Global Warming

Investigators at Brigham Young University Detail Research in Climate Change

  2012 MAY 14 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to the authors of recent research from Provo, Utah, "Quaternary climate change has been hypothesized to have played a significant role in driving diversification rates in a variety of taxa. We test the hypothesis of increased rates of diversification during the Quaternary in nine groups of New World bats (Chiroptera)."

  "The fit of six models of diversification was determined for each group. None experienced an increase in net diversification, rejecting the Quaternary hypothesis. Instead, four groups experienced constant net diversification rates, suggesting no Quaternary climate change impact. Five groups are evolving under a density-dependent model of diversification, suggesting climate cycles may have reduced rates initiated during the Pliocene or late Miocene. The distribution of divergences between sister taxa is consistent with results obtained from avian lineages experiencing declining rates of Quaternary diversification, further discrediting this often invoked hypothesis," wrote B.R. Barber and colleagues, Brigham Young University.

  The researchers concluded: "Our results suggest that Quaternary climate change did not increase diversification rates in New World bats."

  Barber and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Mammalian Evolution (Quaternary Climate Change was Not an Engine of Diversification in New World Bats (Chiroptera). Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2012;19(2):129-133).

  For additional information, contact B.R. Barber, Brigham Young University, Dept. of Biol, Provo, UT 84602, United States.

  Publisher contact information for the Journal of Mammalian Evolution is: Springer, 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, USA.

  Keywords: City:Provo, State:Utah, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Global Warming

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Global Warming editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, VerticalNews Global Warming via VerticalNews.com.