The evolutionary age-range size relationship is modulated by insularity and dispersal in plants and animals

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract Earth is home to millions of plant and animal species, with more than 40 thousand species facing extinction worldwide (Diaz et al. 2019). Species’ range size is particularly important in this context because it influences extinction risk (Purvis et al. 2000, Gaston & Fuller 2009), but the causes underlying the wide natural variation in range size remain poorly known. Here, we investigate how evolutionary age is related to present-day range size for over 25,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, reef fishes, and plants. We show that, on average, older species have significantly larger ranges, but the effect of age on range size is modulated by clade, geographical context and dispersal ability. Specifically, age does not affect range size for island species, because islands limit dispersal and hence range size, regardless of species age. Furthermore, species from clades with high dispersal capabilities obtain large ranges faster, thereby further neutralizing the relationship between age and range size. Our results can help supporting global conservation priorities, by showing that species that are young, occupy islands, and/or are dispersal limited often have small ranges and therefore increased extinction risk.

Authors 13

1. Adriana Alzate corresponding

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Wageningen University & Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle - Jena - Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

2. Roberto Rozzi

   Museum für Naturkunde · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

   Affiliation as printed

   Central Repository of Natural Science Collections (ZNS), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany

   German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle - Jena - Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

   Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, 10115 Berlin, Germany

3. Julián A. Velasco

   Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático · Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

4. David Ross Robertson

   Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama

5. Alexander Zizka

   Philipps University of Marburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, 35039 Marburg, Germany

6. Joseph A. Tobias

   Imperial College London

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom

7. Adrian P. Hill

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden

   University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

8. Christine D. Bacon

   University of Gothenburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden

   University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

9. Thijs Janzen

   University of Groningen

   Affiliation as printed

   Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

10. Loïc Pellissier

    ETH Zurich · Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems

    Affiliation as printed

    Landscape Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

11. Fons van der Plas

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

12. James Rosindell

    Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom

13. Renske E. Onstein Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center · German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research · Leipzig University

    Affiliation as printed

    German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle - Jena - Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

    Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, the Netherlands