The article discusses how the size and detail of the area studied can affect our understanding of patterns in species richness. By analyzing data on species richness along altitudinal gradients, the researchers found that the shape of the pattern changes depending on the scale of observation. A hump-shaped pattern is most common, followed by a decreasing pattern, but this can vary with the size of the area studied. To better understand the factors influencing species richness, we need to consider how patterns change with scale and look for consistent trends in these changes. The study suggests potential directions for future research on species richness patterns.