Increasing the phylogenetic coverage for understanding broad-scale diversity gradients.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Biodiversity Science

Background:

• Decades of research have not reached a consensus on the primary drivers of broad-scale animal diversity gradients.
• Studies often focus on narrowly defined taxa, potentially limiting the discovery of general diversity patterns.
• Conservative evolution of ecological niches can create taxon-specific diversity gradients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel approach for identifying general drivers of broad-scale animal diversity gradients.
• To challenge the efficacy of narrowly defined taxa in understanding macroecological patterns.
• To advocate for the study of phylogenetically diverse communities across wide environmental gradients.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical argument advocating for a shift in analytical focus.
• Comparison of constraints in resource use and diversification between narrow taxa and diverse communities.
• Proposal for expanding phylogenetic coverage in macroecological studies.

Main Results:

• Narrowly defined taxa exhibit systematic differences in diversity gradients due to niche conservatism.
• Phylogenetically diverse communities are less constrained in resource use and diversification.
• Multi-taxa communities offer better opportunities to test classical diversity hypotheses.

Conclusions:

• General drivers of diversity are more likely to be revealed by studying phylogenetically diverse animal communities.
• Expanding phylogenetic scope, alongside spatial scale, is crucial for achieving greater generality in diversity gradient research.
• Future research should prioritize multi-taxa analyses across broad environmental gradients to resolve macroecological questions.