A strong Madagascan rainforest MDE and no equatorward increase in species richness: re-analysis of 'The missing Madagascan mid-domain effect', by Kerr J.T., Perring M. & Currie D.J. (Ecology Letters 9:149-159, 2006).
By reanalysing inaccurately presented data of Kerr et al. (2006), we refute their claims that area-corrected species richness of endemic Madagascan birds and mammals increases toward the Equator and is best explained by environmental factors, and that the rainforest mid-domain effect (MDE) Lees et al. (1999) demonstrated is artefactual.
Lees
David C
DC
Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, South Kensington, UK. dclees@gmail.com
Colwell
Robert K
RK
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D008270:Madagascar; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*