Which of the following hypothetical lines of evidence would MOST strongly refute the hypothesis that there are more species in the tropics because they have existed for longer periods of time than biomes at higher latitudes?
A)Phylogenies that show lineages of organisms in the tropics originate earlier than those in higher latitudes.
B)Evidence that speciation rates of organisms at the equator are faster than those at higher latitudes.
C)Evidence that landmasses have always been present at the equator.
D)Evidence that there are more coevolutionary relationships between organisms at the equator than at higher latitudes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Evidence that speciation rates of organisms at the equator are faster than those at higher latitudes would refute the hypothesis that the greater species diversity in the tropics is solely due to a longer period of existence, by suggesting that higher speciation rates in these regions could also be a contributing factor.

Which of the Following Hypothetical Lines of Evidence Would MOST