Large-scale biogeographical patterns of species richness of trees

Currie, David J.; Paquin, Viviane

doi:10.1038/329326a0

Cited by 635 publications

(507 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…At a higher level of complexity, these approaches have also been used to investigate the distribution of plant (Currie and Paquin, 1987;Margules et al, 1987;Pausas, 1994;Heikkinen, 1996;Wohlgemuth, 1998) and animal diversity (Owen, 1989;Currie, 1991;Fraser, 1998).…”

Section: A Framework For Use Of Statistical Models In Ecological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized linear and generalized additive models in studies of species distributions: setting the scene

Guisan

Edwards

Hastie

2002

Ecological Modelling

1,799

1,186

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Section: A Framework For Use Of Statistical Models In Ecological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generalized linear and generalized additive models in studies of species distributions: setting the scene

Guisan

Edwards

Hastie

2002

Ecological Modelling

1,799

1,186

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“…Interest in species-energy relationships grew during the 1980s and 1990s (e.g. Brown, 1984 ;Currie & Paquin, 1987;Turner, Lennon & Lawrenson, 1988 ;Wilson & Keddy, 1988; reviewed by Gaston, 2000) and continues to the present; over one hundred papers addressed the topic in the first three years of the 21st century (WoS literature search). This literature strongly supports the hypothesis that energy correlates positively with species richness and this relationship is considered to be one of the few universal ecological laws (Huston, 1994;Rosenzweig, 1995), but a mechanistic understanding has proven elusive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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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“…Patterns in the distribution of species diversity are the result of ecological, physical and historical factors across time and space (Vuilleumier & Simberloff, 1980;Currie & Paquin, 1987;Kerr & Packer, 1997;Hill & Hill, 2001;Hurlbert & Haskell, 2003;Hawkins et al, 2005Hawkins et al, , 2006. Whereas biogeographical history influences the characteristics of species assemblages and therefore puts bounds on the composition of local communities (Ricklefs, 2004), local community composition is also strongly affected by local environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions (Ricklefs, 1987;Wiens & Donoghue, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental correlates of avian diversity in lowland Panama rain forests

Rompré

Robinson

Desrochers

et al. 2007

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim The composition of communities is known to be influenced by biogeographical history, but also by local environmental conditions. Yet few studies have evaluated the relative importance of the direct and indirect effects of multiple factors on species diversity in rich Neotropical forests. Our study aims to assess drivers of change in local bird species richness in lowland tropical rain forests.Location Thirty-two physiographic subregions along the corridor of the Panama Canal, Panama.Methods We mapped the distributions of all forest-dwelling bird species and quantified the environmental characteristics of all subregions, including mean annual rainfall, topographic complexity, elevational variability, forest age and forest area. Plant species richness, believed to be correlated with structural complexity, was estimated by interpolation through kriging for subregions where data were unavailable.Results The study region has a strong rainfall gradient across a short distance (65 km), which is also accompanied by steep gradients in plant and bird species diversity. Path analysis showed that precipitation strongly affected plant species diversity, which in turn affected avian diversity. Forest age and topography affected bird diversity independently of plant diversity. Forest area and its proportion occurring in the largest two fragments of each subregion (habitat configuration) were also positive correlates of bird species richness.Main conclusions Our results suggest that plant species richness, known to be influenced in part by biogeographical history and geology, also affects bird species assemblages locally. We provide support for the hypothesis that bird species richness increases with structural complexity of the habitat. Our analysis of the distributions of the region's most disturbance-sensitive bird species showed that subregions with more rainfall, more complex topography and older forests harboured not only richer communities but also more sensitive species; while subregions with the opposite characteristics usually lacked large fractions of the regional forest bird community and hosted only common, widely distributed species. Results also emphasize the importance of preserving forest diversity from habitat loss and fragmentation, and confirm that larger, continuous forest tracts are necessary to maintain the rich avian diversity in the region.

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Large-scale biogeographical patterns of species richness of trees

Cited by 635 publications

References 16 publications

Generalized linear and generalized additive models in studies of species distributions: setting the scene

Generalized linear and generalized additive models in studies of species distributions: setting the scene

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

Environmental correlates of avian diversity in lowland Panama rain forests

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