The ongoing alteration of ecosystems through human activity (IPCC 2007) endangers vitally important resources and leads to the rapid extinction of species world wide. Research is needed to assess the ecological impacts and consequences of this change, but for large parts of the world detailed species inventories are difficult – if not impossible – to obtain. Attempts to protect individual organisms (Gibson et al. 2004) or whole ecosystems (Williams et al. 2003) therefore increasingly depend on ecological modeling techniques. One of the most widely applied methods are species distribution models (see Guisan and Zimmermann 2000).
Species distribution models (SDMs) are useful tools for the analysis of species-environment relationships: They attempt to generate detailed predictions of species distributions by math- ematically linking presence/absence data to a set of evironmental predictors (Guisan and Thuiller 2005, Schröder 2008). As such, SDMs enable researchers to explore various ques- tions in ecology, conservation and evolution. For example, they have been applied to study interspecific competition (Leathwick and Austin 2001), estimate species persistence in bio- logical reserves (Burns et al. 2003), project species distributions in the past (Peterson et al. 2004) or in future climates (Thuiller 2004), predict the likely success of new invasions (Pe- terson 2003, Thuiller 2003) or detect evolutionary processes in the species range dynamics (Peterson et al. 2003).
Particularly when applied to propose adequate conservation strategies, and subsequently convince both conservation planners and policy makers, modeling techniques need to be accurate and reliable. Studies addressing this matter found that the statistic methodology (Th...
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...ferences in spatial predictions among species distribution mod- eling methods vary with species traits and environmental predictors. Ecography 32 (6), 907–918.
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The maps demonstrate the quantity of considered species now exhibit in the Wet Tropics bioregion under the present atmosphere and those normal with temperature ascents of 1°C, 3.5°C and 5°C appeared by shading code at the left. The effects of changes in precipitation are excluded in this illustration. Adjusted from Williams et al. (2003).
Discerning the spatial patterns of biodiversity and understanding their ultimate (why) and proximate (how) causes is very dear to biogeography and is one of the key concepts of Macro ecology. Some places on earth contain more species as compared to others. All species occurring at a given space and time either originated (speciated) there or dispersed and arrived from another place and settled there. Biogeographers try to understand the past and current distributions of species by incorporating historical, evolutionary and ecological factors. Earlier biogeographers or the ‘naturalists’ in their sacred quest to serve ‘the creator’, travelled to various parts of the world and imparted valuable knowledge about the diverse patterns and processes of nature. Linnaeus (1743), on the one hand, hypothesized that early Earth was filled with water except for it’s highest mountain top i.e., Mount Ararat which was known to be the site of paradise and as the sea level dropped the exposed land was colonized by plants and animals that migrated down from high elevational zones of Mount Ararat whereas Willdenow (1805) hypothesized that within each geographical region of the earth, plants and animals were first placed and later survived the great flood on many mountain ranges (Lomolino,2001). Von Humboldt and Darwin in the South American Andes and Wallace Southeast Asian islands noticed the decreasing trend in elevational species richness patterns (McCain and Grytnes, 2010). Later work done by Grinnell (1917), Whittaker (1952), Terborgh (1977, 1985) on elevational species richness became accepted and set a established pattern for all species for more than two decades (McCain and Grytnes, 2010). However current researches on elevational gradients are...
Murrow, Jennifer L., Cindy A. Thatcher, Frank T. van Manen and Joseph D. Clark. A Data-Based Conservation Planning Tool for Florida Panthers. Environ Model Access 2013, 18: 159-170, DOI: 10.1007/s10666-012-9336-0
Our results showed that species clusters differed in terms of analysed environmental variables. Generally, temperature-related variables (BIO1, BIO3, BIO4 and BIO9) were the key factors responsible for differentiation between the clusters. Elevation and variables connected with the terrain sculpture (WI, TI, TRI and MRVBF) were among the most important topographic variables separating species clusters. The influence of the geological variables (related to the bedrock) was relatively weak, but significant in some cases.
When environments are diversified and irregular, species can exhibit trade-offs in their ability to utilize local habitats and to exploit patches regionally. When the dispersal rates are low, each species persists only in the habitat type in which they are favored; local diversity is low. In contrary, at the highest rates of dispersal, species that are better at colonizing empty patches can dominate and drive other species extinct, even though those species ...
The warblers and larger mammal species on these islands are being affected by similar abiotic factors, but in differing ways for the biotic factors. Specifically, species richness is being affected by island biogeography and its associated costs (abiotic) as well as biotic aspects such as competition, predation pressure, and resources. First, looking at figure 1 we see a strong correlation between species richness, represented by number of different species/island, and land area on each associated island for both larger mammals (R2=0.94) and warblers (R2=0.84). This shows us that the island geography, particularly how big it is, has strong correlation to the number of different species on each island. Land area is related to a number of abiotic features such as environmental heterogeneity, disturbance frequency, distribution, and immigration (Brown et al., 2007).
The purpose of conducting this experiment is to find out how an invasive specie affects different native animals. In the past, invasive species have spread disease, created more competition, and had grown exponentially to then destroyed land. By comparing populations between native birds and an invasive specie, in this case the Eurasian Collared Dove, we can find out how the native birds were affected. We are examining how the Eurasian Collared dove affected populations of native birds in San Diego. Further research would allow us to view the reasoning behind what occurred to the native species. We are choosing the view effects on San Diego’s native birds because the climate in San Diego is considered fair and stable year round fluctuating
The 2010 meeting will once again return to North America. The University of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, will host Conservation for a Changing Planet, a global discussion on the large-scale environmental changes that are affecting the earth’s ecology. The theme has particular relevance to the host location, as nowhere will climate change be more dramatic than on the ecosystems of the north. The timing of the conference is vital because, as explained by the local organizing committee behind the conference, “developing conservation strategies to cope with our changing planet is arguably the greatest challenge facing today’s world and its biodiversity.”
In our ever changing world, some species have become more common because they are able to adapt to climate change, become invasive species, or are able to compete with invasive species. As temperatures rise, generalists and species with effective dispersal will be better able to adapt. Species limited to a small range, a range at high elevations, or limited by ineffective dispersal, will be at risk of becoming more rare or extinct (Saltre et al.
Recher, Harry F. (1985). Eucalypt Forests, Woodlands and Birds: An Introduction. In Birds of Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands: Ecology, Conservation, Management. Ed. A. Keast, H. F. Recher, H. Ford, and D. Saunders, pp. 1-10. Chpping Norton, New South Wales: Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd.
The Earth is far and away the most biodiverse planet in our solar system, with about 8.7 million more unique species than the other 8 planets (UNEP). However, the Earth’s commanding lead is shrinking; not because the other planets are increasing biodiversity, but because Earth’s is decreasing. According to the World Wildlife Fund, we as a planet are losing 1,000 to 10,000 more species than the natural rate. Since the total number of species is hard to pin down, this can mean anywhere from 200 to 10,000 species going extinct per year (World Wildlife Fund). This obscenely high extinction rate is dangerous not just to ecosystems directly affected by the loss, but also creates a domino effect that circles around the globe and up and down the food
In many parts of the world, ecosystems’ temperatures begin to rise and fall to extreme levels making it very difficult for animals and plants to adapt in time to survive. Climate has never been stable here on Earth. Climate is an important environmental influence on ecosystems. Climate changes the impacts of climate change, and affects ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming could force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive to their survival. Similarly, as sea level rises, saltwater intrusion into a freshwater sys...
The distance that an organism travels can tell us something about their preferred habitat, how they reproduce as well as being a primary determinant of their likelihood to survive. Dispersal between populations influences the likelihood of colonisation and extinction. If extinction occurs in one habitat patch populations may be rescued by individuals from a nearby population. A ...