Why Are There So Many Species Near the Equator?

The video explores the concept of the latitudinal diversity gradient, which describes the pattern of higher biodiversity near the equator compared to the poles. It discusses two main hypotheses: the time and area hypothesis, which suggests that tropical regions have had more time and space for species to accumulate, and the diversification rate hypothesis, which proposes that species evolve faster in the tropics. The video highlights the complexity of these ideas and the ongoing scientific exploration to understand this pattern.

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