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Question
Explain, giving three reasons, why tropics show greatest levels of species diversity.
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Solution
The tropics exhibit the greatest levels of species diversity for these reasons:
- High solar energy: As there is more food available in tropical areas, which receive more solar radiation, productivity and biodiversity are higher.
- Stable climate: In the tropics, less seasonal change encourages niche specialisation, which makes it possible for more species to coexist.
- Evolutionary history: As tropical places have not been significantly impacted by glaciation, organisms have had more time to evolve and diversify.
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