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Fast demographic traits promote high diversification rates of Amazonian trees
Author(s) -
Baker Timothy R.,
Pennington R. Toby,
Magallon Susana,
Gloor Emanuel,
Laurance William F.,
Alexiades Miguel,
Alvarez Esteban,
Araujo Alejandro,
Arets Eric J. M. M.,
Aymard Gerardo,
Oliveira Atila Alves,
Amaral Iêda,
Arroyo Luzmila,
Bonal Damien,
Brienen Roel J. W.,
Chave Jerome,
Dexter Kyle G.,
Di Fiore Anthony,
Eler Eduardo,
Feldpausch Ted R.,
Ferreira Leandro,
LopezGonzalez Gabriela,
Heijden Geertje,
Higuchi Niro,
Honorio Eurídice,
Huamantupa Isau,
Killeen Tim J.,
Laurance Susan,
Leaño Claudio,
Lewis Simon L.,
Malhi Yadvinder,
Marimon Beatriz Schwantes,
Marimon Junior Ben Hur,
Monteagudo Mendoza Abel,
Neill David,
PeñuelaMora Maria Cristina,
Pitman Nigel,
Prieto Adriana,
Quesada Carlos A.,
Ramírez Fredy,
Ramírez Angulo Hirma,
Rudas Agustin,
Ruschel Ademir R.,
Salomão Rafael P.,
Andrade Ana Segalin,
Silva J. Natalino M.,
Silveira Marcos,
Simon Marcelo F.,
Spironello Wilson,
Steege Hans ter,
Terborgh John,
Toledo Marisol,
TorresLezama Armando,
Vasquez Rodolfo,
Vieira Ima Célia Guimarães,
Vilanova Emilio,
Vos Vincent A.,
Phillips Oliver L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12252
Subject(s) - amazonian , amazon rainforest , clade , ecology , biology , diversification (marketing strategy) , species richness , trait , range (aeronautics) , canopy , phylogenetic tree , biochemistry , materials science , marketing , computer science , business , composite material , gene , programming language
The Amazon rain forest sustains the world's highest tree diversity, but it remains unclear why some clades of trees are hyperdiverse, whereas others are not. Using dated phylogenies, estimates of current species richness and trait and demographic data from a large network of forest plots, we show that fast demographic traits – short turnover times – are associated with high diversification rates across 51 clades of canopy trees. This relationship is robust to assuming that diversification rates are either constant or decline over time, and occurs in a wide range of Neotropical tree lineages. This finding reveals the crucial role of intrinsic, ecological variation among clades for understanding the origin of the remarkable diversity of Amazonian trees and forests.