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the claim

There is a correlation between geographical distance and similarity in community composition in local to global-scale analyses.

the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
Recorded sources
8 sources for · 0 against

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Is it true that there is a correlation between geographical distance and similarity in community composition in local to global-scale analyses?

Yes. Numerous ecological and biogeographical studies spanning local to global scales confirm that biological community similarity declines with increasing geographic distance, a well-documented phenomenon known as the distance-decay relationship.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 8 sources for, 0 against · Last checked

The analysis

The claim posits a correlation between geographical distance and similarity in community composition across local to global scales. Multiple papers (0 through 7) directly investigate and support the distance-decay relationship in diverse taxa and biomes, showing it to be a fundamental and widely observed biogeographical pattern despite methodological sensitivities like grain size and extent. There are no refuting papers provided.

Evidence for · 8
The distance decay of similarity in biogeography and ecology
1999
Demonstrates that community similarity decreases significantly with distance across plant taxa in regional to continental scales.
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Nekola, J. C. & White, P. S. (1999). The distance decay of similarity in biogeography and ecology. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.1999.00305.x

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More for · 7
Current measures for distance decay in similarity of species composition are influenced by study extent and grain size
2012
Analyzes the distance-decay relationship in species composition, noting that spatial extent and grain influence the observed turnover.
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Steinbauer, M. J., Dolos, K., Reineking, B., & Beierkuhnlein, C. (2012). Current measures for distance decay in similarity of species composition are influenced by study extent and grain size. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2012.00772.x

Biogeography of Cryoconite Bacterial Communities Across Continents.
2026
Finds a distance-decay pattern in bacterial communities across continental spatial gradients.
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Q, G., Z, C., Y, X., W, Z., G, L., T, C., & B, Z. (2026). Biogeography of Cryoconite Bacterial Communities Across Continents.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010162

The Further You Are, the Closer You Get: Environmental Similarity Connects Aquatic Invertebrate Communities Across the Terrestrial Landscape in a Large River Network.
2026
Shows that spatial relationships and distance decay framework structure aquatic invertebrate communities across the terrestrial landscape.
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JW, F., TA, K., & DA, L. (2026). The Further You Are, the Closer You Get: Environmental Similarity Connects Aquatic Invertebrate Communities Across the Terrestrial Landscape in a Large River Network.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74302

Alpine grassland degradation reduced the geographic distance-decay rate of bacterial community.
2026
Reports that geographic distance-decay relationships persist across alpine grassland degradation gradients.
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H, Y., J, L., & D, J. (2026). Alpine grassland degradation reduced the geographic distance-decay rate of bacterial community.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129065

Cross-Range Comparison of Supraglacial Microbial Communities Between Gongga and Gangrigabu Mountains, Southeast Tibetan Plateau.
2026
Observes a significant distance decay pattern of declining taxonomic similarity with increasing geographic distance across glacier microbial communities.
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Y, H., Q, L., & X, L. (2026). Cross-Range Comparison of Supraglacial Microbial Communities Between Gongga and Gangrigabu Mountains, Southeast Tibetan Plateau.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74278

An Empirical Test of Scale‐Dependence of β‐Diversity in a Large Temperate Forest Region
2026
Examines the distance-decay relationship as part of the spatial scaling of beta-diversity in forest ecosystems.
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L, L., PS, B., S, L., M, H., C, F., Kv, G., X, Z., & C, Z. (2026). An Empirical Test of Scale‐Dependence of β‐Diversity in a Large Temperate Forest Region. europepmc.org. https://europepmc.org/article/AGR/IND609489348

Microbial community succession along the entrance to distant zone in karst cave ecosystem: community assembly and distance decay patterns in weathered rock and sediment habitats.
2026
Identifies distance-decay patterns in microbial communities across diverse karst cave ecosystems.
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J, D., L, M., X, H., X, L., & H, W. (2026). Microbial community succession along the entrance to distant zone in karst cave ecosystem: community assembly and distance decay patterns in weathered rock and sediment habitats.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-026-00900-z

What does the evidence say?

The claim posits a correlation between geographical distance and similarity in community composition across local to global scales. Multiple papers (0 through 7) directly investigate and support the distance-decay relationship in diverse taxa and biomes, showing it to be a fundamental and widely observed biogeographical pattern despite methodological sensitivities like grain size and extent. There are no refuting papers provided.

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