A neutral‐metabolic theory of latitudinal biodiversity

摘要: Aim Latitudinal gradients of species richness represent Earth's first-order biodiversity pattern. Most groups display a near-monotonic decline in from the equator to poles, yet there exists little mechanistic theory derive such patterns first principles. Here we integrate two key advances – neutral and metabolic ecology reconstruct global test underlying causes. Location Simulated meta-community. Methods We constructed spatially explicit meta-community with constant per capita rates disturbance, speciation dispersal. No gradient emerged this base model. Focusing on oceans as model system, added water temperature 0–30°C that independently affected community turnover based established scaling laws. We also habitat area roughly parallels observed decrease ocean tropical polar waters. Results Thermal effects rate caused transient latitudinal ultimately disappeared. Thermal produced dynamically stable but relatively weak gradient. Increasing towards combination thermal more realistic combined species–area species–energy theory. Main conclusions This reasonably simple provides platform explore support for processes underpinning large-scale gradients, ability prominent ecological theories, or combination, capture them.