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Elevational diversity gradient
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<p>Elevational diversity gradient (EDG) is an ecological pattern where <a href="/facts/Biodiversity/GruakEzs">biodiversity</a> changes with <a href="/facts/Elevation/h2d0u9nd">elevation</a>. The EDG states that <a href="/facts/Species_richness/xb1W1j65">species richness</a> tends to decrease as elevation increases, up to a certain point, creating a "diversity bulge" at middle elevations. There have been multiple hypotheses proposed for explaining the EDG, none of which accurately describe the phenomenon in full. </p> <p>A similar pattern, known as the <a href="/facts/Latitudinal_gradients_in_species_diversity/dNPYyHjP">latitudinal diversity gradient</a>, describes an increase in biodiversity from the poles to the <a href="/facts/Equator/CjaxbVaN">equator</a>. While the EDG generally follows the LDG (i.e., high elevations in tropical regions have greater biodiversity than high elevations in temperate regions), the LDG does not account for elevational changes. </p>