Spread Risk Assessment of Invasive Axis Deer using Bioclimatic Niche Models

Abstract Ecological niche models (ENM) calibrated with data from native and invaded ranges are useful tools to manage biological invasions and can be challenged by niche shifts and non-equilibrium processes. We modeled the extent of the potential invasion by the axis deer (Axis axis) worldwide, testing the reciprocal hypotheses of niche conservatism and shift. We quantified niche overlap on the multivariate climatic space and modeled climatic realized niche based on detailed field information. We showed that the axis deer shifted its realized niche after the invasion. We rejected the niche equivalency hypothesis. Most of the climatic niche available in invaded areas is contained in the native climatic niche. Non-equilibrium between native and invasive niches of the axis deer was confirmed due to a large number of unfilled areas in invaded regions. Our projections predict that the most significant regions suitable for the axis deer are located in tropical and subtropical climates around the equator and the southern hemisphere, mostly in the Neotropics.

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Niche shifts and environmental non-equilibrium undermine the usefulness of ecological niche models for invasion risk assessments

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-64568-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Arman N. Pili ◽

Reid Tingley ◽

Emerson Y. Sy ◽

Mae Lowe L. Diesmos ◽

Arvin C. Diesmos

Keyword(s):

Ecological Niche ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Invasion Risk ◽

Niche Shifts ◽

Niche Models ◽

Non Equilibrium

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Modelling the climatic niche of turtles: a deep-time perspective

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2016.1408 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 283 (1839) ◽

pp. 20161408 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Amy M. Waterson ◽

Daniela N. Schmidt ◽

Paul J. Valdes ◽

Patricia A. Holroyd ◽

David B. Nicholson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Perspective ◽

Thermal Environment ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Freshwater Turtle ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Climatic Niche ◽

Deep Time ◽

Major Interest ◽

The Impact

Ectotherms have close physiological ties with the thermal environment; consequently, the impact of future climate change on their biogeographic distributions is of major interest. Here, we use the modern and deep-time fossil record of testudines (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins) to provide the first test of climate on the niche limits of both extant and extinct (Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) taxa. Ecological niche models are used to assess niche overlap in model projections for key testudine ecotypes and families. An ordination framework is applied to quantify metrics of niche change (stability, expansion, and unfilling) between the Maastrichtian and present day. Results indicate that niche stability over evolutionary timescales varies between testudine clades. Groups that originated in the Early Cretaceous show climatic niche stability, whereas those diversifying towards the end of the Cretaceous display larger niche expansion towards the modern. Temperature is the dominant driver of modern and past distributions, whereas precipitation is important for freshwater turtle ranges. Our findings demonstrate that testudines were able to occupy warmer climates than present day in the geological record. However, the projected rate and magnitude of future environmental change, in concert with other conservation threats, presents challenges for acclimation or adaptation.

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Assessing Niche Shifts and Conservatism by Comparing the Native and Post-Invasion Niches of Major Forest Invasive Species

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11080479 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 479

Author(s):

Vivek Srivastava ◽

Wanwan Liang ◽

Melody A. Keena ◽

Amanda D. Roe ◽

Richard C. Hamelin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Variable Selection ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Climatic Variables ◽

Potential Range ◽

Climatic Niche ◽

Forest Pests ◽

Principle Components Analysis ◽

Niche Shifts ◽

Complete Set

Invasive species experience biotic and abiotic conditions that may (or may not) resemble their native environment. We explored the methodology of determining climatic niches and compared the native and post-invasion niches of four invasive forest pests to determine if these species experienced shifts or changes in their new climatic niches. We used environmental principle components analysis (PCA-env) method to quantify climatic niche shifts, expansions, and temporal changes. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of variable selection in the delineation and comparison of niche space. We found that variable selection influenced the delineation and overlap of each niche, whereas the subset of climatic variables selected from the first two PCA-env axes explained more variance in environmental conditions than the complete set of climatic variables for all four species. Most focal species showed climatic niche shifts in their invasive range and had not yet fully occupied the available niche within the invaded range. Our species varied the proportion of niche overlap between the native and invasive ranges. By comparing native and invasive niches, we can help predict a species’ potential range expansion and invasion potential. Our results can guide monitoring and help inform management of these and other invasive species.

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Local Segregation of Realised Niches in Lizards

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ◽

10.3390/ijgi9120764 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 764

Author(s):

Neftalí Sillero ◽

Elena Argaña ◽

Cátia Matos ◽

Marc Franch ◽

Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Variables ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Species Coexistence ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

R Package ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

Local Segregation ◽

Niche Models

Species can occupy different realised niches when sharing the space with other congeneric species or when living in allopatry. Ecological niche models are powerful tools to analyse species niches and their changes over time and space. Analysing how species’ realised niches shift is paramount in ecology. Here, we examine the ecological realised niche of three species of wall lizards in six study areas: three areas where each species occurs alone; and three areas where they occur together in pairs. We compared the species’ realised niches and how they vary depending on species’ coexistence, by quantifying niche overlap between pairs of species or populations with the R package ecospat. For this, we considered three environmental variables (temperature, humidity, and wind speed) recorded at each lizard re-sighting location. Realised niches were very similar when comparing syntopic species occurring in the same study area. However, realised niches differed when comparing conspecific populations across areas. In each of the three areas of syntopy, the less abundant species shift its realised niche. Our study demonstrates that sympatry may shift species’ realised niche.

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Global Assessment of Climatic Niche Shifts in Three Rumex Species

10.21203/rs.3.rs-666485/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas Carlin ◽

Jennifer Bufford ◽

Philip Hulme ◽

William Godsoe

Keyword(s):

Species Distributions ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Niche Shift ◽

Native Range ◽

Weed Species ◽

Climatic Niche ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Introduced Range ◽

Niche Shifts

Abstract Climatic niche shifts occur when species occupy different climates in the introduced range than in their native range. We know that climatic niche shifts are common occurrences, however we do not currently understand whether climatic niche shifts can consistently be predicted across the globe. Using three congeneric weed species, we investigate whether the known presence of a climatic niche shift in one range can help predict a species’ distribution in other ranges. We consider whether data either from other ranges or from closely related species can help predict whether climatic niche shifts will occur. We compared the climatic conditions occupied by Rumex obtusifolius, R. crispus, and R. conglomeratus between their native range (Eurasia) and three different introduced ranges (North America, Australia, New Zealand). We consider metrics of niche overlap, expansion, unfilling, pioneering, and similarity to determine whether i) climatic niche shifts have occurred and ii) climatic niche shifts were consistent across ranges and congeners. We found that the presence and direction of climatic niche shifts is inconsistent across ranges for all three species. Within an introduced range, however, niche shifts were similar between species. Despite this, species distributions outside of their native range could not be reliably predicted by the distributions of congeners in either their native or introduced ranges. This study is the first of its kind to consider niche shifts across multiple introduced ranges and species, highlighting new challenges in predicting species distributions when species undergo climatic niche shifts.

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Ecological niche differentiation between Acanthodactylus micropholis and A. khamirensis (Sauria: Lacertidae) in southern Iran

Zoologia (Curitiba) ◽

10.3897/zoologia.36.e27357 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nastaran Heidari

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Species Distribution Modeling ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Niche Differentiation ◽

Valid Species ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Species Differentiation ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Niche Models

Acanthodactylusmicropholis Heidari, Rastegar-Pouyani, Rastegar-Pouyani & Rajabizadeh, 2013 and A.khamirensis Blanford, 1874 are genetically and morphologically distinct, but their ecological differentiation has not previously been evaluated. The ecological niche models of these two sister species Acanthodactylus were reconstructed using climate and geographical data. Species distribution modeling for A.micropholis and A.khamirensis was used to make predictions and showed that most parts of southern and southeastern Iran are suitable for the distribution of both species. Habitat suitability was mostly dependent upon minimum temperature of the coldest month and seasonal precipitation for A.micropholis and A.khamirensis, respectively. Niche similarity tests (niche overlap and identity tests) were performed to evaluate species differentiation based on the ecological species criterion. Our results indicate that both species have different ecological niches and are significantly separated from each other. Therefore, our study corroborates previous analyses based on molecular and morphological evidences that suggested that A.micropholis and A.khamirensis were valid species.

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Taxonomic revision of the pampas cat Leopardus colocola complex (Carnivora: Felidae): an integrative approach

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa043 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Fabio Oliveira Do Nascimento ◽

Jilong Cheng ◽

Anderson Feijó

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary History ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Middle Pleistocene ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Pleistocene Glaciations ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Climatic Niche ◽

Niche Models ◽

Molecular Biogeography

Abstract The pampas cat Leopardus colocola has been subject to conflicting classifications over the years. Currently, one polytypic species with seven subspecies is recognized, but integrative taxonomic study for this debated group has never been done. Here, we combine the broadest morphological coverage of the pampas cat to date with molecular data and ecological niche models to clarify its species composition and test the validity of recently proposed subspecies. The multiple lines of evidence derived from morphology, molecular, biogeography and climatic niche datasets converged on the recognition of five monotypic species: L. braccatus, L. colocola, L. garleppi (including thomasi, budini, steinbachi, crespoi and wolffsohni as synonyms), L. munoai and L. pajeros (including crucina as synonym). These five species are morphologically diagnosable based on skin and skull traits, have evolved in distinct climatic niche spaces and were recovered in molecular species delimitation. Contrary to previous taxonomic arrangements, we do not recognize subspecies in pampas cats. To objectively define the two most controversial species, we designate neotypes for L. colocola and L. pajeros. The diversification of pampas cats is associated with Middle Pleistocene glaciations, but additional genetic samples from the central Andean region are still needed to conclusively reconstruct its evolutionary history.

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Most invasive species largely conserve their climatic niche

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2004289117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (38) ◽

pp. 23643-23651 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Chunlong Liu ◽

Christian Wolter ◽

Weiwei Xian ◽

Jonathan M. Jeschke

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Time Frame ◽

Global Scale ◽

Niche Conservatism ◽

Ecological Niche Models ◽

Climatic Niche ◽

Environmental Space ◽

Native And Introduced Ranges ◽

Niche Models

The ecological niche is a key concept for elucidating patterns of species distributions and developing strategies for conserving biodiversity. However, recent times are seeing a widespread debate whether species niches are conserved across space and time (niche conservatism hypothesis). Biological invasions represent a unique opportunity to test this hypothesis in a short time frame at the global scale. We synthesized empirical findings for 434 invasive species from 86 studies to assess whether invasive species conserve their climatic niche between native and introduced ranges. Although the niche conservatism hypothesis was rejected in most studies, highly contrasting conclusions for the same species between and within studies suggest that the dichotomous conclusions of these studies were sensitive to techniques, assessment criteria, or author preferences. We performed a consistent quantitative analysis of the dynamics between native and introduced climatic niches reported by previous studies. Our results show there is very limited niche expansion between native and introduced ranges, and introduced niches occupy a position similar to native niches in the environmental space. These findings support the niche conservatism hypothesis overall. In particular, introduced niches were narrower for terrestrial animals, species introduced more recently, or species with more native occurrences. Niche similarity was lower for aquatic species, species introduced only intentionally or more recently, or species with fewer introduced occurrences. Climatic niche conservatism for invasive species not only increases our confidence in transferring ecological niche models to new ranges but also supports the use of niche models for forecasting species responses to changing climates.

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