Testing the link between the latitudinal gradient in species richness and rates of molecular evolution
Abstract
Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain latitudinal gradients in species richness, but all are subject to ongoing debate. Here we examine Rohde's (1978, 1992) hypothesis, which proposes that climatic conditions at low latitudes lead to elevated rates of speciation. This hypothesis predicts that rates of molecular evolution should increase towards lower latitudes, but this prediction has never been tested. We discuss potential links between rates of molecular evolution and latitudinal diversity gradients, and present the first test of latitudinal variation in rates of molecular evolution. Using 45 phylogenetically independent, latitudinally separated pairs of bird species and higher taxa, we compare rates of evolution of two mitochondrial genes and DNA–DNA hybridization distances. We find no support for an effect of latitude on rate of molecular evolution. This result casts doubt on the generality of a key component of Rohde's hypothesis linking climate and speciation.
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There is, as yet, no evidence that environmental temperature influences the rate of molecular evolution.
“However, there is, as yet, no evidence that environmental temperature influences the rate of molecular evolution 40,41 .”
From The modern molecular clock (2003) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Bromham, L., & Cardillo, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Sussex (GB)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Bromham, L.
- Venue
- Journal of Evolutionary Biology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2003-03-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 200-207
- ISSN
- 1010-061X (ISSN-L)
- 1420-9101
- OpenAlex
- W1680461446
- Cited by
- 101
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 9.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Evolutionary Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Keywords
- latitudinal diversity gradient, species richness, molecular evolution rate, speciation rates, mitochondrial genes, birds
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Birds, Climate, Geography, Phylogeny, DNA Probes, Evolution, Molecular, Biodiversity
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