scholarly journals Ecological niche overlap among species of the genus Zaluzania (Asteraceae) from the dry regions of Mexico

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-347
Author(s):  
Mario Ernesto Suárez-Mota ◽  
José Luis Villaseñor

Background and aims – The hypothesis of ecological niche conservatism postulates that closely related species share ecologically similar environments; that is, they tend to maintain the characteristics of their fundamental niche over time. The objective of this study is to evaluate the similarity and equivalence of the ecological niches among species of the genus Zaluzania (Asteraceae), characteristic of the Mexican arid and semi-arid regions, to infer their potential niche conservatism. Methods – Based on critically reviewed herbarium occurrence data, potential distribution models for eight species of Zaluzania were generated using the Maxent algorithm. The overlap between potential distribution areas was then evaluated using equivalence and ecological niche parameters implemented in the ENMTools software; for this we quantified the degree of overlap and similarity between the niches using the equivalence (D) and similarity (I) parameters.Key results – The resulting models show that species display areas of high suitability along the Mexican dry regions, as well as overlapping heterogeneous values. All models showed high AUC (Area Under the Curve) values (> 0.8). The D and I values between each pair of species showed low values of overlap.Conclusions – Each species of the genus shows a fundamental niche distinct from their sister species. The genus thus offers an example of niche divergence among species, with each one adapting to different environmental pressures. Our results do not support the hypothesis of niche conservatism in the genus, suggesting that the species evolved in divergent environments.

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-347
Author(s):  
Mario Ernesto Suárez-Mota ◽  
José Luis Villaseñor

Background and aims – The hypothesis of ecological niche conservatism postulates that closely related species share ecologically similar environments; that is, they tend to maintain the characteristics of their fundamental niche over time. The objective of this study is to evaluate the similarity and equivalence of the ecological niches among species of the genus Zaluzania (Asteraceae), characteristic of the Mexican arid and semi-arid regions, to infer their potential niche conservatism. Methods – Based on critically reviewed herbarium occurrence data, potential distribution models for eight species of Zaluzania were generated using the Maxent algorithm. The overlap between potential distribution areas was then evaluated using equivalence and ecological niche parameters implemented in the ENMTools software; for this we quantified the degree of overlap and similarity between the niches using the equivalence (D) and similarity (I) parameters.Key results – The resulting models show that species display areas of high suitability along the Mexican dry regions, as well as overlapping heterogeneous values. All models showed high AUC (Area Under the Curve) values (> 0.8). The D and I values between each pair of species showed low values of overlap.Conclusions – Each species of the genus shows a fundamental niche distinct from their sister species. The genus thus offers an example of niche divergence among species, with each one adapting to different environmental pressures. Our results do not support the hypothesis of niche conservatism in the genus, suggesting that the species evolved in divergent environments.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0243760
Author(s):  
Mariana Villegas ◽  
Bette A. Loiselle ◽  
Rebecca T. Kimball ◽  
John G. Blake

Species distribution models are useful for identifying the ecological characteristics that may limit a species’ geographic range and for inferring patterns of speciation. Here, we test a hypothesis of niche conservatism across evolutionary time in a group of manakins (Aves: Pipridae), with a focus on Chiroxiphia boliviana, and examine the degree of ecological differentiation with other Chiroxiphia and Antilophia manakins. We tested whether allopatric sister species were more or less similar in environmental space than expected given their phylogenetic distances, which would suggest, respectively, ecological niche conservatism over time or ecologically mediated selection (i.e. niche divergence). We modeled the distribution of nine manakin taxa (C. boliviana, C. caudata, C. lanceolata, C. linearis, C. p. pareola, C. p. regina, C. p. napensis, Antilophia galeata and A. bokermanni) using Maxent. We first performed models for each taxon and compared them. To test our hypothesis we followed three approaches: (1) we tested whether C. boliviana could predict the distribution of the other manakin taxa and vice versa; (2) we compared the ecological niches by using metrics of niche overlap, niche equivalency and niche similarity; and (3) lastly, we tested whether niche differentiation corresponded to phylogenetic distances calculated from two recent phylogenies. All models had high training and test AUC values. Mean AUC ratios were high (>0.8) for most taxa, indicating performance better than random. Results suggested niche conservatism, and high niche overlap and equivalency between C. boliviana and C. caudata, but we found very low values between C. boliviana and the rest of the taxa. We found a negative, but not significant, relationship between niche overlap and phylogenetic distance, suggesting an increase in ecological differentiation and niche divergence over evolutionary time. Overall, we give some insights into the evolution of C. boliviana, proposing that ecological selection may have influenced its speciation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 2425-2441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Smeraldo ◽  
Mirko Di Febbraro ◽  
Luciano Bosso ◽  
Carles Flaquer ◽  
David Guixé ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E Hiller ◽  
Michelle S Koo ◽  
Kari R Goodman ◽  
Kerry L Shaw ◽  
Patrick M O’Grady ◽  
...  

Abstract The role of the environmental niche in fostering ecological divergence during adaptive radiation remains enigmatic. In this study, we examine the interplay between environmental niche divergence and conservatism in the context of adaptive radiation on oceanic islands, by characterizing the niche breadth of four Hawaiian arthropod radiations: Tetragnatha spiders (Tetragnathidae Latreille, 1804), Laupala crickets (Gryllidae Otte, 1994), a clade of Drosophila flies (Drosophilidae Fallén, 1823) and Nesosydne planthoppers (Delphacidae Kirkaldy, 1907). We assembled occurrence datasets for the four lineages, modelled their distributions and quantified niche overlap. All four groups occupy the islands in distinct ways, highlighting the contrasting axes of diversification for different lineages. Laupala and Nesosydne have opposite environmental niche extents (broad and narrow, respectively), whereas Tetragnatha and Drosophila share relatively intermediate tolerances. Temperature constrains the distributions of all four radiations. Tests of phylogenetic signal suggest that, for Tetragnatha and Drosophila, closely related species exhibit similar environmental niches; thus, diversification is associated with niche conservatism. Sister species comparisons also show that populations often retain similar environmental tolerances, although exceptions do occur. Results imply that diversification does not occur through ecological speciation; instead, adaptive radiation occurs largely within a single environment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1138
Author(s):  
Gabriel Cardoza-Martínez ◽  
Jorge Becerra-López ◽  
Citlalli Esparza-Estrada ◽  
José Estrada-Rodríguez ◽  
Alexander Czaja ◽  
...  

It has frequently been reported that species with strong niche conservatism will not be able to adapt to new climatic conditions, so they must migrate or go extinct. We have evaluated the shifts in climatic niche occupation of the species Astrophytum coahuilense and its potential distribution in Mexico. We understand niche occupation as the geographic zones with available habitats and with the presence of the species. To assess shifts in climatic niche occupation, we used niche overlap analysis, while potential distribution modeling was performed based on the principle of maximum entropy. The results indicate that this species presents a limited amplitude in its climate niche. This restriction of the climatic niche of A. coahuilense limits its ability to colonize new geographical areas with different climatic environments. On the other hand, the potential distribution models obtained from the present study allow us to identify potential zones based on the climatic requirements of the species. This information is important to identify high priority areas for the conservation of A. coahuilense.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa K. Thomas ◽  
Eva Mosner ◽  
Ilona Leyer

AbstractSalicaceae are typical invaders of riparian ecosystems throughout the world and they have the potential to change much of the invaded habitats. Along Patagonian streams, riparian softwood forests composed of non-native Salicaceae are increasing in abundance, area and tree species diversity. Especially in the last decades, dense floodplain forests dominated by invasive willows and poplars and additionally Russian olive and tamarisk spread almost explosively e.g. along the Río Negro in northern Patagonia. This study focuses on the identification of ecological niches and niche overlaps of the native and invasive woody species in order to assess the impact on the native Salix humboldtiana Willd. Data on species (presence/ absence) and explanatory variables were gathered in the field using a grid-based, stratified-randomized sampling design. Different environmental variables were then related to species occurrence in different life stages (adult, juvenile, seedling) using habitat distribution models. In the final models, flood duration, the amount of gravel and the location (upper or middle river valley) were included to describe the probability of occurrence of native and invasive taxa. For all life stages, a strong niche overlap could be observed for S. humboldtiana and the invasive taxa with no remaining exclusive habitats indicating a potential threat to the native willow. The study contributes to a better understanding of Salicaceae invasion and its consequences for riparian ecosystems.


Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1717
Author(s):  
Renato De Giovanni ◽  
Luís Carlos Bernacci

Until recently, Passiflora ischnoclada was only known from a single occurrence record. In this paper we describe how different ecological niche modelling techniques were successively used to generate better potential distribution models for the species and guide field work. At each step, new records were found until the species’ real distribution was approximated based on a model ensemble created with five different algorithms. The estimated distribution is concentrated on a single area of 84 km2 where the species is considered endangered.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 763
Author(s):  
M.E. Torres-Olave ◽  
L.C. Bravo-Peña ◽  
L.C. Alatorre-Cejudo ◽  
M.I. Uc-Campos ◽  
M.O. González-León

Few studies have addressed the current state of the Trogon elegans ambiguus and Euptilotis neoxenus ecological niches, as well as the vegetation dynamics and land use changes where these birds live. This work estimates the potential distribution of Trogon elegans ambiguus and Euptilotis neoxenus in Chihuahua and studies the land use changes in two time periods (2009 and 2015). The MaxEnt software was used to model the ecological niches in Chihuahua, Mexico. The maps of changes in land use and plant cover were reclassified and the classes were homogenized. A crosstab analysis was used to compare correspondence matrices. The results indicate that Trogon elegans ambiguus and Euptilotis neoxenus underwent a niche loss in conifer and hardwood forests, which became farmland or pasture-bushes. Ecological niche modelling is a useful tool to identify suitable areas for species with NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 status. In the case of Trogon elegans ambiguus, land use changes mainly affect the municipalities of Temosachi and Madera.


Author(s):  
Luis Ángel Barrera-Guzmán ◽  
Juan Porfirio Legaria-Solano ◽  
Jorge Cadena-Iñiguez ◽  
Jaime Sahagún-Castellanos ◽  
Gabriela Ramírez-Ojeda

Objective: Determine current and potential distribution of S. tacaco in Costa Rica with seven Species Distribution Models (SDM), in order to optimize the management of S. tacaco genetic resources, aimed at identifying patterns of geographic distribution and possible climatic adaptations allowing to have perspectives on their conservation and genetic breeding. Design/Methodology/Approach: 21 points of occurrence together with 19 bioclimatic variables and altitude were used to evaluate seven machine learning models and an assembly of these. Open-source libraries running in Rstudio were used. Results: Distribution models were inferred by the variables bio1, bio2, bio3, bio4, bio12, bio13, bio14, bio18 y bio19. The generalized additive model obtained the highest values ??of area under the curve (0.96) and True skill statistic (0.90), however, the seven models tested and the assembly showed adequate performance (AUC> 0.5 and TSS> 0.4). Bioclimatic variables related to temperature were the ones with the greatest contribution to the models and the main limitations in the distribution of S. tacaco. Study limitations/implications: Possibly a greater number of occurrence points are required to evaluate distribution models. Findings/Conclusions. Areas with high potential distribution suitability for S. tacaco are found in central valleys of Costa Rica, covering regions of the provinces of Alajuela, Cartago, San José and Puntarenas. These areas can be sources of germplasm for future conservation and breeding studies.


Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  

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.


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