Phylogenetic structure of mammal assemblages at large geographical scales: linking phylogenetic community ecology with macroecology
Date
2011
Authors
Cardillo, Marcel
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Royal Society Publishing
Abstract
Phylogenetic community ecology seeks to explain the processes involved in the formation of species assemblages by analysing their phylogenetic structure, and to date has focused primarily on local-scale communities. Macroecology, on the other hand, is concerned with the structure of assemblages at large geographical scales, but has remained largely non-phylogenetic. Analysing the phylogenetic structure of large-scale assemblages provides a link between these two research programmes. In this paper, I ask whether we should expect large-scale assemblages to show significant phylogenetic structure, by outlining some of the ecological and macroevolutionary processes that may play a role in assemblage formation. As a case study, I then explore the phylogenetic structure of carnivore assemblages within the terrestrial ecoregions of Africa. Many assemblages at these scales are indeed phylogenetically non-random either clustered or overdispersed. One interpretation of the observed patterns of phylogenetic structure is that many clades underwent rapid biome-filling radiations, followed by diversification slowdown and competitive sorting as niche space became saturated.
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Keywords: assembly rule; biome; carnivore; community ecology; ecological modeling; ecoregion; geographical distribution; macroecology; mammal; niche; numerical model; phylogenetics; phylogeny; research program; speciation (biology); zoogeography; animal; article; b Assembly rules; Diversification; Extinction; Macroevolution; Null models; Speciation
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Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society: B- Biological Sciences
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Journal article
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2037-12-31
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