Document of bibliographic reference 348291

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Marine diversity patterns in Australia are filtered through biogeography

Abstract

Latitudinal diversity gradients are among the most striking patterns in nature. Despite a large body of work investigating both geographic and environmental drivers, biogeographical provinces have not been included in statistical models of diversity patterns. Instead, spatial studies tend to focus on species–area and local–regional relationships. Here, we investigate correlates of a latitudinal diversity pattern in Australian coastal molluscs. We use an online database of greater than 300 000 specimens and quantify diversity using four methods to account for sampling variation. Additionally, we present a biogeographic scheme using factor analysis that allows for both gradients and sharp boundaries between clusters. The factors are defined on the basis of species composition and are independent of diversity. Regardless of the measure used, diversity is not directly explained by combinations of abiotic variables. Instead, transitions between regions better explain the observed patterns. Biogeographic gradients can in turn be explained by environmental variables, suggesting that environmental controls on diversity may be indirect. Faunas within provinces are homogeneous regardless of environmental variability. Thus, transitions between provinces explain most of the variation in diversity because small-scale factors are dampened. This explanation contrasts with the species-energy hypothesis. Future work should more carefully consider biogeographic gradients when investigating diversity patterns.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000716371100008

Bibliographic citation

Kerr, M.R.; Alroy, J. (2021). Marine diversity patterns in Australia are filtered through biogeography. Proc. - Royal Soc., Biol. Sci. 288(1962): 20211534. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1534

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true