Geographically divergent evolutionary and ecological legacies shape mammal biodiversity in the global tropics and subtropics.

ABSTRACT: Studies of the factors governing global patterns of biodiversity are key to predicting community responses to ongoing and future abiotic and biotic changes. Although most research has focused on present-day climate, a growing body of evidence indicates that modern ecological communities may be significantly shaped by paleoclimatic change and past anthropogenic factors. However, the generality of this pattern is unknown, as global analyses are lacking. Here we quantify the phylogenetic and functional trait structure of 515 tropical and subtropical large mammal communities and predict their structure from past and present climatic and anthropogenic factors. We find that the effects of Quaternary paleoclimatic change are strongest in the Afrotropics, with communities in the Indomalayan realm

SUBMITTER: Rowan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6983363 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature