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Mapping knowledge gaps in marine diversity reveals a latitudinal gradient of missing species richness

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  • André Menegotto

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás)

  • Thiago F. Rangel

    (Universidade Federal de Goiás)

Abstract

A reliable description of any spatial pattern in species richness requires accurate knowledge about species geographical distribution. However, sampling bias may generate artefactual absences within species range and compromise our capacity to describe biodiversity patterns. Here, we analysed the spatial distribution of 35,000 marine species (varying from copepods to sharks) to identify missing occurrences (gaps) across their latitudinal range. We find a latitudinal gradient of species absence peaking near the equator, a pattern observed in both shallow and deep waters. The tropical gap in species distribution seems a consequence of reduced sampling effort at low latitudes. Overall, our results suggest that spatial gaps in species distribution are the main cause of the bimodal pattern of marine diversity. Therefore, only increasing sampling effort at low latitudes will reveal if the absence of species in the tropics, and the consequent dip in species richness, are artefacts of sampling bias or a natural phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • André Menegotto & Thiago F. Rangel, 2018. "Mapping knowledge gaps in marine diversity reveals a latitudinal gradient of missing species richness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-07217-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07217-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Marianna V. P. Simões & Hanieh Saeedi & Marlon E. Cobos & Angelika Brandt, 2021. "Environmental matching reveals non-uniform range-shift patterns in benthic marine Crustacea," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Oleh Pasko & Fuli Chen & Xuefeng Yao, 2020. "Snapshot and Trends of Corporate Governance Research in the Past 5 Years: Statistics and Visual Analysis Based on CiteSpace," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 4, pages 120-129, December.

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