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Testing Bergmann's Rule and the Latitudinal Diversity Gradient on Trochilidae
  • Noah Atkin
Noah Atkin
Imperial College London

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

In this paper, we aim to test two separate ecological rules, Bergmann's rule and the latitude diversity gradient, and their applicability to the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, using general linear models. Our analysis of Bergmann's rule found no evidence of a relationship between latitude and overall body mass in the family, while this may be partly due to the simplicity of the analysis, recent large scale reviews have found increasing reason to doubt the universality of Bergmann's rule. However we found strong evidence of a latitudinal diversity gradient existing for the hummingbird family, and we suggest the relationship is particularly strong for this family due to their unique flight mechanism and subsequent high calorific requirements.