Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5.26 (a) Map of some areas of endemism in the Neotropical region; (b-i)
taxon-area cladograms: (b) Pionopsitta; (c) Selenidera; (d) Psophia; (e) Lanio; (f)
Pipra; (g) Pionites; (h) Pteroglossus viridis species group; (i) P. bitorquatus species
group. CA, Central America; CHO, Chocó; IM, Imerí; NC, Nechí; NE, northeast; NW,
northwest; SE, southeast; SEB, southeastern Brazil; SW, southwest.
Problem 5.3
Southern South America, basically the area south of 30° south parallel, har-
bors an interesting biota, and several authors have discussed its relation-
ships with other austral areas (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, and New Cale-
donia). On the basis of the taxon-area cladograms of seventeen plant and
animal taxa distributed in southern South America and related areas of the
world (figs. 5.27a-5.27q; Crisci et al. 1991a),
a. Obtain the general area cladogram by applying two or more of the cladistic
biogeographic methods available.
b. Compare the results of the different analyses.
For Discussion
1. Imagine you are studying the biotas inhabiting an archipelago consisting of
three large islands near a continent. You find that several taxa from the two
islands situated nearest the continent are similar to continental taxa, whereas
other taxa inhabiting the more distant island are rather different, apparently
not related to the remaining taxa. You suspect that this latter island is not geo-
logically linked to the other two islands. How could you test this hypothesis?
What alternative hypotheses can you think of? What are the relevant data that
may falsify any of these hypotheses?
2. One way of evaluating a biogeographic article is to postulate alternative ex-
planations that the authors might have overlooked. From a cladistic biogeo-
graphic viewpoint, try to think of other explanations for the data presented in
the following:
Escalante, T., G. Rodríguez, and J. J. Morrone. 2004. The diversification of
the Nearctic mammals in the Mexican transition zone. Biological Journal
of the Linnean Society 83:327-339.
Morrone, J. J. 1998. On Udvardy's Insulantarctica province: A test from
the weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea). Journal
of
Biogeography
25:947-955.
 
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