Where is the world’s most biodiversity? Follow the rain

“Darwin’s question answered, now let’s pray for rain.” An international research group has tackled Darwin’s centuries-old question of why the tropics are home to more animal and plant species. They concluded that regions near the equator have the highest biodiversity due to a combination of climate and topography. Larger rainfall amounts contribute to higher species richness for amphibians, birds, and mammals, while reptiles are found in warmer regions regardless of rainfall. The research was led by PhD student Tal Raz and Prof. Shai Meiri from Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology at the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. It encompassed thousands of species and highlighted the need for conservation efforts. The study reveals fascinating patterns of temperature, precipitation, and topography in shaping ecosystems and emphasizes the urgent need to protect the Earth’s biodiversity. The researchers found that reptiles have a slightly different species-richness pattern, influenced more by temperature than by rainfall, due to their metabolism and water loss prevention mechanisms. The research’s findings and implications are further explained and illustrated with maps of biodiversity patterns worldwide.