Diversity and endemism in tropical montane forests - From patterns to processes Book Chapter

Kessler, M, Kluge, J. (2010). Diversity and endemism in tropical montane forests - From patterns to processes . 35-50.

cited authors

  • Kessler, M; Kluge, J

abstract

  • It has recently been realized that the dominant pattern of plant and animal species richness along tropical elevational gradients is usually hump-shaped, with maximum richness at intermediate elevations (mostly between 500-2000 m). The causes determining these patterns are still poorly understood but most probably involve area, climatic variables such as temperature and humidity, energy availability and ecosystem productivity, historical and evolutionary processes, and dispersal limitation. Distribution patterns of endemic species along tropical elevational gradients are different from those of species richness and usually peak above 2000 m. The patterns of endemism are presumably determined by area (but inverse to species richness), topography, ecoclimatic stability and taxon-specific ecological traits. While most research is directed at documenting patterns of species richness and endemism, interest in the last two decades has shifted increasingly towards explaining these patterns. The development of testable hypotheses and the use of dated molecular phylogenies have led to important recent progress and are promising exciting new insights in the near future. Copyright © 2008 by Universitätsverlag Göttingen.

publication date

  • December 1, 2010

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 13

start page

  • 35

end page

  • 50