title: Are range-size distributions consistent with species-level heritability?
abstract: The concept of species-level heritability is widely contested. Because it is most likely to apply to emergent, species-level traits, one of the central discussions has focused on the potential heritability of geographic range size. However, a central argument against range-size heritability has been that it is not compatible with the observed shape of present-day species range-size distributions (SRDs), a claim that has never been tested. To assess this claim, we used forward simulation of range-size evolution in clades with varying degrees of range-size heritability, and compared the output of three different models to the range-size distribution of the South American avifauna. Although there were differences among the models, a moderate-to-high degree of range-size heritability consistently leads to SRDs that were similar to empirical data. These results suggest that range-size heritability can generate realistic SRDs, and may play an important role in shaping observed patterns of range sizes.
authors: Center of Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. mkborregaard@bio.ku.dk
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Borregaard
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Gotelli
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Rahbek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D008954:Models, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013020:South America; D013045:Species Specificity; D013269:Stochastic Processes