Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds
<p>Explaining global variation in geographic and taxonomic diversity gradients represents a central focus of macroecology and macroevolution. Ultimately, these diversity gradients have been generated over deep timescales as a consequence of historical variation in rates of dispersal, diversifi...
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Pensoft Publishers
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers of Biogeography |
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| Online Access: | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/64k2t31w |
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| author | Jonathan Kennedy |
| author_facet | Jonathan Kennedy |
| author_sort | Jonathan Kennedy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Explaining global variation in geographic and taxonomic diversity gradients represents a central focus of macroecology and macroevolution. Ultimately, these diversity gradients have been generated over deep timescales as a consequence of historical variation in rates of dispersal, diversification, and the capacity of different geographic areas to preserve taxa through time. Here, I assess the relationships among these processes, to elucidate the causes of geographic and taxonomic variation in species richness among the most speciose order of birds: the Passeriformes (c. 6,500 species). To achieve this, I comparatively analyze phylogenetic, distributional and eco-morphological trait data collated at broad taxonomic and spatial scales. The results of my analyses strongly support the prevalence of historical dispersal events across large geographic scales, in addition to spatiotemporal variation in diversification rates. These findings reflect that some lineages and some geographic regions (notably tropical mountain regions and island archipelagoes) generate and maintain a much larger amount of species diversity than others. In addition, the evolution of particular life-history and eco-morphological traits, specifically pair breeding systems, and higher wing aspect-ratios, increased rates of range expansion and diversification. In summary, geographic variation in historical diversification combined with differences in the capacity of lineages to colonize new areas, determines spatial and taxonomic differences in passerine species richness.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-582d9ff390254c51a6f0ca247e81ccdb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1948-6596 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers of Biogeography |
| spelling | doaj-art-582d9ff390254c51a6f0ca247e81ccdb2025-08-20T02:55:13ZengPensoft PublishersFrontiers of Biogeography1948-65962017-04-019110.21425/F59132645ark:13030/qt64k2t31wGlobal dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birdsJonathan Kennedy0Univerisity of Copenhagen<p>Explaining global variation in geographic and taxonomic diversity gradients represents a central focus of macroecology and macroevolution. Ultimately, these diversity gradients have been generated over deep timescales as a consequence of historical variation in rates of dispersal, diversification, and the capacity of different geographic areas to preserve taxa through time. Here, I assess the relationships among these processes, to elucidate the causes of geographic and taxonomic variation in species richness among the most speciose order of birds: the Passeriformes (c. 6,500 species). To achieve this, I comparatively analyze phylogenetic, distributional and eco-morphological trait data collated at broad taxonomic and spatial scales. The results of my analyses strongly support the prevalence of historical dispersal events across large geographic scales, in addition to spatiotemporal variation in diversification rates. These findings reflect that some lineages and some geographic regions (notably tropical mountain regions and island archipelagoes) generate and maintain a much larger amount of species diversity than others. In addition, the evolution of particular life-history and eco-morphological traits, specifically pair breeding systems, and higher wing aspect-ratios, increased rates of range expansion and diversification. In summary, geographic variation in historical diversification combined with differences in the capacity of lineages to colonize new areas, determines spatial and taxonomic differences in passerine species richness.</p>http://escholarship.org/uc/item/64k2t31wdiversification rates, islands, macroevolution, mountains, speciation, species richness |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Kennedy Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds Frontiers of Biogeography diversification rates, islands, macroevolution, mountains, speciation, species richness |
| title | Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| title_full | Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| title_fullStr | Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| title_short | Global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| title_sort | global dynamics of dispersal and diversification among passerine birds |
| topic | diversification rates, islands, macroevolution, mountains, speciation, species richness |
| url | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/64k2t31w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathankennedy globaldynamicsofdispersalanddiversificationamongpasserinebirds |