Factors influencing latitudinal pattern of biodiversity: an example using Sabellidae (Annelida, Polychaeta)

The 'latitudinal gradient of biodiversity' hypothesis was tested utilising the geographical distribution of species taxa belonging to the family Sabellidae (Annelida: Polychaeta), one of the polychaete families studied by only a few specialists around the world. An increase in species richness towards the Tropical region was revealed, with an asymmetric distribution between the two hemispheres. Data show that most of the species were found in Northern latitudes, producing a Northern area much richer than the Southern one. The Atlantic-Mediterranean Region was particularly rich, with the number of species close to those from the Indo-Pacific Region. Mediterranean species richness is discussed in the light of the particular history of the basin, also emphasising the importance of naturalistic studies that have made the Mediterranean marine flora and fauna one of the best known in the world. The existence of 'extrinsic factors' that obscure the real pattern of distributions is hypothesised. Differences found between the two hemispheres could be attributed primarily to the higher number of specialists working in the Boreal Domains, including the Mediterranean area. Global trends produced by some representative genera are also discussed with respect to the distribution of the taxonomic specialists.