mid-domain effect

noun

The hypothesis that species richness tends to peak in the middle of a geographic range or habitat rather than at the extremes; an attempt to explain the observed pattern of latitudinal gradients in species diversity.

Meanings

nounmid-domain effect (plural mid-domain effects)

plural mid-domain effects

  1. biologyThe hypothesis that species richness tends to peak in the middle of a geographic range or habitat rather than at the extremes; an attempt to explain the observed pattern of latitudinal gradients in species diversity.
Cite this entry
APA

mid-domain effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mid-domain%20effect

MLA

“mid-domain effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mid-domain%20effect. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mid-domain effect,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mid-domain%20effect.

Source: mid-domain effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.