[Taxacom] Origin of New Caledonian Biogeography

[Jody Haynes]

If the empirical data establish an correlation, then that is certainly good 
(and useful) information. However, we all know that correlation does not 
equal cause/effect; it merely provides a starting point for further work. 
And in this particular case, it appears there are several possible 
hypotheses to be tested.

Jody

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Grehan" <jgrehan at sciencebuff.org>
To: "Robert Huber" <rhuber at wdc-mare.org>; <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Origin of New Caledonian Biogeography


> Maybe, maybe, maybe. And maybe not. The point is that the disjunct
> patterns in NC alternating across the fault also occur in New Guinea and
> New Zealand. The opinions expressed are definitely opinions, and if they
> are backed up by a comparable regional analysis they might be
> interesting. Right now Heads has demonstrated a tectonic correlation -
> and that is empirically real whether anyone believes it or not.
>
> John Grehan
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-
>> bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Huber
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:34 AM
>> To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
>> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Origin of New Caledonian Biogeography
>>
>> Dear Robin,
>>
>> I agree that the role of tectonics is overestimated in Head's paper.
> In
>> contrast, other factors  -such as climate! - which could explain such
>> patterns much better are not discussed at all.
>> This map for example (
>> http://www.cartographie.ird.fr/images/caledonie/climat_11.gif) shows
> rain
>> fall distribution in New Caledonia. The rain rich area in the
> southeastern
>> part quite nicely matches the concentration of many litzard
> species/clades
>> here. And as you already mention soil chemistry might als be very
>> important.
>>
>> best regards,
>> Robert
>>
>> 2008/11/18 Robin Leech <releech at telusplanet.net>
>>
>> > Dear All,
>> >         Concerning the biological disjunction along the West
> Caledonian
>> >  fault, John Grehan says that  "It may have undergone 150-200 km of
>> >  lateral movement and it is suggested that this has caused the
>> biological
>> >  disjunction by pulling populations apart."
>> >        However, given the accretionary nature which he attributes to
>> >  New Caledonia's geology, I would suggest that it is probably not
> this
>> >  "lateral movement" which has caused such biological disjunctions,
> but
>> >  rather differences in the ability of certain organisms to tolerate
>> >  extremely ultramafic soils (often deadly to species not adapted to
>> >  them).  The lateral movement itself is probably far too slow
>> >  geologically to account for these distributions, while soil
> chemistry
>> >  differences would probably be a much greater factor.  In other
> words,
>> it
>> >  is more ecological than geographical.   I wonder if Heads (and
> Grehan)
>> >  took this into account?                             ---------Ken
> Kinman
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Robert Huber,
>>
>> WDC-MARE / PANGAEA - www.pangaea.de
>> Stratigraphy.net - www.stratigraphy.net
>> _____________________________________________
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