Hot, dry and different: Australian lizard richness is unlike that of mammals, amphibians and birds

Powney, G.D.; Grenyer, R.; Orme, C.D.L.; Owens, I.P.F.; Meiri, S.. 2010 Hot, dry and different: Australian lizard richness is unlike that of mammals, amphibians and birds. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 19 (3). 386-396. 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00521.x

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Abstract/Summary

Aims: 1) To map species richness of Australian lizards and describe patterns of range size and species turnover that underlie them. 2) To assess the congruence in the species richness of lizards and other vertebrate groups. 3) To search for commonalities in the drivers of species richness in Australian vertebrates. Location: Australia Methods: We digitized lizard distribution data to generate gridded maps of species richness and β-diversity. Using similar maps for amphibians, mammals and birds we explored the relationship between species richness and temperature, actual evapotranspiration, elevation and local elevation range. We used spatial eigenvector filtering and geographically-weighted regression to explore geographical patterns and take spatial autocorrelation into account. We explored congruence between the species richness of vertebrate groups whilst controlling for environmental effects. Results: Lizard richness peaks in the central deserts (where β-diversity is low) and tropical northeast (where β-diversity is high). The intervening lowlands have low species richness and β-diversity. Generally, lizard richness is uncorrelated with that of other vertebrates but this low congruence is strongly spatially-structured. Environmental models for all groups also show strong spatial heterogeneity. Lizard richness is predicted by different environmental factors to other vertebrates, being highest in, dry and hot regions. Accounting for environmental drivers, lizard richness is weakly positively related to richness of other vertebrates both at global and local scales. Main Conclusions: Lizard species richness differs from that of other vertebrates. This difference is likely caused by differential responses to environmental gradients and different centres of diversification; there is little evidence for inter-taxon competition limiting lizard richness. Local variation in habitat diversity or evolutionary radiations may explain weak associations between taxa, after controlling for environmental variables. We strongly recommend that studies of variation in species richness examine and account for non-stationarity.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00521.x
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	1466-822X
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	28 Apr 2010 13:50 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9643

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