Fenton, IS, Aze, T orcid.org/0000-0002-4201-7105, Farnsworth, A et al. (2 more authors) (2023) Origination of the modern-style diversity gradient 15 million years ago. Nature, 614 (7949). pp. 708-712. ISSN 0028-0836
Abstract
The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is a prevalent feature of modern ecosystems across diverse clades. Recognized for well over a century, the causal mechanisms for LDGs remain disputed, in part because numerous putative drivers simultaneously covary with latitude. The past provides the opportunity to disentangle LDG mechanisms because the relationships among biodiversity, latitude and possible causal factors have varied over time. Here we quantify the emergence of the LDG in planktonic foraminifera at high spatiotemporal resolution over the past 40 million years, finding that a modern-style gradient arose only 15 million years ago. Spatial and temporal models suggest that LDGs for planktonic foraminifera may be controlled by the physical structure of the water column. Steepening of the latitudinal temperature gradient over 15 million years ago, associated with an increased vertical temperature gradient at low latitudes, may have enhanced niche partitioning and provided more opportunities for speciation at low latitudes. Supporting this hypothesis, we find that higher rates of low-latitude speciation steepened the diversity gradient, consistent with spatiotemporal patterns of depth partitioning by planktonic foraminifera. Extirpation of species from high latitudes also strengthened the LDG, but this effect tended to be weaker than speciation. Our results provide a step change in understanding the evolution of marine LDGs over long timescales.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2023. This is an author produced version of an article published in Nature. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Earth Surface Science Institute (ESSI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Mar 2023 14:58 |
Last Modified: | 15 Aug 2023 00:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Nature Research |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41586-023-05712-6 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:196724 |