Correlates of Species Richness in Mammals: Body Size, Life History, and Ecology

Isaac, Nick J.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4869-8052; Jones, Kate E.; Gittleman, John L.; Purvis, Andy. 2005 Correlates of Species Richness in Mammals: Body Size, Life History, and Ecology. American Naturalist, 165 (5). 600-607. https://doi.org/10.1086/429148

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Abstract/Summary

We present the most extensive examination to date of proposed correlates of species richness. We use rigorous phylogenetic comparative techniques, data for 1,692 mammal species in four clades, and multivariate statistics to test four hypotheses about species richness and compare the evidence for each. Overall, we find strong support for the life‐history model of diversification. Species richness is significantly correlated with shorter gestation period in the carnivores and large litter size in marsupials. These traits and short interbirth intervals are also associated with species richness in a pooled analysis of all four clades. Additionally, we find some support for the abundance hypotheses in different clades of mammals: abundance correlates positively with species richness in primates but negatively in microchiropterans. Our analyses provide no evidence that mammalian species richness is associated with body size or degree of sexual dimorphism.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1086/429148
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	00030147
Additional Keywords:	nested sister clade comparisons, species richness, phylogeny, speciation, extinction
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology Zoology
Date made live:	23 Sep 2009 15:08 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/3773

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