Shared patterns of spatial accumulation of lineages across terrestrial vertebrates

Aim: Whether species co-occur with closely related taxa has long been thought to influence both the rate of species formation and maximum clade diversity. However, it is unclear whether these processes act concordantly across entire clades, and between taxa with disparate dispersal and life history strategies. Quantifying these patterns will yield a better understanding of the factors regulating biodiversity. I investigate whether allopatry promotes lineage diversification leading to greater clade richness. I also test whether slowdowns in diversification and family richness are correlated with increased sympatry.

Location: Global

Taxon: Birds, mammals, and amphibians

Methods: Posterior distributions of speciation rate estimates were compared between different definitions of lineage allopatry. Temporal changes in speciation rate were compared against family diversity as well as the mean and maximum number of overlapping familial ranges.

Results: More diverse families accumul...