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Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics

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Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics. / Keith, Sal; Kerswell, Ailsa S. P.; Connolly, Sean R.
In: Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol. 23, No. 5, 05.2014, p. 517-529.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Keith, S, Kerswell, ASP & Connolly, SR 2014, 'Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 517-529. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12132

APA

Keith, S., Kerswell, A. S. P., & Connolly, S. R. (2014). Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23(5), 517-529. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12132

Vancouver

Keith S, Kerswell ASP, Connolly SR. Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 2014 May;23(5):517-529. Epub 2013 Nov 4. doi: 10.1111/geb.12132

Author

Keith, Sal ; Kerswell, Ailsa S. P. ; Connolly, Sean R. / Global diversity of marine macroalgae : environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics. In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 2014 ; Vol. 23, No. 5. pp. 517-529.

Bibtex

@article{a733297b722f4564a3372352af1dcb41,
title = "Global diversity of marine macroalgae: environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics",
abstract = "AimMarine macroalgae provide an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses about latitudinal diversity gradients because macroalgal richness decreases towards the tropics, contrary to classic patterns, and because three evolutionarily distinct macroalgal clades (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae) have converged ecologically. Specifically, we determine the extent to which environmental conditions can predict genus richness in macroalgae. We also evaluate whether the magnitude or direction of the effect of environmental factors, or their ability to explain variation in macroalgal diversity, varies geographically.LocationGlobal oceans.MethodsWe formulated and fitted global spatial regression models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to determine the extent to which environmental conditions could predict genus richness in macroalgae. GWR allowed us to determine how the role of environmental conditions varied amongst geographical regions.ResultsThe global regression model showed that sea surface temperature and nutrients were important predictors of macroalgal genus richness at a global scale. However, GWR revealed that environmental factors explained less variability in richness in the tropics than elsewhere.Main conclusionsOur results show that whilst environmental conditions influence marine macroalgal diversity, the strength of this influence shows considerable geographical variation. In particular, environmental conditions explain more of the observed variation in diversity at high latitudes than at low latitudes. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that environmental tolerances influence species distributions more strongly at high latitudes, whereas other factors, such as biotic interactions, play a more prominent role in the tropics.",
keywords = "Biogeography, colonization, competition, geographically weighted regression, herbivory, macroecology, origination, seaweed, species interactions, time-for-speciation",
author = "Sal Keith and Kerswell, {Ailsa S. P.} and Connolly, {Sean R.}",
year = "2014",
month = may,
doi = "10.1111/geb.12132",
language = "English",
volume = "23",
pages = "517--529",
journal = "Global Ecology and Biogeography",
issn = "1466-822X",
publisher = "Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global diversity of marine macroalgae

T2 - environmental conditions explain less variation in the tropics

AU - Keith, Sal

AU - Kerswell, Ailsa S. P.

AU - Connolly, Sean R.

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - AimMarine macroalgae provide an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses about latitudinal diversity gradients because macroalgal richness decreases towards the tropics, contrary to classic patterns, and because three evolutionarily distinct macroalgal clades (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae) have converged ecologically. Specifically, we determine the extent to which environmental conditions can predict genus richness in macroalgae. We also evaluate whether the magnitude or direction of the effect of environmental factors, or their ability to explain variation in macroalgal diversity, varies geographically.LocationGlobal oceans.MethodsWe formulated and fitted global spatial regression models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to determine the extent to which environmental conditions could predict genus richness in macroalgae. GWR allowed us to determine how the role of environmental conditions varied amongst geographical regions.ResultsThe global regression model showed that sea surface temperature and nutrients were important predictors of macroalgal genus richness at a global scale. However, GWR revealed that environmental factors explained less variability in richness in the tropics than elsewhere.Main conclusionsOur results show that whilst environmental conditions influence marine macroalgal diversity, the strength of this influence shows considerable geographical variation. In particular, environmental conditions explain more of the observed variation in diversity at high latitudes than at low latitudes. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that environmental tolerances influence species distributions more strongly at high latitudes, whereas other factors, such as biotic interactions, play a more prominent role in the tropics.

AB - AimMarine macroalgae provide an excellent opportunity to test hypotheses about latitudinal diversity gradients because macroalgal richness decreases towards the tropics, contrary to classic patterns, and because three evolutionarily distinct macroalgal clades (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyceae) have converged ecologically. Specifically, we determine the extent to which environmental conditions can predict genus richness in macroalgae. We also evaluate whether the magnitude or direction of the effect of environmental factors, or their ability to explain variation in macroalgal diversity, varies geographically.LocationGlobal oceans.MethodsWe formulated and fitted global spatial regression models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to determine the extent to which environmental conditions could predict genus richness in macroalgae. GWR allowed us to determine how the role of environmental conditions varied amongst geographical regions.ResultsThe global regression model showed that sea surface temperature and nutrients were important predictors of macroalgal genus richness at a global scale. However, GWR revealed that environmental factors explained less variability in richness in the tropics than elsewhere.Main conclusionsOur results show that whilst environmental conditions influence marine macroalgal diversity, the strength of this influence shows considerable geographical variation. In particular, environmental conditions explain more of the observed variation in diversity at high latitudes than at low latitudes. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that environmental tolerances influence species distributions more strongly at high latitudes, whereas other factors, such as biotic interactions, play a more prominent role in the tropics.

KW - Biogeography

KW - colonization

KW - competition

KW - geographically weighted regression

KW - herbivory

KW - macroecology

KW - origination

KW - seaweed

KW - species interactions

KW - time-for-speciation

U2 - 10.1111/geb.12132

DO - 10.1111/geb.12132

M3 - Journal article

VL - 23

SP - 517

EP - 529

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

SN - 1466-822X

IS - 5

ER -