The emergence of modern zoogeographic regions in Asia examined through climate–dental trait association patterns

Liping Liu (), Esther Galbrun (), Hui Tang, Anu Kaakinen, Zhongshi Zhang, Zijian Zhang and Indrė Žliobaitė
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Liping Liu: University of Helsinki
Esther Galbrun: University of Eastern Finland
Hui Tang: University of Helsinki
Anu Kaakinen: University of Helsinki
Zhongshi Zhang: China University of Geosciences
Zijian Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Indrė Žliobaitė: University of Helsinki

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The complex and contrasted distribution of terrestrial biota in Asia has been linked to active tectonics and dramatic climatic changes during the Neogene. However, the timings of the emergence of these distributional patterns and the underlying climatic and tectonic mechanisms remain disputed. Here, we apply a computational data analysis technique, called redescription mining, to track these spatiotemporal phenomena by studying the associations between the prevailing herbivore dental traits of mammalian communities and climatic conditions during the Neogene. Our results indicate that the modern latitudinal zoogeographic division emerged after the Middle Miocene climatic transition, and that the modern monsoonal zoogeographic pattern emerged during the late Late Miocene. Furthermore, the presence of a montane forest biodiversity hotspot in the Hengduan Mountains alongside Alpine fauna on the Tibetan Plateau suggests that the modern distribution patterns may have already existed since the Pliocene.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43807-w

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