SPECIES RICHNESS IN ISOLATED ENVIRONMENTS: A CONSIDERATION ON THE EFFECT OF TIME

Abstract

The widely accepted MacArthur & Wilson model of island biogeography proposes a number of species that, after an initial growth, stabilize on each oceanic island at an equilibrium point. This species number depends on the available space, the vicinity of mainland, and the habitat diversification, thus being directly correlated with space characteristics. This space based model, however, does not explains some astonishingly evidences of species richness. The story length (the age) of each environment, possibly associated to the stability of conditions, should offer a better interpretation of species richness in each situation. Lakes, as water islands, more than land islands, have been considered in the present review as evidences of such an affection of the time on the species richness. The high species richness in the most ancient lakes is probably completely due to the genetic drift which produces diversification within each population possibly without any dependence from variability of conditions and habitats.


Autore Pugliese

Tutti gli autori

  • G. BELMONTE

Titolo volume/Rivista

BIODIVERSITY JOURNAL


Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

2039-0394

ISBN

Non Disponibile


Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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