New research on lizards in the Caribbean demonstrates that species diversification is limited by the environment.
It's long been accepted by biologists that environmental factors cause the diversity -- or number -- of species to increase before eventually leveling off. Some recent work, however, has suggested that species diversity continues instead of entering into a state of equilibrium. But new research on lizards in the Caribbean not only supports the original theory that finite space, limited food supplies, and competition for resources all work together to achieve equilibrium; it builds on the theory by extending it over a much longer time span.
The research was done by Daniel Rabosky of the University of California. The two scientists found that species diversification of lizards on the four islands reached a plateau millions of years ago and has essentially come to an end.
