Environmental Data

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Potential Utility ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Niche Models

This chapter focuses on the conceptual and applied aspects of environmental data in the context of building and interpreting ecological niche models. It first examines how different suites of environmental factors may affect species distributions across a range of spatial scales before discussing which and how many variables are needed for ecological niche modeling. It then reviews the diverse sources of environmental datasets that are of potential utility in ecological niche modeling and concludes by considering a number of challenges involved in designing and choosing environmental data for ecological niche modeling. These challenges include data preparation, data quality, spatial extent, resolution in space and time, types of environmental data, and ancillary data.

Species’ Invasions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Native And Introduced Ranges ◽  
Niche Models

This chapter discusses the use of ecological niche modeling to study species invasions, and more specifically to identify and understand genuine exceptions to ecological niche equivalency between native and introduced ranges of species. In addition, it examines the degree to which the geographic course of species’ invasions can be anticipated based on scenopoetic variables and biotic interactions. The chapter also reviews practical considerations that must be taken into account when exploring the utility of ecological niche models in understanding species’ invasions, such as using niche conservatism to predict likely changes in the distributional potential of invasive species under scenarios of changing environmental conditions. Finally, it describes caveats and limitations of the approach and outlines future research directions and challenges involved in the application of niche modeling ideas in species invasions.

scholarly journals Supraspecific units in correlative niche modeling improves the prediction of geographic potential of biological invasions

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10454
Author(s):  
Sandra Castaño-Quintero ◽  
Jazmín Escobar-Luján ◽  
Luis Osorio-Olvera ◽  
A Townsend Peterson ◽  
Xavier Chiappa-Carrara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Complete Characterization ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Niche Models

Background Biological invasions rank among the most significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. Correlative ecological niche modeling is among the most frequently used tools with which to estimate potential distributions of invasive species. However, when areas accessible to the species across its native distribution do not represent the full spectrum of environmental conditions that the species can tolerate, correlative studies often underestimate fundamental niches. Methods Here, we explore the utility of supraspecific modeling units to improve the predictive ability of models focused on biological invasions. Taking into account phylogenetic relationships in correlative ecological niche models, we studied the invasion patterns of three species (Aedes aegypti, Pterois volitans and Oreochromis mossambicus). Results Use of supraspecific modeling units improved the predictive ability of correlative niche models in anticipating potential distributions of three invasive species. We demonstrated that integrating data on closely related species allowed a more complete characterization of fundamental niches. This approach could be used to model species with invasive potential but that have not yet invaded new regions.

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) of Leptoglossus clypealis a new potential global invader: following in the footsteps of Leptoglossus occidentalis?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Leonela Olivera ◽  
Eugenia Minghetti ◽  
Sara I. Montemayor
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Leptoglossus Occidentalis ◽  
Major Pest ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
Niche Models

Abstract The introduction of alien species is one of the main problems in conservation. Many successful invaders cause severe economic and ecological damage. Such is the case of Leptoglossus occidentalis, a phytophagous true bug native to North America, which has become a pest in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Within the genus, another species whose distributional range is expanding toward the east of North America is Leptoglossus clypealis. As climate determines the successful establishment of insects, the identification of climatically suitable areas for invasive species based on ecological niche models (ENMs) offers an excellent opportunity for preventing invasions. In this study, ENMs were built for both species and their native climatic niches were compared. Their niche breath was also measured. The climatic niches of both species are identical and the niche breadth of L. clypealis is broader than that of L. occidentalis. In view of the great ecological resemblance between these two species, we believe that L. clypealis could became a major pest thus it should be carefully monitored. The results of the present worldwide ENMs showed numerous regions with suitable conditions for the establishment of both species. The future ENMs exhibited a retraction in the suitable areas in North America, Europe and Asia.

Discovering Biodiversity

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Conceptual Basis ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Species Limits ◽  
As Species ◽  
Unknown Species ◽  
Niche Models

This chapter discusses the conceptual basis of using ecological niche modeling for discovering new elements of biodiversity. More specifically, it examines the use of ecological niche models to guide searches for and discovery of unknown populations of species as well as species limits. It also explains how niche conservatism provides some degree of predictability across related taxa and makes the use of niche models for discovering biodiversity possible. For applications focused on discovery of unknown species, the chapter shows that niche conservatism is necessary if predictions of likely distributional areas are to prove realistic. Finally, it reviews practical considerations that must be taken into account in applications of ecological niche models oriented at discovering biodiversity, along with the caveats and limitations of such applications.

scholarly journals Ecological Niche Models of Four Hard Tick Genera (Ixodidae) in Mexico

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Clarke-Crespo ◽  
Claudia N. Moreno-Arzate ◽  
Carlos A. López-González
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Niche Models

Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, and in recent years, they have participated in the rise of multiple infectious outbreaks around the world. Studies have proposed that temperature and precipitation are the main variables that limit the geographical distribution of ticks. The analysis of environmental constraints with ecological niche modeling (ENM) techniques can improve our ability to identify suitable areas for emergence events. Algorithms used in this study showed different distributional patterns for each tick genera; the environmental suitability for Amblyomma includes warm and humid localities below 1000 m above the sea level, while Ixodes is mainly associated with ecosystems with high vegetation cover. Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus genus presented wider distribution patterns; the first includes species that are well adapted to resist desiccation, whereas the latter includes generalist species that are mostly associated with domestic hosts in Mexico. Ecological niche models have proven to be useful in estimating the geographic distribution of many taxa of ticks. Despite our limited knowledge of tick’s diversity, ENM can improve our understanding of the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and can assist public health decision-making processes.

Effects of climate change on the distributional potential of three range-restricted West African bird species

The Condor ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedictus Freeman ◽  
Julia Sunnarborg ◽  
A Townsend Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
West African ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Niche Models

Abstract A detailed understanding of species’ responses to global climate change provides an informative baseline for designing conservation strategies to optimize protection of biodiversity. However, such information is either limited or not available for many tropical species, making it difficult to incorporate climate change into conservation planning for most tropical species. Here, we used correlative ecological niche models to assess potential distributional responses of 3 range-restricted West African birds, Timneh Parrot (Pscittacus erithracus timneh), Ballman’s Malimbe (Malimbus ballmanni), and White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus), to global climate change. We used primary biodiversity occurrence records for each species obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, eBird, and VertNet; for environmental data, we used climatic variables for the present and future, the latter characterized by 2 IPCC representative concentration pathways (4.5, 8.5) future emissions scenarios and 27 general circulation models for a 2050 time horizon. We found broad present-day potential distributions with respect to climate for all 3 species. Future potential distributions for Ballman’s Malimbe and White-necked Rockfowl tended to be stable and closely similar to their present-day distributions; by contrast, we found marked climate change–driven potential range loss across the range of Timneh Parrot. Our results suggest that impacts of climate change on the present distributions of West African birds will in some cases be minimal, but that individual species may respond differently to future conditions. Thus, to optimize conservation of these species, and of bird diversity in general, we recommend that regional-to-national species conservation action plans incorporate climate change adaptation strategies for individual species; ecological niche models could provide an informative baseline information for this planning and prioritization.

scholarly journals Estimating circumpolar distributions of lanternfish using 2D and 3D ecological niche models

2020 ◽  
Vol 647 ◽  
pp. 179-193
Author(s):  
JJ Freer ◽  
GA Tarling ◽  
MA Collins ◽  
JC Partridge ◽  
MJ Genner
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Environmental Predictors ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Niche Models

Ecological niche models (ENMs) can be a practical approach for investigating distributions and habitat characteristics of pelagic species. In principle, to reflect the ecological niche of a species well, ENMs should incorporate environmental predictors that consider its full vertical habitat, yet examples of such models are rare. Here we present the first application of ‘3D’ ENMs to 10 Southern Ocean lanternfish species. This 3D approach incorporates depth-specific environmental predictor data to identify the distribution of suitable habitat across multiple depth levels. Results were compared to those from the more common ‘2D’ approach, which uses only environmental data from the sea surface. Measures of model discriminatory ability and overfitting indicated that 2D models often outperform 3D methods, even when accounting for reduced available sample size in the 3D models. Nevertheless, models for species with a known affinity for deeper habitat benefitted from the 3D approach, and our results suggest that species can track their ecological niche in latitude and depth leading to equatorward or poleward range extensions beyond that expected from incorporating only surface data. However, since 3D models require comprehensive depth-specific data, both data availability and the need for depth-specific model outputs must be considered when choosing the appropriate modelling approach. We advocate increased effort to include depth-resolved environmental parameters within marine ENMs. This will require collection of mesopelagic species occurrence data using appropriate temporal and depth-stratified methods, and inclusion of accurate depth information when occurrence records are submitted to global biodiversity databases.

scholarly journals Geographic Distribution of Colombian Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) via Ecological Niche Modeling: A Prediction for the Main Tropical Forages' Pest in the Neotropics

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Hernández ◽  
Paula Espitia ◽  
David Florian ◽  
Valheria Castiblanco ◽  
Juan Andrés Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) are the main tropical pests in Central and South America of cultivated pastures. We aimed to estimate the potential distribution of Aeneolamia varia, A. lepidior, A. reducta, Prosapia simulans, Zulia carbonaria, and Z. pubescens throughout the Neotropics using ecological niche modeling. These six insect species are common in Colombia and cause large economic losses. Records of these species, prior to the year 2000, were compiled from human observations, specimens from CIAT Arthropod Reference Collection (CIATARC), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), speciesLink (splink), and an extensive literature review. Different ecological niche models (ENMs) were generated for each species: Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), generalized linear (GLM), multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), and random forest model (RF). Bioclimatic datasets were obtained from WorldClim and the 19 available variables were used as predictors. Future changes in the potential geographical distribution were simulated in ENMs generated based on climate change projections for 2050 in two scenarios: optimistic and pessimistic. The results suggest that (i) Colombian spittlebugs impose an important threat to Urochloa production in different South American countries, (ii) each spittlebug species has a unique geographic distribution pattern, (iii) in the future the six species are likely to invade new geographic areas even in an optimistic scenario, (iv) A. lepidior and A. reducta showed a higher number of suitable habitats across Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador, where predicted risk is more severe. Our data will allow to (i) monitor the dispersion of these spittlebug species, (ii) design strategies for integrated spittlebug management that include resistant cultivars adoption to mitigate potential economic damage, and (iii) implement regulatory actions to prevent their introduction and spread in geographic areas where the species are not yet found.

Conclusions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Theory ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Future Work

This book has described a comprehensive framework for thinking about the geography and ecology of species distributions, arguing that such a framework is critical to further progress in the field of ecological niches and distributions. To develop this framework, traditional concepts in ecology have been radically reworked. In this conclusion, some of the challenges for future work regarding ecological niche modeling are discussed, such as fully integrating the BAM diagram with central concepts of population biology and statistical theory; clarifying the notion of niche conservatism versus niche evolution as regards scenopoetic versus bionomic environmental dimensions; and improving the link between correlational and mechanistic approaches to estimating and understanding ecological niches. The book argues that careful conceptual thinking must be combined with detailed empirical exploration in order to address each of these challenges.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document