Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
The latitudinal taxonomy gradient. |
| Authors: |
Freeman, Benjamin G.1,2 (AUTHOR) freeman@zoology.ubc.ca, Pennell, Matthew W.1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: |
Trends in Ecology & Evolution. Sep2021, Vol. 36 Issue 9, p778-786. 9p. |
| Subjects: |
Genetic variation, Population differentiation, Taxonomy, Genetic speciation |
| Abstract: |
Emerging large-scale datasets coupled with statistical advances have provided new insights into the processes that generate the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG). But many of these studies run into an old, if often underappreciated, problem: The interpretation of the data critically depends on the consistent application of criteria to define what constitutes a species. This is particularly pernicious for the LDG because good species have been easier to recognize in temperate than in tropical regions. We provide evidence that this latitudinal taxonomy gradient exists, discuss how this potentially impacts inferences about latitudinal variation in ecoevolutionary processes such as population differentiation and speciation, and provide a roadmap for how to mitigate taxonomic biases in the study of biodiversity patterns. Phylogenetic data has revealed, among other things, that recent speciation rates appear to be faster in the temperate regions than in the more biodiverse tropics, but that tropical species harbor more population substructure and within-species genetic diversity. These findings have upended conventional explanations for the existence of the latitudinal diversity gradient. These inferences are, however, critically dependent on species' being defined in a consistent way across latitudes. Evidence from case studies suggests that this assumption is not met. Instead, many good tropical species are not (yet) recognized, creating a taxonomic debt in the tropics. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate the latitudinal diversity gradient will require engaging seriously with taxonomic practice and developing strategies to mitigate the biases that it may create. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Engineering Source |
