Why do tropical communities tend to have greater species diversity than temperate or polar communities?
A)Tropical communities are less likely to be affected by human disturbance.
B)There are fewer parasites to negatively affect the health of tropical communities.
C)The tropics are lower in altitude as compared to temperate and polar regions.
D)Tropical communities are generally older than temperate and polar communities.
E)Competitive dominant species have evolved in temperate and polar communities.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tropical communities have had longer periods of time to evolve and diversify due to the stable climate and lack of glacial cycles that have occurred in temperate and polar regions. This allows for more time for speciation and the emergence of new species, leading to greater species diversity in tropical communities.

Why Do Tropical Communities Tend to Have Greater Species Diversity