Hypotheses about ancient processes are not testable by direct observation or manipulative experiments. However, their resulting present patterns can potentially be observed, approached from an inductively point of view, and, therefore, tested. Today, many historical biogeographical hypotheses of many taxa are often drawn from phylogenetic analyses or from fossils. Although biogeographical hypotheses may be presented in those cases simply as a narrative addendum of results, they are supported by the evolutionary relationships or dating of fossils, and are generally considered valid (but see Crisp et al., 2011). Nevertheless, sometimes an evolutionary basis to explain the past biogeography of concrete species groups is not available. This could be the case of hyperdiverse taxa, for example, many groups of insects; in groups with a high diversity of species it may be difficult in the short term to have a complete phylogeny to help us answer some biogeographical questions (for example, the location of areas with a high supraspecific-taxa diversity). This could be aggravated when no significant fossils have been found. Moreover, insufficient biogeographical knowledge exacerbates this problem although such groups may have an important ecological role and interest in conservation.
Composition and Distribution Patterns of Species at a Global Biogeographic Region Scale: Biogeography of Aphodiini Dung Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) Based on Species Geographic and Taxonomic Data
Published 2012 in Unknown venue
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2012
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Unknown venue
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2012-03-30
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Biology, Environmental Science
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