Cryptic animal species are homogeneously distributed among taxa and biogeographical regions
2007
Distribution of Cryptic Animal Species
Sample size: 2207
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Markus Pfenninger, Klaus Schwenk
Primary Institution: J.W. Goethe-Universität
Hypothesis
The distribution of cryptic species is non-random across taxonomic groups and biomes.
Conclusion
Cryptic species are almost evenly distributed among major metazoan taxa and biogeographical regions.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found 2,207 cryptic species reports under 771,931 studies.
- Regression analysis indicated a correlation between cryptic species reports and described species.
- The distribution of cryptic species was nearly homogeneous across the taxa analyzed.
Takeaway
Some animals look very similar but are actually different species, and they are found in many different places around the world.
Methodology
The study analyzed a literature database for the taxonomic and biogeographical distribution of cryptic animal species reports.
Potential Biases
Differential taxonomic practice in various research communities may affect results.
Limitations
The true proportion of cryptic species in nature is unknown.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0002
Confidence Interval
95%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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