BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE 197Fig. 16. The relationship of mean annual temperature (MAT) and the diversity of non-avian tetrapod species,
showing how points of high orographic relief (in which diversity is overestimated by mixing low- and high-
elevation faunas for climate stations located on the peaks rather than in the valleys) and islands (in which
diversities are lower than would be expected) fall off the general trend observed.(i) Terrestrial non-avian tetrapod species
diversity is a function of differing adaptive
strategies for procuring energy, either
directly via solar energy (e.g. reptiles) or
indirectly via food (e.g. mammals), as indi-
cated by the different patterns of diversity
shown by ectotherms and endotherms. The
link between diversity and environmental
parameters therefore depends on the
physiology and ecology of the organisms
themselves.
(ii) History influences the taxonomic composi-
tion of terrestrial diversity, but much less
the physiological structure.
(iii) The proportion of ectotherm species,
genera and families in faunas is found to
increase linearly with increasing tempera-
ture. This is used to retrodict the palaeo-
temperature of Middle Eocene Messel,
Germany, with results that agree well with
estimates of temperature from other
climate proxies.
(iv) Given an understanding of animal physi-
ology, the link between biogeography,
biodiversity and environmental variables
can be demonstrated. This has major
implications for predicting the response of
organisms to future climate and environ-
mental changes.I would like to thank A. Crame for giving me the
opportunity of presenting this material and for
organizing the Lyell 2001 meeting. This study was
begun in 1990 at The University of Chicago where
funding was provided through a Teaching Assistant-
ship. I would like to thank A. Ziegler, D. Jablonski, D.
Rowley, R. Lupia and P. Wagner for reading earlier
drafts and for helpful criticisms. The final version
greatly benefited from the reviews of A. Crame and an
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