The mid-domain effect: geometric constraints on the geography of species richness
RK Colwell, DC Lees - Trends in ecology & evolution, 2000 - Elsevier
Geographic patterns of species richness are influenced by many factors, but the role of
shared physiographical and physiological boundaries in relation to range-size distributions
has been surprisingly neglected, in spite of the fact that such geometric constraints lead to
mid-domain richness peaks even without environmental gradients (the mid-domain effect).
Relying on null models, several recent studies have begun to quantify this problem using
simulated and empirical data. This approach promises to transform how we perceive …
shared physiographical and physiological boundaries in relation to range-size distributions
has been surprisingly neglected, in spite of the fact that such geometric constraints lead to
mid-domain richness peaks even without environmental gradients (the mid-domain effect).
Relying on null models, several recent studies have begun to quantify this problem using
simulated and empirical data. This approach promises to transform how we perceive …
