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Abstract

The most evident feature of life on Earth is its variety, which expresses itself at both spatial and temporal scales. Research at my lab hinges on these two scales and it is based on the intersection between macroecology and macroevolution to study the corresponding spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity. Using geographical, evolutionary and statistical approaches, we combined theory and methods applied to large data sets to understand the causes that originate, maintain and modify biodiversity patterns. We are particularly interested in the geographic and evolutionary patterns of different taxa, from vertebrates to plants and insects. Currently, we are working with mammals, birds, fishes and plants to answer questions such as What determines the distributional ranges of species and the emergent geographic patterns of biodiversity? What are the ecological and evolutionary drivers of species geographic co-occurrence? What causes the spatial and temporal diversity variation among clades? This multi-taxon perspective based on the statistical description and evaluation of biodiversity patterns can provide a more comprehensive understanding of such patterns, which can then be used to inform conservation actions. Accordingly, our research follows a conservation biogeography approach to provide useful information for identifying, for example, priority sites for conservation and even research (e.g. filling knowledge gaps). We also acknowledge that understanding the causes behind biodiversity patterns requires evaluating different dimensions of biodiversity beyond taxonomic richness. Therefore, we also integrate other such dimensions such as phylogenetic and functional diversity into our research. As such, we considered our research integrative with a foundation on macroecology with the goal of understanding the causes behind biodiversity patterns.