Humboldt's enigma: What causes global patterns of mountain biodiversity?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Humboldt's enigma: What causes global patterns of mountain biodiversity?

AU - Rahbek, Carsten

AU - Borregaard, Michael K.

AU - Colwell, Robert K.

AU - Dalsgaard, Bo

AU - Holt, Ben G.

AU - Morueta-Holme, Naia

AU - Nogues-Bravo, David

AU - Whittaker, Robert J.

AU - Fjeldsa, Jon

PY - 2019/9/13

Y1 - 2019/9/13

N2 - Mountains contribute disproportionately to the terrestrial biodiversity of Earth, especially in the tropics, where they host hotspots of extraordinary and puzzling richness. With about 25% of all land area, mountain regions are home to more than 85% of the world’s species of amphibians, birds, and mammals, many entirely restricted to mountains. Biodiversity varies markedly among these regions. Together with the extreme species richness of some tropical mountains, this variation has proven challenging to explain under traditional climatic hypotheses. However, the complex climatic characteristics of rugged mountain regions differ fundamentally from those of lowland regions, likely playing a key role in generating and maintaining diversity. With ongoing global changes in climate and land use, the role of mountains as refugia for biodiversity may well come under threat.

AB - Mountains contribute disproportionately to the terrestrial biodiversity of Earth, especially in the tropics, where they host hotspots of extraordinary and puzzling richness. With about 25% of all land area, mountain regions are home to more than 85% of the world’s species of amphibians, birds, and mammals, many entirely restricted to mountains. Biodiversity varies markedly among these regions. Together with the extreme species richness of some tropical mountains, this variation has proven challenging to explain under traditional climatic hypotheses. However, the complex climatic characteristics of rugged mountain regions differ fundamentally from those of lowland regions, likely playing a key role in generating and maintaining diversity. With ongoing global changes in climate and land use, the role of mountains as refugia for biodiversity may well come under threat.

U2 - 10.1126/science.aax0149

DO - 10.1126/science.aax0149

M3 - Review

C2 - 31515383

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 365

SP - 1108

EP - 1113

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6458

ER -