Why is Earth so biologically diverse? Mountains hold the answer

Life on Earth is amazingly diverse, and exhibits striking geographical global patterns in biodiversity. A pair of companion papers reveal that mountain regions -- especially those in the tropics -- are hotspots of extraordinary and baffling richness. Although mountain regions cover only 25 percent of Earth's land area, they are home to more than 85 percent of the world's species of amphibians, birds, and mammals, and many of these are found only in mountains.

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