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Site Map / Index This page last modified: 7th January, 2008 ©Paul Markwick 2000-2008 |
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Markwick, P.J. (2002) Integrating the present and past records of climate, biodiversity and biogeography: implications for palaeoecology and palaeoclimatology In Crame, J.A., & Owen, A.W., (eds) "Palaeobiogeography and biodiversity change: a comparison of the Ordovician and Mesozoic-Cenozoic radiations". Geological Society, London, Special Publications, v.194, p.179-200 Abstract A GIS-based, integrated dataset of Recent North American, European, southern African and Australian non-avian tetrapod faunas is used to examine the macro-scale relationship between climate, biogeography and terrestrial taxonomic and functional species diversity (richness). The results support a modified form of the species-energy hypothesis, with the pattern of terrestrial biodiversity reflecting the manner in which species procure energy, rather than only the absolute amount of "available energy". Area and history are also found to be important. Ectotherms show the simplest relationship with environmental variables (and strongest latitudinal diversity gradients), endotherms the most complex. A strong linear relationship is found between the proportion of each fauna represented by ectotherms and temperature (mean annual, MAT, and coldest month mean, CMM). This relationship is used in an experiment to retrodict the palaeotemperature for the Middle Eocene Lagerstätten fauna from Messel, Germany. Results compare well with interpretations based on other climate proxies. |
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