Disparity in the timing of vertebrate diversification events between the northern and southern hemispheres.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Climatic oscillations throughout the Quaternary had profound effects on temperate biodiversity, but the extent of Quaternary climate change was more severe in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere. We sought to determine whether this geographic disparity differentially influenced the timing of intraspecific diversification events within ectothermic and endothermic vertebrate species. Using published phylogenetic hypotheses, we gathered data on the oldest intraspecific diversification event within mammal, bird, freshwater fish, amphibian, and reptile species from temperate-zone areas. We then tested whether the timing of diversification events differed between hemispheres.

Results

Our analyses provide strong evidence that vert

SUBMITTER: Tingley R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3540028 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature