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5027847 
Journal Article 
Ecological and Evolutionary Drivers of Geographic Variation in Species Diversity 
Fine; Paul V. A. 
2015 
Yes 
Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics
ISSN: 1543-592X 
Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics 
46 
369-392 
WOS:000367292700017 
Recent studies have generated an explosion of phylogenetic and biogeographic data and have provided new tools to investigate the processes driving large-scale gradients in species diversity. Fossils and phylogenetic studies of plants and animals demonstrate that tropical regions are the source for almost all groups of organisms, and these groups are composed of a mixture of ancient and recently derived lineages. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the large extent of tropical environments during the past 10-50 million years, together with greater climatic stability, has promoted speciation and reduced extinction rates. Energy availability appears to only indirectly contribute to global patterns of species diversity, especially considering how sonic marine diversity gradients can be completely deeoupled from temperature and productivity gradients. Instead, climate stability and time integrated area together determine the baselines of both terrestrial and marine global diversity patterns. Biotic interactions likely augment diversification and coexistence in the tropics. 
biotic interactions; climate stability; evolutionary speed; latitudinal gradient; tine integrated area; tropical niche conservatism 
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