Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/B503492/1

Phylogenetic imbalance and species-area relationships : unifying macroevolution with macroecology

Principal Investigator:: Professor A Purvis, Imperial College London, Biological Sciences
Grant held at:: Imperial College London, Biological Sciences

ENRIs:: Biodiversity
Science Topics:: Population Genetics/Evolution; Systematics & Taxonomy; Conservation Ecology; Community Ecology

Abstract:: The tendency for even closely-related lineages to differ greatly in species number (phylogenetic imbalance) is one of the most striking phenomena in macroevolution. The relationship between species number and area is a dominant pattern in macroecology. Neither phenomenon is fully understood. We have found a new pattern linking these two - the phylogenetic species-area relationship - which can provide a key to understanding both: across lineages, numbers of species correlate strongly but non-linearly with geographic range. Area explains over half of the variance in diversity among lineages, whereas previously-documented correlates of diversity typically explain very little. We propose to document the phylogenetic species-area relationships in many taxa of plant, vertebrate and invertebrate and to analyse them to test a range of hypotheses about how diversification has proceeded. We will then simulate simple candidate processes to see whether they give rise to macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns like those seen in real taxa. Through this combination of pattern analysis, hypothesis testing and simulation, we aim to unify phylogenetic imbalance with species-area relationships and thereby contribute to the synthesis of macroevolution and macroecology.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £258,945

Total - Staff	Total - T&S	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs	Total - Equipment
£165,103	£5,460	£5,799	£75,947	£6,638

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