Global pattern of phylogenetic species composition of shark and its conservation priority.

ABSTRACT: The diversity of marine communities is in striking contrast with the diversity of terrestrial communities. In all oceans, species richness is low in tropical areas and high at latitudes between 20 and 40°. While species richness is a primary metric used in conservation and management strategies, it is important to take into account the complex phylogenetic patterns of species compositions within communities. We measured the phylogenetic skew and diversity of shark communities throughout the world. We found that shark communities in tropical seas were highly phylogenetically skewed, whereas temperate sea communities had phylogenetically diversified species compositions. Interestingly, although geographically distant from one another, tropical sea communities were all highly skewed toward re

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4667821 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature