LATITUDINAL GRADIENTS OF BIODIVERSITY: Pattern, Process, Scale, and Synthesis Export

@article{citeulike:3213635, abstract = {▪ Abstract  The latitudinal gradient of decreasing richness from tropical to extratropical areas is ecology's longest recognized pattern. Nonetheless, notable exceptions to the general pattern exist, and it is well recognized that patterns may be dependent on characteristics of spatial scale and taxonomic hierarchy. We conducted an extensive survey of the literature and provide a synthetic assessment of the degree to which variation in patterns (positive linear, negative linear, modal, or nonsignificant) is a consequence of characteristics of scale (extent or focus) or taxon. In addition, we considered latitudinal gradients with respect to generic and familial richness, as well as species evenness and diversity. We provide a classification of the over 30 hypotheses advanced to account for the latitudinal gradient, and we discuss seven hypotheses with most promise for advancing ecological, biogeographic, and evolutionary understanding. We conclude with a forward-looking synthesis and list of fertile areas for future research.}, author = {Willig, M. R. and Kaufman, D. M. and Stevens, R. D.}, citeulike-article-id = {3213635}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.012103.144032}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.012103.144032}, doi = {10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.012103.144032}, journal = {Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics}, keywords = {biodiversity, diversity, gradient, latitudinal\_gradients, pattern, process, richness, scale}, number = {1}, pages = {273--309}, posted-at = {2009-10-11 23:05:54}, priority = {3}, title = {LATITUDINAL GRADIENTS OF BIODIVERSITY: Pattern, Process, Scale, and Synthesis}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.012103.144032}, volume = {34}, year = {2003} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3213635 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3213635 N2 - ▪ Abstract  The latitudinal gradient of decreasing richness from tropical to extratropical areas is ecology's longest recognized pattern. Nonetheless, notable exceptions to the general pattern exist, and it is well recognized that patterns may be dependent on characteristics of spatial scale and taxonomic hierarchy. We conducted an extensive survey of the literature and provide a synthetic assessment of the degree to which variation in patterns (positive linear, negative linear, modal, or nonsignificant) is a consequence of characteristics of scale (extent or focus) or taxon. In addition, we considered latitudinal gradients with respect to generic and familial richness, as well as species evenness and diversity. We provide a classification of the over 30 hypotheses advanced to account for the latitudinal gradient, and we discuss seven hypotheses with most promise for advancing ecological, biogeographic, and evolutionary understanding. We conclude with a forward-looking synthesis and list of fertile areas for future research. IS - 1 JF - Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics EP - 309 TI - LATITUDINAL GRADIENTS OF BIODIVERSITY: Pattern, Process, Scale, and Synthesis VL - 34 SP - 273 KW - biodiversity KW - diversity KW - gradient KW - latitudinal_gradients KW - pattern KW - process KW - richness KW - scale AU - Willig, MR AU - Kaufman, DM AU - Stevens, RD PY - 2003/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.012103.144032 ER -