The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot

Michael G Harvey; Gustavo A Bravo; Santiago Claramunt; Andres M Cuervo; Graham E Derryberry; Jaqueline Battilana; Glenn F Seeholzer; Jessica Shearer McKay; Brian C. O’Meara; Brant C Faircloth; Scott V Edwards; Jorge Perez-Eman; Robert G Moyle; Frederick H. Sheldon; Alexandre Aleixo; Brian T Smith; Terry Chesser; Luis F Silveira; Joel Cracraft; Robb T Brumfield; Elizabeth P Derryberry

doi:10.1126/science.aaz6970

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The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot

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Abstract

The role of the environment in the origin of new species has long been debated. Harvey et al. examined the evolutionary history and species diversity of suboscine birds in the tropics (see the Perspective by Morlon). Contrary to expectations that the tropics have higher rates of speciation, the authors observed that higher and more constant speciation rates occur in harsh environments relative to the tropics. Thus, for this group of birds, diversification in temperate to Arctic regions followed by the movement and retention of species in the tropics results in their higher local levels of species diversity.

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Michael G Harvey, Gustavo A Bravo, Santiago Claramunt, Andres M Cuervo, Graham E Derryberry, Jaqueline Battilana, Glenn F Seeholzer, Jessica Shearer McKay, Brian C. O’Meara, Brant C Faircloth, Scott V Edwards, Jorge Perez-Eman, Robert G Moyle, Frederick H. Sheldon, Alexandre Aleixo, Brian T Smith, Terry Chesser, Luis F Silveira, Joel Cracraft, Robb T Brumfield, Elizabeth P Derryberry. 2020. The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz6970

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