Which is NOT a valid cause for tropical biodiversity?
Low predation is not a standard explanation for exceptionally high tropical biodiversity. Stable warm climates, long evolutionary time, high productivity, and strong spatial heterogeneity can promote niche specialisation and coexistence. Intense competition may encourage resource partitioning, while predation can prevent competitive exclusion by limiting dominant species. Thus reduced predation would not generally account for maintaining many competitors; in some systems, stronger consumer pressure can actually support diversity. Energy is lost as metabolic heat at every trophic transfer, whil
Ref: Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, Begon et al., 5th Ed., Ch. 17-19
