Island biogeography theory predicts that the patterns and distributions of spatially isolated populations are governed by large scale processes. The high elevations forests in the Southern Appalachians represent a series of naturally fragmented islands that harbor many isolated populations of species at the southern limits of their range. Understanding the governing forces of population dynamics in this region will enhance the probability of species persistence in the face of threats such as global warming and human development. We surveyed bird populations across multiple elevations in Virginia and combined this with a multi-scale habitat analysis to determine influences of species presence and species richness. We detected 101 species across the elevation gradient, including 12 species with special conservation status and ten species whose presence increased with increasing elevation. These ten elevation sensitive species responded to habitat variables at both the microhabitat and landscape scale, with species-specific patterns of habitat variable correlation emerging. Habitat type was least effective in predicting species presence for any elevation sensitive species. Species richness declined over the elevation gradient until the highest elevations, where this trend reversed and richness began to increase. This pattern was driven by an increase in short-distance migrants beginning at mid-elevations, which ultimately overpowered a corresponding decrease in long-distance migrants beginning at similar elevations. Habitat analysis linked these patterns to a preference of short-distance migrants for smaller, more isolated non-forested patches, and a historical lack of persistence for long-distance migrants. Conservation and management decisions for the region should focus on a multi-scale approach that preserves all habitat types for continued species presence and high species richness, although the persistence of particular elevation sensitive species is compounded by unique species-habitat relationships and the perception of islands as species-specific. Continued monitoring of these fragmented populations in light of both short- and long-term threats which span multiple scales of influence will maintain high species richness and ensure the persistence of crucial breeding habitat. / Master of Science

Oceanic islands have been used as model systems for studies of evolution and speciation as the range of island sizes coupled with their known geological chronosequence make them ideal systems for the study of spatial and temporal variations in species diversity and distributions. These processes also occur on continental islands and mainland habitats but features of oceanic islands, notably their clearly delimited boundaries, natural isolation and simple geological composition make them more amenable to study. The perched dune lakes of Fraser Island, Australia share many of the properties of oceanic islands. The naturally isolated formation of the perched lakes, clearly delimited boundaries of the freshwater habitat and phase difference compared to the surrounding, terrestrial environment have significant implications for the biota these lakes support. Inhabitants of the perched dune lakes consist of the aquatic and semi-aquatic descendents of colonisers that were able to traverse a land barrier and survive in the oligotrophic, acidic waters over subsequent generations. Barriers to ongoing gene flow among lake populations, are however likely to be different for species with different life history characteristics. I therefore sought to assess the effects of three different life history characteristics on post-colonisation interpopulation gene flow. A representative species was selected to represent one of each of the following life history characteristics: * Aquatic species confined to lake for entire life cycle - freshwater shrimp Caridina indistincta. * Semi-aquatic species capable of terrestrial dispersal - freshwater turtle Emydura krefftii. * Semi-aquatic species capable of aerial dispersal - odonate Orthetrum Boumiera. 137-250 individuals were sampled per species across six lakes separated by 1-6km. Regions of the mitochondrial genome were targeted and molecular screening methods developed and employed to assess the relative levels of post-colonisation gene flow among lake populations. Parsimony analysis of the 25 unique haplotypes identified in the species with no apparent inter-lake dispersal mechanism, the freshwater shrimp Caridina indistincta, demonstrated that there was no sharing of derived haplotypes among lake populations. Star shaped genealogies were identified in four lake populations indicative of a population expansion and mismatch distribution analysis confirmed a recent population expansion estimated to have occurred no more than 200,000 years ago. This demonstrates that each of the perched dune lakes was colonised by C.indistincta soon after their inception but that no ongoing gene flow among lake populations has occurred. The population genetic structure of the species assessed which is capable of terrestrial dispersal suggests that although this species of freshwater turtle, Emydura krefftii, is capable of overland dispersal, gene flow among lake populations is limited. Even at the small spatial scale examined in this study, E.krefftii populations displayed a pattern of isolation by distance (r=0.854, p&lt0.03). Nested clade analysis also suggested a pattern of restricted gene flow with some long distance dispersal in recent times with long distance dispersal and a possible range expansion occurring historically. The species examined in this study that displayed the most extensive gene flow among lake populations was the dragonfly Orthetrum boumiera. No relationship was found between genetic and geographic distance (r= -0.0852, p&gt0.05) and nested clade analysis could not identify a geographical association among haplotypes, indicative of panmixia. While larval life stages of this species are fully aquatic, the winged adult stages of this species appear to be connecting seemingly isolated lake populations, at least at the spatial scale examined here. The results of this study have demonstrated that these perched dune lakes provide 'island like' models for recent biogeographic processes. The pattern of colonisation and subsequent diversification identified in these populations takes the form of insitu 'genetic radiations' with those populations that are isolated forming monophyletic clades endemic to a single lake. The genetic diversity and endemism identified in this study has occurred over much smaller temporal (&lt500,000 years) and spatial (&lt6.5km) scales than in studies of oceanic island fauna. However, the mode of formation of the perched dune lakes and the implications that their natural isolation and abiotic genesis have for the evolution of colonisers of these unique habitats has resulted in them being analogous to true oceanic islands.

No description available.

An intensive sampling of all ant species encountered on 6 Hawaiian Islands: Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai took place between 1988 and 1996. Species presence and absence was recorded at each site. Using remote sensing, variables were added insitu and used throughout my analysis. Species accumulation curves suggest that sampling was comprehensive. There is a significant trend between island area and species richness which validates the Theory of Island Biogeography for invasive species. Islands were found to be significantly nested by area, order, and tourism. Cluster analysis shows a link between elevation, land-use and island, and species presence. Predictive models can be built to predict spread of particular ant species as they continue toward equilibrium.

Parmi les problèmes les plus fréquemment soulevés en biogéographie, figure celui de l’intégration des interactions écologiques dans les modèles de distribution d’espèces. Bien que la littérature scientifique apporte un ensemble de preuves soulignant le rôle prépondérant des interactions dans la structuration des communautés locales, on trouve relativement peu d’études révélant les empreintes laissées par les interactions dans les données de distribution d’espèces. Proposer une explication simple et claire à ce problème demeure un défi important que la biogéographie doit mener. Le problème majeur que pose l’absence de réponse claire sur le rôle des interactions aux larges échelles spatiales est que la plupart des scénarios de changements de biodiversité partent de l’hypothèse que les interactions sont négligeables. Si cette hypothèse est régulièrement rejetée, alors il faut réviser ces scénarios et soutenir le développement de méthodologies incluant les relations entre les espèces. Je commence cette thèse par un travail théorique sur le sujet car les théories classiques en biogéographie relèguent souvent au second plan les interactions écologiques. Au premier chapitre, je traite de l'intégration des interactions écologiques dans un modèle théorique de distribution d'espèces issue d'une des théories les plus importantes en biogéographie: la théorie de la biogéographie des îles. Ce travail montre comment les effets conjoints des facteurs biotiques et abiotiques changent les attendus de la théorie classique. En m'appuyant sur ce premier chapitre, je montre au second chapitre comment les interactions peuvent se répercuter dans les données de co-occurrence d’espèces. Ces données indiquent la présence ou l’absence de plusieurs espèces sur un même ensemble de sites dispersés sur de larges étendues spatiales. À l’aide d’un modèle probabiliste, j'obtiens des résultats théoriques liant les données de co-occurrence et l’information contenue dans les réseaux écologiques.Je démontre clairement que les interactions affectent les données de co-occurrence. Je montre également que plus le nombre d’interactions séparant deux espèces est grand, moins leur interactions indirect est détectable. De même si une espèce entretient de nombreuses interactions, il sera difficile de trouver une quelconque trace des interactions dans les données de co-occurrence pour cette espèce. Au troisième chapitre, je présente l’analyse de cinq jeux de données de co-occurrence pour lesquels la description des interactions était disponible. Avec ces donnés, j'ai été capable de confirmer les hypothèses du second chapitre en montrant que les espèces qui interagissent co-occurrent différemment de celles n’interagissant pas. Mes résultats indiquent aussi que l’abondance d'interactions est un frein à leur détection dans les données de co-occurrence. Cependant, en intégrant la similarité des facteurs abiotiques pour les différents sites, je montre que les signaux de co-occurrence s’affaiblissent pour parfois disparaitre. Mes résultats suggèrent donc qu’en utilisant des facteurs abiotiques pour inférer les probabilités de co-occurrence,une partie du lien entre les espèces est capturée, mais cette part est entachée d’une grande incertitude. Ceci vient questionner la qualité des prédictions données par les modèles classiques de distribution d'espèces actuellement utilisés. Les résultats de ma recherche apportent des éléments théoriques nouveaux sur le rôle des interactions écologiques dans le tracé des aires de répartition des espèces en plus de proposer une méthode originale pour étudier les données de co-occurrence d’espèces : les regarder à la lumière des réseaux écologiques. Avant de conclure ma thèse, je propose au chapitre 4 une démarche prometteuse pour aller encore améliorer l’intégration des interactions en biogéographie : les introduire par le biais des contraintes énergétiques, ce qui offre une base solide pour une théorie métabolique de la biogéographie. / One of the most pressing challenges currently in the field of biogeography is the successful integration of ecological interactions in species distribution models. Although the scientific literature points out the evidence of the controlling role interactions play on local community structure, relatively few studies have demonstrated its importance over large geographical gradients. Developing a concise, clear explanation for this issue remains a significant challenge that biogeographers need to answer. The main issue associated to the lack of a clear answer concerning the role of interactions at broad spatial scales is that most of scenarios of biodiversity changes assume that interactions can be ignored. When tested, if this hypothesis is proven false, then a re-consideration of species distribution models and their development must be undertaken to include relationships among species. I begin this thesis with a theoretical investigation on this topic, where classical theories have typically ignored ecological interactions. In the first chapter of the thesis I present the integration of interaction networks into a theoretical model of species distribution coming from one of the most important theory in biogeography: the theory of island biogeography. This work shows how together the biotic and abiotic factors can affect the expectations derived from the classical theory. Building upon the findings in the first chapter, in the second chapter, I show how interactions can affect co-occurrence (between species) data. Such data contains the presence or absence of several species for a similar set of sites dispersed along large latitudinal gradients. Using a probabilistic model, I obtain theoretical results linking co-occurrence data and the information included in ecological networks. I clearly demonstrate that interactions shape co-occurrence data. Furthermore, I show that the higher the number of links between two species, the more difficult it is to detect their indirect interaction. Similarly, if a species experiences many interactions, it is then challenging to detect any sign of interactions in co-occurrence data for this species.In the third chapter of the thesis, I assess five sets of co-occurrence data, which had descriptions of their interactions available. Using this data, I was able to confirm my hypotheses put forth in my second chapter, by showing that species co-occur differently from non-interacting one. These results also point out that the abundance of interaction must preclude their detection in co-occurrence data. However, when accounting for abiotic similarities among sites, signals of interactions are weakened. Therefore, my results suggest that using abiotic factors to infer co-occurrence probabilities capture a part of the link between species and further pinpoint the uncertainty associated to this part. As a result of these findings, the predictive power of classical species distribution models used to date is brought into question. My research findings bring new theoretical elements to the forefront when considering the influence of ecological interactions and how they shape species geographical distributions, while also introducing an original methodology for studying species co-occurrence: examining them in the light of ecological networks. Before concluding, my fourth and final chapter, I propose a promising new avenue to further investigate integrating species interactions in biogeography. Here, I introduce interactions in terms of energetic constraints, which will provide a sound basis for a metabolic theory of biogeography.

The research presented in my PhD thesis consists of phylogenetic, biogeographic, taxonomic and ecological research of Southern Hemisphere water scavenger beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) with a special emphasis on New Zealand. The introductory chapter provides a brief outline on the break-up of Gondwana and geological processes that shaped New Zealand and its fauna. Furthermore, the diversity of New Zealand Hydrophilidae and worldwide diversity of the hydrophilid subfamily Cylominae and its taxonomic history are illustrated. The scientific part of the thesis contains 4 published papers and 2 manuscripts. The first study recalibrates the Coleoptera time tree, providing new age estimates for the Hydrophiloidea, among others. The new age estimate is implemented in the second study, a phylogenetic study that reconstructs the biogeography of the 'Gondwanan' Cylominae beetles. The Cylominae, whose name was reinstated through nomenclatural priority over Rygmodinae in a separate paper, are found to consist of two tribes, Andotypini and Cylomini. The disjunct distribution of Cylominae is shown to be partly the result of vicariance and partly of long-distance oversea dispersal. The most remarkable long-distance dispersal is that of the only African representative of the subfamily which reached Africa from...

New Zealand’s isolation and periods of marine transgression have limited its biota to an extent which can be considered depauperate, even by island standards. Endemic vertebrates are rare and prominent invertebrate families, such as the renowned forest defoliators of the Lymantriidae, are absent. The proven vulnerability of the flora to introduced vertebrates reaffirms a belief in the invasiveness of islands and fuels the contingency plans aimed at averting similar devastation from further alien invertebrate defoliators. Nothofagus is a dominant element of the climax forests of New Zealand and the larger landmasses bordering the South Pacific Ocean. Assessments of the resistance to defoliation of continental and New Zealand species of Nothofagus, and a range of other forest genera endemic to New Zealand, was undertaken using bioassays of naïve polyphagous defoliators. The bioassays were undertaken in Europe, utilising gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) as defoliators, fed foliage plants growing in European arboreta. In New Zealand, bioassays utilised Australian painted apple moth, Teia anartoides (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) and tree species from local arboreta, gardens and natural populations. Larval growth rate was the primary parameter recorded to assess plant resistance. The relevance of growth rate was investigated by comparison with other recorded parameters and resistance to a surrogate pathogen, in the form of commercially available bio-insecticide. Larval growth rate was positively correlated with survivorship, potential fecundity, mating success and resistance to disease. The growth rate of larvae fed Nothofagus was positively correlated to the species-specific leaf nitrogen content. The results of the bioassays showed that despite the accepted paradigms, New Zealand’s flora was largely resistant to exotic defoliators. As an explanation of this apparent anomaly, the Island Resource Allocation (IRA) hypothesis was developed and posits that ‘the palatability iv of a plant to invertebrate herbivores is proportional to the geographic range of the plant’. The basis for the IRA hypothesis proposes a redefinition of the fundamental ecological principle of the species: area relationship. Islands, or similarly geographically constrained ecosystems, which support lower biodiversity, have impoverished trophic levels and consequently have weaker top-down regulation of herbivores by natural enemies. The IRA hypothesis argues that island ecosystem stability is achieved through the bottom-up process of plant defence. The IRA hypothesis was tested intra-specifically using bioassays using painted apple moth in which larvae were offered foliage of specimens from naturally discontinuous populations of Nothofagus truncata. The results supported the hypothesis in that the smallest populations of N. truncata exhibited the greatest resistance to the defoliator. The IRA hypothesis and a demonstrated mechanism for a differential resistance in Nothofagus species could resolve a number of enduring debates in ecology. Habitat area appears to explain the relative strengths of top-down and bottom-up regulation of herbivores. It also predicts the strengths of reciprocal evolution within the geographic mosaic of co-evolution and highlights the influence of biodiversity in invasive ecology. It may also help to resolve the contentious and extremely relevant debate of the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:29:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3992.pdf: 1107503 bytes, checksum: 7c3e8c7b1f79eb3747f360b3ec8d02b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-01 / The Lagoa do Peixe National Park is an important conservation unity, aiming to protect the wetlands, one of the most endangered type of ecosystem in the world. In Southern Brazil around 90% of the wetlands were already lost. The protected ecosystems in the park are ernationally important for biodiversity conservation and it is the unique Ramsar site in Southern Brazil. The existence of areas invaded by Pinus eliotti and the artificial breaching of the lagoon sandbar are severe problems that can threaten the biodiversity in this preservation area. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diversity of aquatic macrophyte present in the park and test some ecological hypothesis about the community diversity of aquatic macrophyte in natural areas and areas under influence of the main problems of the park (pine invasion and the sandbar breaching). To answer this questions a survey was conducted in 32 wetlands situated inside the park between 2007 and 2009. We identified 176 aquatic macrophyte species in the palustrine wetlands of the park. The aquatic macrophyte richness and composition in coastal wetlands are directly related to the isolation degree of these wetlands in relation to the source wetland and other closer wetlands. The wetland area was not a significant factor for the spatial structure of the aquatic macrophyte community. Other determinant factors for the community were habitat diversity and hydroperiod. The influence of those environmental characteristics was different among the macrophyte groups defined as: hydrophytes, palustrine, and amphibious. The presence of pine resulted in a decrease in macrophyte richness, and the species composition in this area is, in a general way, a subset of the species found in natural wetlands. The artificial sandbar breaching did not affect the richness of aquatic macrophytes in the floodplain wetlands of Lagoa do Peixe. However, in this areas affected by the sandbar breaching, the community composition 4 was characterized by a pattern of continuous species replacement during the two-year study. These results provide important information for wetland management in the park. / O Parque Nacional da Lagoa do Peixe, o único sítio Ramsar no sul do Brasil, é uma importante Unidade de Conservação do sul do Brasil visando à proteção de áreas úmidas um dos tipos de ecossistemas mais ameaçados no mundo. No sul do Brasil, cerca de 90% das áreas úmidas já foram perdidas. A existência de áreas invadidas por Pinus elliottii e a abertura artificial da barra da Lagoa do Peixe são problemas graves que podem representar severos riscos à biodiversidade no parque. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a diversidade de macrófitas aquáticas do parque e testar algumas hipóteses ecológicas sobre a dinâmica da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas em áreas naturais e sob a influência da invasão do pinus e da abertura da barra. Foi realizado um inventário em 32 áreas úmidas do parque entre 2007 e 2009, nas quais foram identificadas 176 espécies de macrófitas aquáticas. A riqueza e a composição de macrófitas aquáticas estiveram diretamente relacionadas ao grau de isolamento dessas áreas em relação às áreas-fonte e a outras áreas úmidas próximas. O tamanho da área não foi um fator importante para a estrutura espacial da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas, sendo fatores determinantes a diversidade de hábitats e o hidroperíodo. A influência desses fatores variou entre os grupos de macrófitas definidos como: hidrófitas, palustres e anfíbias. A invasão por pinus resultou na redução da riqueza de macrófitas e a composição de espécies nessas áreas é, de forma geral, um subconjunto das espécies encontradas nas áreas úmidas naturais. A abertura da barra não alterou a riqueza de macrófitas, as quais estão sujeitas ao manejo da barra. A composição da comunidade foi caracterizada por um padrão de contínua substituição de espécies ao longo dos dois anos de estudo. Esses resultados são informações importantes para o gerenciamento das áreas úmidas do parque.

An important goal of ecological studies is to identify and explain patterns or variation in species assemblages. Ecologists have discovered that global variation in the number of species in an assemblage relates strongly to climate, area, and topographic variability in terrestrial environments. Is the same true for other characteristics of species assemblages? The focus of this thesis is to determine whether species assemblage structure, defined primarily as the body mass frequency distributions and species abundance distributions relate in convergent ways to a set of a few environmental variables across broad spatial scales. First, I found that for mammals and trees most of their geographic variation across North and South America in assemblage structure is statistically related to temperature, precipitation, and habitat heterogeneity (e.g. different vegetation types) in convergent ways. I then examined bird assemblages across islands and continents. Despite the evolutionary and ecological differences between island and continental assemblages, I found that much of the variation in bird assemblage structure depends on temperature, precipitation, land area, and island isolation in congruent patterns in continent and island bird assemblages. Frank Preston modeled species richness based on the total number of individuals and the number of individuals of the rarest species. Building on Preston’s model, Chapter 2 hypothesized that gradients of diversity correlate with gradients in the number of individuals of the rarest species, which in turn are driven by gradients in temperature and precipitation. This hypothesis assumes that species abundance distributions relate to temperature and precipitation in similar ways anywhere in the world. I found that both the number of individuals of the rarest species (m) and the proportion of species represented by a single individual in samples of species assemblages (Φ) were strongly related to climate. Moreover, global variation in species richness was more strongly related to these measures of rarity than to climate. I propose that variation in the shape of the log-normal species abundance distribution is responsible for global gradients of species richness: rare species (reflected in m and Φ) persist better in benign climates. Even though body mass frequency distributions of assemblages show convergent patterns in relation to a set of a few environmental variables, the question remains as to what processes are responsible for creating the geographical variation in the body-size distribution of species. Several mechanisms (e.g. heat conservation and resource availability hypotheses) have been proposed to explain this variation. Chapter 5 tested and found no empirical support for the predictions derived from each of these mechanisms; I showed that species of all sizes occur across the entire temperature gradient. In conclusion, assemblage structure among various taxonomic groups across broad spatial scales relate in similar ways to a set of a few environmental variables, primarily mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. While the exact mechanisms are still unknown, I hypothesize several to explain the patterns of convergent assembly. Résumé Un but important de l'écologie est d'identifier et d'expliquer la variation de premier ordre dans les caractéristiques des assemblages d'espèces. Un des patrons ayant déjà été identifié par les écologistes, c'est que la variation mondiale de la richesse en espèces est liée à la variation du climat, de l'aire et de la topographie. Est-ce que d'autres caractéristiques des assemblages d'espèces peuvent être reliées à ces mêmes variables? Le but de cette thèse est de déterminer si la structure des assemblages d'espèces, ici définie comme la distribution des fréquences de masse corporelle ainsi que la distribution d'abondances des espèces, est reliée de manière convergente à un petit ensemble de variables environnementales, et ce, partout dans le monde. D'abord, j'ai déterminé que, pour les mammifères et les arbres, la majorité de la variation géographique dans la structure des assemblages d'espèces est reliée statistiquement à température, précipitation, et l’hétérogénéité du couvert végétal , et ce, de manière convergente pour l'Amérique du Nord et du Sud. Je me suis ensuite penché sur l'assemblage des oiseaux sur les îles et les continents. Malgré les larges différences évolutives et écologiques qui distinguent les îles des continents, je démontre que la majorité de la variation dans la structure des assemblages d'oiseaux dépend de la température, la précipitation, la superficie et l’isolation de façon congruente sur les îles et les continents. Frank Preston a modélisé la richesse en espèces d'une localité, basée sur le nombre total d'individus ainsi que le nombre d'individus de l’espèce la plus rare. En s'appuyant sur les modèles de Preston, Chapître 3 propose une nouvelle hypothèse voulant que les gradients de diversité dépendent des gradients du nombre d'individus de l’espèce la plus rare. Celle-ci dépend des gradients de température et de précipitation. Cette hypothèse repose sur le postulat que la distribution d’abondances des espèces dépend de la température et la précipitation, et ce, de la même manière n’importe où au monde. J’ai mis en évidence que le nombre d’individus de l’espèce la plus rare (m), ainsi que la proportion d’espèces représentées par un individu unique () dans des échantillons locaux étaient fortement reliés au climat. D’ailleurs, la variation globale de la richesse en espèces était plus fortement reliée à ces indices de rareté qu’au climat. Je propose que la variation dans la forme de la distribution log-normale d’abondances d’individus soit responsable des gradients mondiaux de richesse en espèces. En d’autres mots, les espèces rares (indiquées par m et ) persistent mieux dans des climats bénins. Malgré que la distribution des fréquences de masse corporelle des assemblages d'espèces soit liée de manière convergente à seulement quelques variables environnementales, la question demeure à savoir quels processus sont responsables des gradients géographiques de variation en masse corporelle des espèces. Plusieurs mécanismes ont été proposés pour expliquer cette variation. Dans Chapitre 5, j'ai testé les prédictions dérivées de chacun de ces mécanismes sans trouver de support empirique pour aucun. Je démontre aussi que des espèces de toutes tailles se retrouvent sur le gradient de température en entier. En conclusion, la structure des assemblages d'espèces, pour différents groupes taxonomiques et à travers le monde, est liée de façon similaire à un petit nombre de variables environnementales. Bien que les mécanismes soient encore inconnus, j'en propose plusieurs pouvant expliquer ces patrons d'assemblages convergents.

An important goal of ecological studies is to identify and explain patterns or variation in species assemblages. Ecologists have discovered that global variation in the number of species in an assemblage relates strongly to climate, area, and topographic variability in terrestrial environments. Is the same true for other characteristics of species assemblages? The focus of this thesis is to determine whether species assemblage structure, defined primarily as the body mass frequency distributions and species abundance distributions relate in convergent ways to a set of a few environmental variables across broad spatial scales. First, I found that for mammals and trees most of their geographic variation across North and South America in assemblage structure is statistically related to temperature, precipitation, and habitat heterogeneity (e.g. different vegetation types) in convergent ways. I then examined bird assemblages across islands and continents. Despite the evolutionary and ecological differences between island and continental assemblages, I found that much of the variation in bird assemblage structure depends on temperature, precipitation, land area, and island isolation in congruent patterns in continent and island bird assemblages. Frank Preston modeled species richness based on the total number of individuals and the number of individuals of the rarest species. Building on Preston’s model, Chapter 2 hypothesized that gradients of diversity correlate with gradients in the number of individuals of the rarest species, which in turn are driven by gradients in temperature and precipitation. This hypothesis assumes that species abundance distributions relate to temperature and precipitation in similar ways anywhere in the world. I found that both the number of individuals of the rarest species (m) and the proportion of species represented by a single individual in samples of species assemblages (Φ) were strongly related to climate. Moreover, global variation in species richness was more strongly related to these measures of rarity than to climate. I propose that variation in the shape of the log-normal species abundance distribution is responsible for global gradients of species richness: rare species (reflected in m and Φ) persist better in benign climates. Even though body mass frequency distributions of assemblages show convergent patterns in relation to a set of a few environmental variables, the question remains as to what processes are responsible for creating the geographical variation in the body-size distribution of species. Several mechanisms (e.g. heat conservation and resource availability hypotheses) have been proposed to explain this variation. Chapter 5 tested and found no empirical support for the predictions derived from each of these mechanisms; I showed that species of all sizes occur across the entire temperature gradient. In conclusion, assemblage structure among various taxonomic groups across broad spatial scales relate in similar ways to a set of a few environmental variables, primarily mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation. While the exact mechanisms are still unknown, I hypothesize several to explain the patterns of convergent assembly. Résumé Un but important de l'écologie est d'identifier et d'expliquer la variation de premier ordre dans les caractéristiques des assemblages d'espèces. Un des patrons ayant déjà été identifié par les écologistes, c'est que la variation mondiale de la richesse en espèces est liée à la variation du climat, de l'aire et de la topographie. Est-ce que d'autres caractéristiques des assemblages d'espèces peuvent être reliées à ces mêmes variables? Le but de cette thèse est de déterminer si la structure des assemblages d'espèces, ici définie comme la distribution des fréquences de masse corporelle ainsi que la distribution d'abondances des espèces, est reliée de manière convergente à un petit ensemble de variables environnementales, et ce, partout dans le monde. D'abord, j'ai déterminé que, pour les mammifères et les arbres, la majorité de la variation géographique dans la structure des assemblages d'espèces est reliée statistiquement à température, précipitation, et l’hétérogénéité du couvert végétal , et ce, de manière convergente pour l'Amérique du Nord et du Sud. Je me suis ensuite penché sur l'assemblage des oiseaux sur les îles et les continents. Malgré les larges différences évolutives et écologiques qui distinguent les îles des continents, je démontre que la majorité de la variation dans la structure des assemblages d'oiseaux dépend de la température, la précipitation, la superficie et l’isolation de façon congruente sur les îles et les continents. Frank Preston a modélisé la richesse en espèces d'une localité, basée sur le nombre total d'individus ainsi que le nombre d'individus de l’espèce la plus rare. En s'appuyant sur les modèles de Preston, Chapître 3 propose une nouvelle hypothèse voulant que les gradients de diversité dépendent des gradients du nombre d'individus de l’espèce la plus rare. Celle-ci dépend des gradients de température et de précipitation. Cette hypothèse repose sur le postulat que la distribution d’abondances des espèces dépend de la température et la précipitation, et ce, de la même manière n’importe où au monde. J’ai mis en évidence que le nombre d’individus de l’espèce la plus rare (m), ainsi que la proportion d’espèces représentées par un individu unique () dans des échantillons locaux étaient fortement reliés au climat. D’ailleurs, la variation globale de la richesse en espèces était plus fortement reliée à ces indices de rareté qu’au climat. Je propose que la variation dans la forme de la distribution log-normale d’abondances d’individus soit responsable des gradients mondiaux de richesse en espèces. En d’autres mots, les espèces rares (indiquées par m et ) persistent mieux dans des climats bénins. Malgré que la distribution des fréquences de masse corporelle des assemblages d'espèces soit liée de manière convergente à seulement quelques variables environnementales, la question demeure à savoir quels processus sont responsables des gradients géographiques de variation en masse corporelle des espèces. Plusieurs mécanismes ont été proposés pour expliquer cette variation. Dans Chapitre 5, j'ai testé les prédictions dérivées de chacun de ces mécanismes sans trouver de support empirique pour aucun. Je démontre aussi que des espèces de toutes tailles se retrouvent sur le gradient de température en entier. En conclusion, la structure des assemblages d'espèces, pour différents groupes taxonomiques et à travers le monde, est liée de façon similaire à un petit nombre de variables environnementales. Bien que les mécanismes soient encore inconnus, j'en propose plusieurs pouvant expliquer ces patrons d'assemblages convergents.