Leprieur Fabien auteur aut IRD Tedesco Pablo auteur aut IRD Hugueny Bernard auteur aut IRD Beauchard O. auteur aut IRD Durr H.H. auteur aut IRD Brosse S. auteur aut IRD Oberdorff Thierry auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Here, we employ an additive partitioning framework to disentangle the contribution of spatial turnover and nestedness to beta diversity patterns in the global freshwater fish fauna. We find that spatial turnover and nestedness differ geographically in their contribution to freshwater fish beta diversity, a pattern that results from contrasting influences of Quaternary climate changes. Differences in fish faunas characterized by nestedness are greater in drainage basins that experienced larger amplitudes of Quaternary climate oscillations. Conversely, higher levels of spatial turnover are found in historically unglaciated drainage basins with high topographic relief, these having experienced greater Quaternary climate stability. Such an historical climate signature is not clearly detected when considering the overall level of beta diversity. Quantifying the relative roles of historical and ecological factors in explaining present-day patterns of beta diversity hence requires considering the different processes generating these patterns and not solely the overall level of beta diversity. specialized Beta diversity biogeography freshwater ecosystems geographical isolation historical climate stability niche limitation Quaternary climate changes spatial turnover 021 036 14 4 325-334 2011 1461-023X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053383 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01589.x 1461-023X [F B010053383] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053383 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2011/03/010053383.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2011-04-07 2017-08-23 fdi:010053383 fre