Patterns and drivers of desert reptile diversity at different phylogenetic and spatial scales

Biodiversity patterns result from the interplay of evolutionary, ecological, and environmental processes. Investigating the drivers of such patterns is central to evolutionary biology, and it is further essential to understand how the undergoing global changes will shape the future of biodiversity....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Tejero Cicuéndez, Héctor
Tipo de recurso: tesis doctoral
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:CBUC, CESCA
Repositorio:TDR. Tesis Doctorales en Red
OAI Identifier:oai:www.tdx.cat:10803/672957
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10803/672957
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aride regions
Macroevolution
Biogeography
Morphological evolution
Diversification rates
Reptiles
Zonas áridas
Biogeografía
Evolución
Diversificación
574
Descripción
Sumario:Biodiversity patterns result from the interplay of evolutionary, ecological, and environmental processes. Investigating the drivers of such patterns is central to evolutionary biology, and it is further essential to understand how the undergoing global changes will shape the future of biodiversity. This thesis explores diversity patterns and their drivers at different taxonomic and spatial scales, using reptiles from arid regions as a model of study. Specifically, this thesis analyzes the ecomorphological diversity of the Afro-Arabian geckos of the genus Pristurus in the context of island colonization and habitat specialization, the biogeographic patterns of Afro-Arabian squamates in the light of the region's geologic and climatic history, and the differences in lizard richness among the greatest deserts of the world. General processes were identified as determinant for the evolution of arid reptiles, although the results also highlight the complexity and the system-specific nature of biodiversity patterns and their drivers