#  HUH Seminar Series - Nawal Shrestha 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **April 16, 2024** 

 12:00PM - 01:00PM EDT 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, HUH Seminar Room 125 or livestream**  



 

 [ https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlceCvqjkiHtyi3oTsngiBYcR4EvwwSMQ4 arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqcOCrqz4tHtWamSL9zT7IDdJH5EXfeYI8) 

 



 

 **Dr. Nawal Shrestha  
Research Associate in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University**

 **Title**: Understanding the Distribution of Life on Earth: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective

   ![Rhododendron setosum](/sites/g/files/omnuum6796/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/herbaria/files/r._setosum_d._don.jpg?itok=prTW138r) 

 

**Abstract**: Diverse species assemblages are evident in certain geographic regions and ecological communities, while others exhibit comparatively limited species richness. Notably, tropical areas demonstrate a pronounced richness in species diversity when contrasted with higher latitude. This latitudinal gradient of species diversity has captivated biologists since the early 19th century, with ongoing heated debates within the disciplines of ecology and biogeography concerning the mechanisms underlying this pattern. While prevailing hypotheses emphasize the role of contemporary environmental factors, a growing body of evidence underscores the significant contribution of evolutionary history in shaping patterns of species diversity. Tropical mountains, in particular, exhibit remarkable richness in species diversity, encompassing a third of all terrestrial species. Drawing upon the distribution of two genera, *Rhododendron* and *Gaultheria* within the Ericaceae family, this talk elucidates the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms driving diversity of species in the tropics, with a particular focus on tropical and subtropical mountains. **Join via Zoom livestream**: [https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlceCvqjkiHtyi3oTsngiBYcR4EvwwSMQ4](https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqcOCrqz4tHtWamSL9zT7IDdJH5EXfeYI8) (registration required)



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Herbaria Seminar Series ](/calendar/taxonomy/term/20301)
 
 

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