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Yes, a non‐random distribution, but why do dragonflies and damselflies not follow latitudinal gradient rules?
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  • Maya Rocha,
  • Freddy Palacino,
  • Pilar Rodríguez,
  • Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
Maya Rocha
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Freddy Palacino
Universidad El Bosque
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Pilar Rodríguez
CONABIO
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Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
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Abstract

1. Latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is the increase in species richness towards the equator and is one of the most consistent patterns in biogeography, where current and historical processes contribute to shape the pattern. 2. Despite that LDG patterns have been described for some insects, the underlying mechanisms associated with community assembly and diversification along modern latitudinal diversity gradient pattern remain unknowledge for many groups. 3. Odonata is an old order of insects that originated during the Carboniferous and has diversified through different eras. Here, we defined co-occurrence based on the presence in ecoregions and 1°×1° grid cells of Odonata species in North America NA, to address their species richness, phylogenetic structure, and species diversification rate along the latitudinal gradient. 4. For the whole order, we found the highest species richness at mid-latitudes, while phylogenetic diversity showed a linear positive pattern along the gradient. Our results showed dragonfly assemblages were clustered along all the gradient, suggesting that environmental filtering sorted the assemblages. Whereas damselfly species assemblages were clustered at mid-latitude and overdispersed into both extremes of gradient, probably community assembly is driving by thermal gradients at mid-latitude, by competitive exclusion at south extreme, and by different origins of the biota at the boreal zone. Our results show that apparently most ancestral lineages of Odonata inhabit tropical zones, where diversified and dispersed to the temperate region, although likely also have been diversified into regions of NA, which might be linked with the highest species richness at mid-latitude for both suborders.
08 Nov 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
09 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Nov 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
09 Dec 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
12 Aug 20221st Revision Received
12 Aug 2022Submission Checks Completed
12 Aug 2022Assigned to Editor
12 Aug 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Aug 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Oct 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor