathan M
JM
Bush
Mark B
MB
Harrison
Susan P
SP
Hurlbert
Allen H
AH
Knowlton
Nancy
N
Lessios
Harilaos A
HA
McCain
Christy M
CM
McCune
Amy R
AR
McDade
Lucinda A
LA
McPeek
Mark A
MA
Near
Thomas J
TJ
Price
Trevor D
TD
Ricklefs
Robert E
RE
Roy
Kaustuv
K
Sax
Dov F
DF
Schluter
Dolph
D
Sobel
James M
JM
Turelli
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D005843:Geography; D010163:Paleontology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants