PARENT SESSION
Monday, August 7, 8:00-11:30 am
COS 1 - Biodiversity I: environmental gradients and habitat factors, Part I
Ballroom A, Ballroom Level, Cook Convention Center
Presiders: D Cocking and H Pereira

Global meta-analysis of elevational diversity of birds.

McCain, Christy^*,1, ¹ National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis, Santa Barbara, CA

ABSTRACT- A global meta-analysis was used to elucidate a mechanistic understanding of elevational species richness of birds by examining climatic factors, spatial constraints, latitude, and regional history. The analyses were conducted on 184 elevational gradients of bird species richness from Old and New World mountains spanning 38°S to 60°N latitude. There was support for several elevational richness patterns. The majority demonstrated decreasing, low elevation plateau, or mid-elevation peaks, while a few had richness increasing with elevation. Tests of spatial constraints show low concordance with null model predictions. Trends in elevational richness appear to be strongly driven by climate, but depend on latitude, scale, and mountain size.

Key words: diversity patterns, community ecology, global analyses