Abstract
Species richness gradients along the Florida, Aleutian and Seward peninsulas were observed for woody flora by dividing each peninsula into quadrats of equal width and tabulating the total number of woody species found within each quadrat. In contrast to the pattern exhibited by several vertebrate groups of decreasing species density from the base to the tip of a peninsula, the woody flora of Florida does not show a decrease in overall species density. However, there is a marked change in species composition from the base to the tip of the Florida peninsula; fewer species were found to range throughout the Florida peninsula than on nine continental transects of similar size. Palynological records for Florida suggest that the steep gradient between temperate and tropical species pools is a result of climatic differences and habitat shifts over the length of the peninsula and not a result of historical disequilibrium. Two Alaskan peninsulas, the Aleutian and Seward peninsulas, exhibit relatively small changes in climate and topography and show little difference in species density from base to tip. While the peninsula effect has been attributed to a number of different phenomena for the varied taxonomic groups in which it has been observed, the floral evidence from three North American peninsulas suggests that changes in peninsular species density are a result of abiotic changes along these peninsulas.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Florida woody flora did not decrease in overall species density from base to tip.
Verbatim
e0“the woody flora of Florida does not show a decrease in overall species density”
Claim · model-written summary
Woody species composition changed markedly from base to tip in Florida.
Verbatim
e0“there is a marked change in species composition from the base to the tip of the Florida peninsula”
e1“woody flora of Florida”
Claim · model-written summary
Fewer woody species ranged throughout Florida than along nine similar continental transects.
Verbatim
e0“fewer species were found to range throughout the Florida peninsula than on nine continental transects of similar size”
e1“woody flora of Florida”
Claim · model-written summary
Palynological evidence suggests Florida turnover tracks climate and habitat shifts.
Verbatim
e0“the steep gradient between temperate and tropical species pools is a result of climatic differences and habitat shifts over the length of the peninsula”
e1“woody flora of Florida”
Claim · model-written summary
Aleutian and Seward peninsulas showed little species-density difference from base to tip.
Verbatim
e0“the Aleutian and Seward peninsulas, exhibit relatively small changes in climate and topography and show little difference in species density from base to tip”
e1“woody flora”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors infer that abiotic changes explain species density patterns on the three peninsulas.
Verbatim
e0“changes in peninsular species density are a result of abiotic changes along these peninsulas”
e1“woody flora”