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Macroecology and macroevolution of the latitudinal diversity gradient in ants

Author

Listed:
  • Evan P. Economo

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Nitish Narula

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Nicholas R. Friedman

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Michael D. Weiser

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Benoit Guénard

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
    University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

The latitudinal diversity gradient—the tendency for more species to occur toward the equator—is the dominant pattern of life on Earth, yet the mechanisms responsible for it remain largely unexplained. Recently, the analysis of global data has led to advances in understanding, but these advances have been mostly limited to vertebrates and trees and have not provided consensus answers. Here we synthesize large-scale geographic, phylogenetic, and fossil data for an exemplar invertebrate group—ants—and investigate whether the latitudinal diversity gradient arose due to higher rates of net diversification in the tropics, or due to a longer time period to accumulate diversity due to Earth’s climatic history. We find that latitudinal affinity is highly conserved, temperate clades are young and clustered within tropical clades, and diversification rate shows no systematic variation with latitude. These results indicate that diversification time—and not rate—is the main driver of the diversity gradient in ants.

Suggested Citation

  • Evan P. Economo & Nitish Narula & Nicholas R. Friedman & Michael D. Weiser & Benoit Guénard, 2018. "Macroecology and macroevolution of the latitudinal diversity gradient in ants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04218-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04218-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Runxi Wang & Jamie M. Kass & Chhaya Chaudhary & Evan P. Economo & Benoit Guénard, 2024. "Global biogeographic regions for ants have complex relationships with those for plants and tetrapods," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Lucie Aulus-Giacosa & Sébastien Ollier & Cleo Bertelsmeier, 2024. "Non-native ants are breaking down biogeographic boundaries and homogenizing community assemblages," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Jacob S. Suissa & Fay-Wei Li & Corrie S. Moreau, 2024. "Convergent evolution of fern nectaries facilitated independent recruitment of ant-bodyguards from flowering plants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Connor M. French & Laura D. Bertola & Ana C. Carnaval & Evan P. Economo & Jamie M. Kass & David J. Lohman & Katharine A. Marske & Rudolf Meier & Isaac Overcast & Andrew J. Rominger & Phillip P. A. Sta, 2023. "Global determinants of insect mitochondrial genetic diversity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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