Comparing spatial diversification and meta-population models in the Indo-Australian Archipelago

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Biogeography

Background:

• Understanding biodiversity gradients is key to comprehending life's diversification.
• Island biogeography models often treat islands as static, overlooking geological dynamics.
• Long-term geological changes in archipelagos can significantly influence island biodiversity and diversification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare mechanistic spatial-temporal and spatial meta-population models for inferring species richness.
• To assess the impact of dynamic versus static landscapes on biodiversity patterns.
• To identify processes driving species diversity in the Indo-Australian Archipelago.

Main Methods:

• Compared a spatial-temporal species diversification model with a spatial meta-population model.
• Simulated species richness patterns using both models.
• Inferred model performance against floristic diversity data from the Indo-Australian Archipelago.

Main Results:

• The spatial-temporal diversification model's simulations more closely matched observed diversity than the static meta-population model.
• Dynamic island repositioning, leading to disconnection and reconnection, was linked to high species diversity on Borneo.
• The meta-population model's prediction of higher diversity on mainlands was less compatible with empirical data.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic geological changes in island landscapes are crucial for explaining biodiversity gradients.
• The spatial-temporal diversification model provides a more accurate framework for understanding island biodiversity.
• Comparing models with contrasting assumptions aids in pinpointing key evolutionary and ecological processes.