Habitat continuity key in shaping species richness and biogeographic regions.
Habitat continuity plays a crucial role in shaping the distribution of species on rocky shores. By studying gastropods along the eastern Pacific coast, researchers found that areas with more connected habitats have lower species turnover and higher species richness. Tropical regions have lower habitat continuity compared to extratropical regions, especially at boundaries where species richness changes rapidly. This study shows that habitat continuity is a key factor in understanding how species are distributed across different biogeographic regions.