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Global topographic uplift has elevated speciation in mammals and birds over the last 3 million years.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Abstract

Topographic change shapes the evolution of biodiversity by influencing both habitat connectivity and habitat diversity as well as abiotic factors like climate. However, its role in creating global biodiversity gradients remains poorly characterized because geology, climate and evolutionary data have rarely been integrated across concordant timescales. Here we show that topographic uplift over the last 3 million years explains more spatial variation in the speciation of all mammals and birds than do the direct effects of palaeoclimate change and both present-day elevation and present-day temperature. By contrast, the effects of topographic changes are much smaller than those of present-day temperatures in eroded areas. Together, our results stress that historical geological processes rather than traditionally studied macroecological gradients may ultimately generate much of the world's biodiversity. More broadly, as the Earth's surface continues to rise and fall, topography will remain an important driver of evolutionary change and novelty.

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Keywords

Animals, Biodiversity, Birds, Climate, Ecosystem, Mammals

Journal Title

Nat Ecol Evol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2397-334X
2397-334X

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

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All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Isaac Newton Trust (Minute 17.24(r))
Wellcome Trust (105602/Z/14/Z)
Gatsby Charitable Foundation (Grant Number GAT2962) and Isaac Newton Trust (Grant Number 17.24r)