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Global biogeographic patterns of avian morphological diversity
Emma C Hughes1, David P Edwards1, Jen A Bright2
1School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Ecology Letters
|February 24, 2022
Summary
Bird species show uneven morphological diversity globally, with hotspots in tropical regions. Evolutionary history and environmental factors shape these patterns, making tropics crucial for avian phenotypic diversity.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biogeography
- Ecology
Background:
- Understanding the drivers of morphological diversity is crucial for evolutionary and conservation biology.
- Avian morphological diversity patterns and their underlying causes remain incompletely understood.
Discussion:
- Morphological diversity is unevenly distributed globally, with tropical regions showing high species packing and phenotypic variance.
- Evolutionary history influences diversity patterns, with older species expanding niches and younger species packing into them.
Key Insights:
- Tropical hotspots are centers of avian morphological diversity, acting as both 'cradles' and 'museums' of phenotypic diversity.
- Geometric morphometrics reveal significant variation in beak shape across bird species.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore the specific environmental factors driving trait evolution in these hotspots.
- Conservation strategies should consider the unique evolutionary and phenotypic diversity found in tropical regions.
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