Is species richness mediated by functional and genetic divergence? A global analysis in birds.

ABSTRACT: Unravelling why species richness shows such dramatic spatial variation is an ongoing challenge. Common to many theories is that increasing species richness (e.g. with latitude) requires a compensatory trade-off on an axis of species' ecology. Spatial variation in species richness may also affect genetic diversity if large numbers of coexisting, related species result in smaller population sizes.Here, we test whether increasing species richness results in differential occupation of morphospace by the constituent species, or decreases species' genetic diversity. We test for two potential mechanisms of morphological accommodation: denser packing in ecomorphological space, and expansion of the space. We then test whether species differ in their nucleotide diversity depending on allopatry or sy

SUBMITTER: Crouch NMA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10086807 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature