Biology – Quantitative Biology – Populations and Evolution
Scientific paper
2005-07-21
Biology
Quantitative Biology
Populations and Evolution
14 pages including 6 figures
Scientific paper
Rapoport's rule claims that latitudinal ranges of plant and animal species are generally smaller at low than at high latitudes. However, doubts as to the generality of the rule have been expressed, because studies providing evidence against the rule are more numerous than those in support of it. In groups for which support has been provided, the trend of increasing latitudinal ranges with latitude is restricted to or at least most distinct at high latitudes, suggesting that the effect may be a local phenomenon, for example the result of glaciations. Here we test the rule using two models, a simple one-dimensional one with a fixed number of animals expanding in a northern or southerly direction only, and the evolutionary/ecological Chowdhury model using birth, ageing, death, mutation, speciation, prey-predator relations and food levels. Simulations with both models gave results contradicting Rapoport's rule. In the first, latitudinal ranges were roughly independent of latitude, in the second, latitudinal ranges were greatest at low latitudes, as also shown empirically for some well studied groups of animals.
Rohde Klaus
Stauffer Dietrich
No associations
LandOfFree
Simulation of Rapoport's rule for latitudinal species spread does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Simulation of Rapoport's rule for latitudinal species spread, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simulation of Rapoport's rule for latitudinal species spread will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-438016