scholarly journals A latitudinal signal in the relationship between species geographic range size and climatic niche area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tad Dallas ◽  
Andrew Kramer
Keyword(s):  
Species Traits ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Climatic Niche ◽  
Residual Variation ◽  
Geographic Range Size ◽  
Environmental Space ◽  
Niche Area ◽  
Null Expectation

Species with broader niches may have the opportunity to occupy larger geographic areas, assuming no limitations on dispersal and a relatively homogeneous environmental space. While there is general support for positive \textit{geographic range size – climatic niche area} relationships, a great deal of variation exists across taxonomic and spatial gradients. Here, we use data on a large set of mammal ($n$ = 1225), bird ($n$ = 1829), and tree ($n$ = 341) species distributed across the Americas to examine the \textbf{1}) relationship between geographic range size and climatic niche area, \textbf{2}) influence of species traits on species departures from the best fit geographic range size – climatic niche area relationship, and \textbf{3}) how detection of these relationships is sensitive to how species range size and climatic niche area are estimated. We find positive \textit{geographic range size – climatic niche area} relationships for all taxa. Residual variation in this relationship contained a strong latitudinal signal. Subsampling the occurrence data to create a null expectation, we found that residual variation did not strongly deviate from the null expectation. Together, we provide support for the generality of \textit{geographic range size – climatic niche area} relationships, which may be constrained by latitude but are agnostic to species identity, suggesting that species traits are far less responsible than geographic barriers and the distribution of land area and available environmental space.

scholarly journals Biological and extrinsic correlates of extinction risk in Chinese lizards

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxi Zhong ◽  
Chuanwu Chen ◽  
Yanping Wang
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Extrinsic Factors

Abstract China is a country with one of the most species rich reptile faunas in the world. However, nearly a quarter of Chinese lizard species assessed by the China Biodiversity Red List are threatened. Nevertheless, to date, no study has explicitly examined the pattern and processes of extinction and threat in Chinese lizards. In this study, we conducted the first comparative phylogenetic analysis of extinction risk in Chinese lizards. We addressed the following three questions: 1) What is the pattern of extinction and threat in Chinese lizards? 2) Which species traits and extrinsic factors are related to their extinction risk? 3) How can we protect Chinese lizards based on our results? We collected data on ten species traits (body size, clutch size, geographic range size, activity time, reproductive mode, habitat specialization, habitat use, leg development, maximum elevation, and elevation range) and seven extrinsic factors (mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, mean annual solar insolation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), human footprint, human population density, and human exploitation). After phylogenetic correction, these variables were used separately and in combination to assess their associations with extinction risk. We found that Chinese lizards with small geographic range, large body size, high habitat specialization, and living in high precipitation areas were vulnerable to extinction. Conservation priority should thus be given to species with the above extinction-prone traits so as to effectively protect Chinese lizards. Preventing future habitat destruction should also be a primary focus of management efforts because species with small range size and high habitat specialization are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss.

scholarly journals Geographic contingency, not species sorting, dominates macroevolutionary dynamics in an extinct clade of neogastropods (Volutospina; Volutidae)

Paleobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Dana S. Friend ◽  
Brendan M. Anderson ◽  
Warren D. Allmon
Keyword(s):  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Late Eocene ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Species Sorting ◽  
Extinction Rates ◽  
Geographic Range Size ◽  
Speciation Rates ◽  
Planktotrophic Larvae

Abstract Rates of speciation and extinction are often linked to many ecological factors, traits (emergent and nonemergent) such as environmental tolerance, body size, feeding type, and geographic range. Marine gastropods in particular have been used to examine the role of larval dispersal in speciation. However, relatively few studies have been conducted placing larval modes in species-level phylogenetic context. Those that have, have not incorporated fossil data, while landmark macroevolutionary studies on fossil clades have not considered both phylogenetic context and net speciation (speciation–extinction) rates. This study utilizes Eocene volutid Volutospina species from the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain and the Hampshire Basin, U.K., to explore the relationships among larval mode, geographic range, and duration. Based on the phylogeny of these Volutospina, we calculated speciation and extinction rates in order to compare the macroevolutionary effects of larval mode. Species with planktotrophic larvae had a median duration of 9.7 Myr, which compared significantly to 4.7 Myr for those with non-planktotrophic larvae. Larval mode did not significantly factor into geographic-range size, but U.S. and U.K. species do differ, indicating a locality-specific component to maximum geographic-range size. Non-planktotrophs (NPTs)were absent among the Volutospina species during the Paleocene–early Eocene. The relative proportions of NPTs increased in the early middle Eocene, and the late Eocene was characterized by disappearance of planktotrophs (PTs). The pattern of observed lineage diversity shows an increasing preponderance of NPTs; however, this is clearly driven by a dramatic extinction of PTs, rather than higher NPT speciation rates during the late Eocene. This study adds nuance to paleontology's understanding of the macroevolutionary consequences of larval mode.

scholarly journals The effects of geographic range size and abundance on extinction during a time of “sluggish”’ evolution

Paleobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Casey ◽  
Erin E. Saupe ◽  
Bruce S. Lieberman
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Fossil Record ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Late Paleozoic ◽  
The North ◽  
Geographic Range Size ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Habitat Tracking

Abstract Geographic range size and abundance are important determinants of extinction risk in fossil and extant taxa. However, the relationship between these variables and extinction risk has not been tested extensively during evolutionarily “quiescent” times of low extinction and speciation in the fossil record. Here we examine the influence of geographic range size and abundance on extinction risk during the late Paleozoic (Mississippian–Permian), a time of “sluggish” evolution when global rates of origination and extinction were roughly half those of other Paleozoic intervals. Analyses used spatiotemporal occurrences for 164 brachiopod species from the North American midcontinent. We found abundance to be a better predictor of extinction risk than measures of geographic range size. Moreover, species exhibited reductions in abundance before their extinction but did not display contractions in geographic range size. The weak relationship between geographic range size and extinction in this time and place may reflect the relative preponderance of larger-ranged taxa combined with the physiographic conditions of the region that allowed for easy habitat tracking that dampened both extinction and speciation. These conditions led to a prolonged period (19–25 Myr) during which standard macroevolutionary rules did not apply.

Revising geographic distributions of eastern Pacific moray eels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine E Dale ◽  
Arturo Ramírez-Valdez ◽  
John E McCosker ◽  
Milton S Love
Keyword(s):  
Local Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Geographic Range Size ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces ◽  
Established Population ◽  
New Occurrences

Under the influence of climate stressors, species distributions of fishes in the eastern Pacific are shifting, with many species moving poleward. Moray eels (family Muraenidae) are ecologically important predators inhabiting coastal reefs. Due to their cryptic nature and lack of commercial importance, the species distributions of muraenids in the tropical and subtropical eastern Pacific are poorly understood. Here, we document the geographic range size of 33 muraenid species in the eastern Pacific and also report a shift in the established population range of Muraena argus based on recent trapping efforts. We found that 17 species demonstrated shifts in geographic range size, including sampled-range expansions and new occurrences at offshore islands. Eleven species were observed in new biogeographic provinces, primarily in the northward direction to the San Diegan province. Trapping data and local knowledge gathered from fishing cooperatives suggest that M. argus has established populations at least 300 km further north than previously reported. Both the yearly number of reported observations and geographic extent of sampling have increased over time, but the number of recorded extensions has not. These results highlight the importance of compiling data from diverse sources (including museum records, local ecological knowledge, and the non-English scientific literature) as well as the continued value of biodiversity surveys in the eastern Pacific.

Mass‐independent maximal metabolic rate predicts geographic range size of placental mammals

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1194-1202
Author(s):  
Jack P. Hayes ◽  
Chris R. Feldman ◽  
Miguel B. Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Geographic Range Size ◽  
Maximal Metabolic Rate
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document