Latitudinal Gradients in Avian Species Diversity and the Role of Long-Distance Migration

摘要: Understanding geographic patterns of variation in the species composition natural communities, as well increasing diversity from temperate latitudes to tropics particular, remains one great challenges ecology. The extreme plant and animal some tropical habitats, compared those zone, have inspired evolutionary biologists since Darwin Wallace (Wallace, 1878; Dobzhansky, 1950; Mayr, 1969; MacArthur, 1969). Biologists responded challenge biogeographic with explanatory schemes on a variety spatial temporal scales: (including geographical adaptive radiation), biogeographical regional history), ecological (factors operating locally within generation). Explanations these different levels are generally complimentary (reviews Fischer, 1960; Pianka, 1966; 1972), but theoretical foundation for schemes, especially concerning roles interactions speciation, is still being developed (Prance, 1982; Cody, 1985; Cox, Diamond Case, 1986; Kikkawa Anderson, 1986). To degree, altitudinal gradients mirrored latitudinal ones been explained similar ways (Terborgh, 1971,1977,1985; Able Noon, 1976).