NO LONGITUDINAL SPECIES DIVERSITY GRADIENT IN RED MILLIPEDES CENTROBOLUS COOK, 1897

Author Name: Mark I. Cooper

Volume/Issue: 03/05

Country: South Africa

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/10.2022-16757148/UIJIR

Affiliation:

University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

ABSTRACT

The genus of red millipedes Centro bolus is distributed in southern Africa between -17 to -35° S. Species richness is negatively related to latitude. In this paper, I check for a correlation between species richness and longitude. Species richness was not significantly related to longitude (r=0.14, Z score=0.21, n=22, p=0.42) although over half the species (12) occurred between 30-34°E. The absence of a longitudinal gradient in species richness serves as a control for the latitudinal gradient already known in species richness.

Key words: millipedes, Centro bolus, Species, Longitude