Habitat heterogeneity as a determinant of mammal species richness in high-energy regions

Kerr, Jeremy T.; Packer, Laurence

doi:10.1038/385252a0

Cited by 542 publications

(596 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The latter is sometimes considered to be independent of energy availability and to rival it as an explanatory mechanism for species richness patterns (e.g. Williams, 1964 ;Kerr & Packer, 1997 ;Hurlbert & Haskell, 2003). However, the niche position mechanism provides a potential causal link between increased productive energy availability and increased habitat heterogeneity (Fig.…”

Section: (4 ) Niche Positionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species–energy relationships at the macroecological scale: a review of the mechanisms

2005

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Correlations between the amount of energy received by an assemblage and the number of species that it contains are very general, and at the macro-scale such species-energy relationships typically follow a monotonically increasing curve. Whilst the ecological literature contains frequent reports of such relationships, debate on their causal mechanisms is limited and typically focuses on the role of energy availability in controlling the number of individuals in an assemblage. Assemblages from high-energy areas may contain more individuals enabling species to maintain larger, more viable populations, whose lower extinction risk elevates species richness. Other mechanisms have, however, also been suggested. Here we identify and clarify nine principal mechanisms that may generate positive species-energy relationships at the macro-scale. We critically assess their assumptions and applicability over a range of spatial scales, derive predictions for each and assess the evidence that supports or refutes them. Our synthesis demonstrates that all mechanisms share at least one of their predictions with an alternative mechanism. Some previous studies of species-energy relationships appear not to have recognised the extent of shared predictions, and this may detract from their contribution to the debate on causal mechanisms. The combination of predictions and assumptions made by each mechanism is, however, unique, suggesting that, in principle, conclusive tests are possible. Sufficient testing of all mechanisms has yet to be conducted, and no single mechanism currently has unequivocal support. Each may contribute to species-energy relationships in some circumstances, but some mechanisms are unlikely to act simultaneously. Moreover, a limited number appear particularly likely to contribute frequently to species-energy relationships at the macro-scale. The increased population size, niche position and diversification rate mechanisms are particularly noteworthy in this context.

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Section: (4 ) Niche Positionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species–energy relationships at the macroecological scale: a review of the mechanisms

2005

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“…3.-Correlación entre la riqueza total de aves forestales y la distancia a los Pirineos en los dos corredores analizados (Atlántico y Mediterráneo). paridad en la respuesta de la riqueza a una variable geográfica o ambiental determinada (Kerr & Packer, 1997). Y, finalmente, han de tenerse en cuenta las características biológicas de las especies analizadas ya que los resultados basados en el estudio de la distribución de un gremio o comunidad no tienen por qué ser extrapolables a otros grupos de especies (Kerr, 1997;Prendergast et al, 1993;Waide et al, 1999).…”

Section: Distribución De Las Aves Forestales Ibéricas 225unclassified

Efectos geográficos y ambientales sobre la distribución de las aves forestales ibéricas

Ramírez¹,

Tellerı́a²

2003

GRAELLSIA

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RESUMENEl efecto península es un patrón según el cual la riqueza de especies disminuye en función de la distancia al continente. Sin embargo, este patrón es frecuentemente enmascarado por la incidencia de variables ambientales. En este trabajo estudiamos el efecto relativo de la ubicación geográfica y de un conjunto de variables ambientales (temperatura, precipitación, cobertura forestal…) sobre la distribución de la riqueza de especies de aves forestales en España peninsular. Los resultados sugieren que tanto la posición geográfica como las condiciones ambientales afectan a la distribución de la riqueza de aves. También se estudia si estos resultados varían en función de las características particulares de las áreas estudiadas. Para esta segunda aproximación se definieron dos corredores de similar longitud ubicados entre las costas atlánticas y mediterráneas y las montañas interiores. El corredor Atlántico mostró una elevada homogeneidad ambiental en toda su extensión, mientras el corredor Mediterráneo presentó un marcado gradiente desde las áreas más húmedas del norte a las condiciones más secas del sur. Los resultados muestran que en el corredor Atlántico la distancia al continente, no las condiciones ambientales, fue la principal predictora de la riqueza de especies, mientras que en el corredor Mediterráneo las variables ambientales fueron mejores predictoras de la distribución de la riqueza. Estos resultados son utilizados para discutir algunos aspectos biogeográficos y metodológicos de la distribución de aves forestales en la Península Ibérica. Palabras clave: efecto península, aves forestales, riqueza de especies, Península Ibérica. ABSTRACT Geographic and environmental effects on the distribution of Iberian forest bird richnessThe peninsular effect is a biogeographical rule according to which species richness decreases as a function from the distance to the mainland base of peninsulas. However, this pattern is frequently obscured by the effect of environmental variables. In this paper we study the relative effect of the geographic location and some environmental variables on the distribution of the richness of Iberian forest birds. Results suggest that both the geographic location and some environmental variables (temperature, precipitation, forest coverage…) affect the species richness. We have also explored if these results can change according to the particular features of the study areas. To approach this, we defined two corridors of a similar length. The Atlantic corridor was quite homogeneous in the study environmental variables while the Mediterranean showed a sharp gradient from moist northern to dry south. Results showed that in the Atlantic corridor, distance to continent and not environmental variables were the main correlates to species richness while in the Mediterranean corridor environmental variables were the best correlates to richness distributions. These results are used to discuss some methodological and biogeographical aspects of the forest bird distribution across the Iberian Penins...

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“…Topographic relief seems to be a significant determinant of species richness at the regional scale in association with ambient energy (14,31). Nevertheless, the effects of topographic relief usually are deemed secondary to, and independent of, those of (3,5); and (D) topography ϫ latitude model (14 -16, 31).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiscale assessment of patterns of avian species richness

Rahbek

Graves²

2001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

757

808

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The search for a common cause of species richness gradients has spawned more than 100 explanatory hypotheses in just the past two decades. Despite recent conceptual advances, further refinement of the most plausible models has been stifled by the difficulty of compiling high-resolution databases at continental scales. We used a database of the geographic ranges of 2,869 species of birds breeding in South America (nearly a third of the world's living avian species) to explore the influence of climate, quadrat area, ecosystem diversity, and topography on species richness gradients at 10 spatial scales (quadrat area, Ϸ12,300 to Ϸ1,225,000 km 2 ). Topography, precipitation, topography ؋ latitude, ecosystem diversity, and cloud cover emerged as the most important predictors of regional variability of species richness in regression models incorporating 16 independent variables, although ranking of variables depended on spatial scale. Direct measures of ambient energy such as mean and maximum temperature were of ancillary importance. Species richness values for 1°؋ 1°latitude-longitude quadrats in the Andes (peaking at 845 species) were Ϸ30 -250% greater than those recorded at equivalent latitudes in the central Amazon basin. These findings reflect the extraordinary abundance of species associated with humid montane regions at equatorial latitudes and the importance of orography in avian speciation. In a broader context, our data reinforce the hypothesis that terrestrial species richness from the equator to the poles is ultimately governed by a synergism between climate and coarse-scale topographic heterogeneity.

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Habitat heterogeneity as a determinant of mammal species richness in high-energy regions

Cited by 542 publications

References 18 publications

Species–energy relationships at the macroecological scale: a review of the mechanisms

Species–energy relationships at the macroecological scale: a review of the mechanisms

Efectos geográficos y ambientales sobre la distribución de las aves forestales ibéricas

Multiscale assessment of patterns of avian species richness

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