Species Diversity and recognition
Polar regions
Accounts for 2%
of all species
Environments not
as hospitable to
many species
Temperate Environments
Accounts for 1/4 or 24%
of all species
Lower rate of speciation
than in tropics
Higher rate of extinction
than in tropics
Overdifferentiation
One species linked to many
different type of plant names/plants
for a specific culture
May be due to different genotypes
in which each different type gets
own name
Tropical Environments
Accounts for 3/4 or 74%
of all species
Has highest diversity for many reasons
Stable climate
season to season
High percentage of
solar energy captured
Low Extinction
rates
High speciation
rates
High degree of
specialization
Elevation
Higher speciation in
lower elevation
Underdifferentiation
Many species linked to one type
of plant name/plant for another
culture
The culture sees no difference
among the plant
