The gradient parameters were not affected by hemisphere or the latitudinal range covered. Latitudinal gradients were weaker and less steep in freshwater than in marine or terrestrial environments and differed significantly between continents and habitat types. The body mass–effect size relation varied for ecto‐ versus homeotherm organisms and for different dispersal types, suggesting allometric effects on energy use and dispersal ability as possible mechanisms for the body mass effect. Both strength and slope increased with organism body mass, and strength increased with trophic level. Gradients on regional scales were significantly stronger and steeper than on local scales, and slopes also varied with sampling grain.

The analysis corroborated the high generality of the latitudinal diversity decline. Each gradient was characterized by two effect sizes, strength (correlation coefficient) and slope, and additionally by 14 variables describing organisms, habitats, and regions. To test for significant variation in the gradient between organisms, habitats, or regions, a meta‐analysis was conducted on nearly 600 latitudinal gradients assembled from the literature.

Most studies of the latitudinal gradient comprise only one or few organism types and are often restricted to certain region or habitat types. The decline of biodiversity with latitude has received great attention, but both the concise pattern and the causes of the gradient are under strong debate.

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