Giuseppe Garfì, Laurence Fazan, Alessandro Silvestre Gristina, Salvatore Pasta, Antonio Motisi, Dany Ghosn, Ilektra Remoundou, Gregor Kozlowski
{"title":"Distinct Functioning of Low- Versus High-Altitude Refugia in the Mediterranean: Inferences From Life-History Traits of Two Related Relict Trees From the Islands of Sicily and Crete","authors":"Giuseppe Garfì, Laurence Fazan, Alessandro Silvestre Gristina, Salvatore Pasta, Antonio Motisi, Dany Ghosn, Ilektra Remoundou, Gregor Kozlowski","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13961","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13961","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Relict trees are the outcome of long-term ‘natural experiments’. Accordingly, they provide opportunities to study the effects of local adaptation of trees, which are still poorly understood but crucial in the context of climate change. In turn, the physical settings of refugia at macro- and microscale are the key drivers of the environmental adaptability of such species. Using two congeneric climate relict trees (<i>Zelkova sicula</i> and <i>Z. abelicea</i>) as model species, we analysed the functional relationships between tree growth patterns and the distinctive environmental drivers of low- versus high-altitude refugia in the Mediterranean.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mediterranean islands of Sicily (Italy) and Crete (Greece).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To evaluate the growth potential of the two relict trees we used top height and multi-year data of shoot length over the entire distribution range of both species. Growth form and height growth dynamics of <i>Z. sicula</i> were also investigated by stem analysis. Moreover, tree-ring response to climate was compared through classical dendrochronological approaches.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Tree size, as well as shoot and radial growth are notably greater in <i>Z. abelicea</i>, suggesting this species better fits in its habitat and the higher-elevation Cretan refugia are less constraining than their low-elevation Sicilian counterparts. Tree-ring growth response to precipitation and evapotranspiration is rather similar between the two species and points to the key role of moisture balance on growth. However, the 1-month delay in the response from the Sicilian to the Cretan relict mirrors the differential role of altitude against micro-topography in decoupling from the regional climate.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The significant attenuation of environmental constraints due to the ‘elevation effect’ is a major offsetting driver for the distinct functioning of low- versus high-altitude refugia in the Mediterranean, but macroclimatic patterns may locally blur the effectiveness of refugia in a long-term conservation perspective.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13961","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana D. Davidson, Fernanda Thiesen Brum, Michael Houts, Michael Menefee, Matt Williamson, Lindsey Sterling Krank, Bill Van Pelt, David J. Augustine
{"title":"Potential Landscapes for Conservation of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Ecosystem","authors":"Ana D. Davidson, Fernanda Thiesen Brum, Michael Houts, Michael Menefee, Matt Williamson, Lindsey Sterling Krank, Bill Van Pelt, David J. Augustine","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13945","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13945","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To identify potential landscapes for the conservation of the black-tailed prairie dog (<i>Cynomys ludovicianus</i>; BTPD) ecosystem, across their historical geographical range within the United States.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Central Grasslands of the United States.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used a structured decision analysis approach to identify landscapes with high conservation potential (HCP) for the BTPD ecosystem. Our analysis incorporated ecological, political and social factors, along with changing climate and land use to maximise long-term conservation potential.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The landscapes we identified with HCP (top 30% rangewide) represented 22% of the historical distribution of BTPDs and remained strongholds under projected climate change. We provide a suite of HCP area scenarios to help inform different conservation and management interests, including those that consider projected climate change and jurisdictional (state-level) boundaries.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings highlight the large conservation potential for BTPDs and associated species, and the maps we generated can be incorporated into other large-scale, multispecies conservation planning efforts being developed for the Central Grasslands of North America.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13945","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Global Conservation Prioritisation Approach Provides Credible Results at a Regional Scale","authors":"Michael Roswell, Anahí Espíndola","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13969","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13969","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Conservationists and managers must direct resources and enact measures to protect species, despite uncertainty about their present status. One approach to covering the data gap is borrowing information from data-rich species or populations to guide decisions about data-poor ones via machine learning. Recent efforts demonstrated proof-of-concept at the global scale, leaving unclear whether similar approaches are feasible at the local and regional scales at which conservation actions most typically occur. To address this gap, we tested a global-scale predictive approach at a regional scale, using two groups of taxa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>State of Maryland, USA.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Taxa</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vascular land plants and lepidopterans.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using publicly available occurrence and biogeographic data, we trained random forest classifiers to predict the state-level conservation status of species in each of the two focal taxa. We assessed model performance with cross-validation, and explored trends in the predictions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our models had strong discriminatory ability, accurately predicting status for species with existing status assessments. They predict that the northwestern part of Maryland, USA, which overlaps the Appalachian Mountains, harbours a higher concentration of unassessed, but likely threatened plants and lepidopterans. Our predictions track known biogeographic patterns, and unassessed species predicted as most likely threatened in Maryland were often recognised as also needing conservation in nearby jurisdictions, providing external validation to our results.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We demonstrate that a modelling approach developed for global analysis can be downscaled and credible when applied at a regional scale that is smaller than typical species ranges. We identified select unassessed plant and lepidopteran species, and the western, montane region of Maryland as priority targets for additional monitoring, assessment and conservation. By rapidly aggregating disparate data and integrating information across taxa, models like those we used can complement traditional assessment tools and assist in prioritisation for formal assessments, as well as protection.</p>\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13969","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143118645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Davide Nardi, Maria Chiara Rosace, Martina Cendoya, Lorenzo Marini
{"title":"Trade Network Dynamics and Alien Plant Pest Introductions: A Global Analysis","authors":"Davide Nardi, Maria Chiara Rosace, Martina Cendoya, Lorenzo Marini","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13963","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13963","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Investigating the role of trade in elucidating the introductions of insect plant pests via specific pathways over the past two decades to inform future plant pest introduction risks.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Global.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We analysed global data on the first findings of plant pests and the global trade network, assessing which network metrics explained the cumulative introductions per country. We compared in-degree (i.e., the number of countries a focal country imports from) and out-degree (i.e., the number of countries a focal country exports to) across different pathways and investigated intraregional trade saturation for each country within different continents. We explored the relationship between the risk of spreading based on the trade network structure and the temporal sequence of realised introductions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In-degree was the major driver of the introduction of alien plant pests across all pathways. For several regions such as Europe and Asia, countries with extensive imports and regional trade connections serve as trade hubs connecting numerous countries belonging to the same geographical region. The saturation of the intra-regional routes reflected the less restrictive regional trade agreements and played a pivotal role in the spread of exotic pests within the region. We found untapped potential for opening new trade routes in Africa and Oceania.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study emphasises the potential increase in multiple introductions driven by a few key countries, warranting intensified surveillance efforts. Opening new commercial routes poses higher risks than increasing the total volume of trade from the same partners as it might open the dense international trade network to a new pool of potential pests. Incorporating high-resolution trade data and tracking data (i.e., from entry to final destination) is crucial and can enhance risk mapping precision to reduce future alien plant pest introductions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13963","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143118133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kathleen A. Carroll, Anna M. Pidgeon, Paul Elsen, Laura Farwell, Volker C. Radeloff
{"title":"Biodiversity Metric Selection and Their Applications for Spatial Conservation Planning","authors":"Kathleen A. Carroll, Anna M. Pidgeon, Paul Elsen, Laura Farwell, Volker C. Radeloff","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13952","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13952","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>On-the-ground conservation efforts require managers to balance various and sometimes conflicting conservation goals. For instance, areas important for conserving threatened and endangered species may have little spatial agreement with high functional redundancy. Using prioritisation tools can further complicate conservation prioritisations if conflicting diversity metrics identify different high-priority areas. We compared five community-level diversity metrics for birds across the conterminous US to identify how much agreement existed between each before and after using a prioritisation framework.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Contiguous US.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined spatial agreement among metrics before (a priori) and after (a posteriori) prioritisation using integer linear programming. We compared a posteriori outputs for 10% and 30% conservation goals. We also assessed data layer correlation and agreement (i.e., overlap) a priori and a posteriori.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>As expected, the a priori diversity metrics were poorly to moderately correlated (median = 0.31, range = 0.11–0.71), but all a posteriori solutions had areas of agreement. Accordingly, our a posteriori metrics identified different areas as high priority for conservation, none aligning well with the current protected areas (mean = 13%–15% agreement). However, the a posteriori approach allowed us to include a continuity constraint (identify adjacent important pixels) and easily find areas of high-priority agreement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Metric agreement depended on a priori or a posteriori evaluation, highlighting managers' challenges when deciding where and how to enact conservation. Given these challenges, a posteriori solutions best support multiple-objective, complex and large planning conservation problems. Importantly, all of our a posteriori maps agreed in areas, suggesting aggregates of several metrics could instill certainty in decision-making if prioritisation solutions were obtained at different times. Overall, our results underscore the critical importance of generating maps and metrics useful for on-the-ground management, carefully selecting biodiversity metrics that best reflect conservation goals and employing prioritisation software for generating conservation solutions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13952","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vianny Rodel Vouffo Nguimdo, Ekwoge Enang Abwe, Bethan J. Morgan, Marcel Eyong Ketchen, Daniel Mbouombouo Mfossa, Abwe Enang Abwe, Nelson Ekole Betobe, Robin C. Whytock, Mathias W. Tobler, Johannes Kamp, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Mahmood Soofi
{"title":"Long-Term Monitoring of Hunting Signs Reveals Complex Spatiotemporal Patterns of Hunting Activities in an Unprotected African Rainforest","authors":"Vianny Rodel Vouffo Nguimdo, Ekwoge Enang Abwe, Bethan J. Morgan, Marcel Eyong Ketchen, Daniel Mbouombouo Mfossa, Abwe Enang Abwe, Nelson Ekole Betobe, Robin C. Whytock, Mathias W. Tobler, Johannes Kamp, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Mahmood Soofi","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13951","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13951","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The long-term survival of many mammal populations relies on how effectively we mitigate the threat from unsustainable hunting. Yet, hunting activities are often cryptic, especially in unprotected forests. Here, we investigate whether hunting signs can help understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of hunting activities in an unprotected African rainforest and examine how landscape characteristics predict various indicators of hunting.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ebo forest, Cameroon, Central Africa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We recorded hunting signs (e.g., shotgun cartridges, wire snares, direct sightings) systematically on 23 parallel recce lines across the Ebo forest from 2008 to 2023. We assigned hunting data and spatial covariates (e.g., elevation, distance to village) to 1 × 1 km grid cells and applied generalised linear mixed models to predict the effects of these covariates on hunting.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found that hunting was commonplace across the entire Ebo forest. The best-fitting models for each hunting sign differed considerably. Shotgun cartridges and all hunting signs combined increased significantly from 2016 to 2023 and varied non-linearly along the village-distance gradient. We found a progressive inversion of hunting trends along the anthropogenic gradient; between 2016 and 2018, wire snares declined with the distance to road but from 2021, they increased along the road-distance gradient. Wire snares showed a similar pattern along the river-distance gradient. Our results also revealed differences between shotgun hunting and snaring along the altitudinal gradient; the effect of elevation was positive on shotgun cartridges and negative on wire snares. Hunting signs and trails decreased significantly with increasing terrain ruggedness.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using long-term monitoring data, we show how hunting patterns change dynamically with respect to human and landscape-related features. We also demonstrate complex hunting patterns along the gradient of human influence, therefore questioning the use of proxies such as the distance to human settlements and even topography to account for hunting pressure. Overall, we show that hunting sign data can reveal the spatiotemporal patterns of hunting, crucial in evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions and guiding the prioritisation of limit","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13951","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. J. van Blerk, M. D. Cramer, A. G. West, S. D. Musker, G. A. Verboom
{"title":"The Contribution of Hydric Habitats to the Richness of the Cape Fynbos Flora","authors":"J. J. van Blerk, M. D. Cramer, A. G. West, S. D. Musker, G. A. Verboom","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13962","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13962","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Cape Fold Belt Mountains, underlying the Cape fynbos flora, facilitate widespread moisture collection and groundwater availability across the region, with importance for maintaining hydric habitat niches. We assessed the contribution of hydric habitat-associated species (HH species) to the richness of this flora, and how this varies phylogenetically and spatially.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Cape Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We compiled data describing habitat preference and distributions for 3114 species in 23 fynbos clades. We used published habitat descriptions to identify putative HH species and tested how hydric habitat association is structured phylogenetically using both Ornstein-Uhlenbeck models and measures of phylogenetic signal. We used species' distribution data to identify regional hotspots of HH species and boosted regression trees (BRTs) to identify associated environmental drivers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Preference for hydric habitats is associated with nearly a fifth of the species in our study, being most strongly represented in monocot clades. HH species are most strongly concentrated in the southwestern CFR, where they contribute to high overall richness. BRTs indicated that hotspots of HH species are generally associated with saturating, winter precipitation and/or elevated levels of groundwater discharge.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings indicate that the unique climate, topography and hydrology of the CFR facilitate the formation and maintenance of important hydric habitats, which play host to a large fraction of the flora despite much of the region being semi- or seasonally arid. These findings highlight the threat of climate change and underscore the need for extreme caution regarding activities like groundwater abstraction, which could disrupt the hydrological processes essential to sustaining these habitats and their unique flora.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13962","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi Zou, Peng Zhao, Naicheng Wu, Jiangshan Lai, Pedro R. Peres-Neto, Jan C. Axmacher
{"title":"rarestR: An R Package Using Rarefaction Metrics to Estimate α- and β-Diversity for Incomplete Samples","authors":"Yi Zou, Peng Zhao, Naicheng Wu, Jiangshan Lai, Pedro R. Peres-Neto, Jan C. Axmacher","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13954","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species abundance data is commonly used to study biodiversity patterns. In this context, comparing α- and β-diversity across incomplete samples can lead to biases. Therefore, it is essential to employ methods that enable standardised and accurate comparisons of α- and β-diversity across varying sample sizes. In addition, biodiversity studies also often require robust estimates of the total number of species within a community and the number of species shared by two communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Innovation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rarefaction methods are commonly used to calculate α-diversity for standardised sample sizes, and they can also serve as the basis for calculating β-diversity. In this application note, we present <span>rarestR</span>, a new R package designed for calculating abundance-based α- and β-diversity measures for inconsistent samples using rarefaction-based metrics. The package also includes parametric extrapolation techniques to estimate the total expected number of species within a community, as well as the total number of species shared between two communities. Additionally, <span>rarestR</span> provides visualisation tools for curve-fitting associated with these estimators.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, the <span>rarestR</span> package is a valuable tool for comparing α- and β-diversity values among incomplete samples, such as those involving highly mobile or species-rich taxa. In addition, our species estimators offer a complementary approach to non-parametric methods, including the Chao series of estimators.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13954","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143117563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ben D'Antonio, Luciana C. Ferreira, Rebecca Fisher, Michele Thums, Charitha B. Pattiaratchi, Ana M. M. Sequeira, Cal Faubel, Samantha Reynolds, Brad Norman, Mark Meekan
{"title":"Natural and Artificial Structures Influence the Movement and Habitat Connectivity of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) Across Seascapes","authors":"Ben D'Antonio, Luciana C. Ferreira, Rebecca Fisher, Michele Thums, Charitha B. Pattiaratchi, Ana M. M. Sequeira, Cal Faubel, Samantha Reynolds, Brad Norman, Mark Meekan","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13950","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13950","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To understand how natural geomorphological features and oil and gas platforms (OG platforms) influence the habitat use and seascape connectivity of the whale shark (<i>Rhincodon typus</i>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>East-Indian Ocean and North-West Australia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We compiled a satellite tracking dataset of 78 whale sharks tagged across a 14-year period at Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay World Heritage Areas in Western Australia to develop spatial networks for the regions of the East-Indian Ocean and North-West Australia. We then applied a Bayesian modelling framework to assess the effects of natural features and OG platforms on spatial patterns and habitat connectivity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Geomorphological features such as pinnacles, canyons, and seamounts promoted habitat connectivity and strongly influenced the habitat use of whale sharks across both regional (1000's km; East-Indian Ocean) and local (100's km; North-West Australia) spatial scales. In the North-West of Australia, OG platforms had similar effects on habitat use as natural feature types and also enhanced habitat connectivity. The OG platforms most visited by whale sharks were situated close to the edge of the continental shelf and near natural geomorphological features that likely enhance productivity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our work identified natural geomorphological features that promoted habitat use and connectivity for whale sharks across oceanic and coastal seascapes. Sharks routinely visited OG platforms, which acted as migratory stepping stones that further enhanced habitat connectivity. Protection of natural feature types that promote habitat use and connectivity could assist conservation management of whale sharks. We suggest that the influence of OG platforms on their movement and habitat use beyond individual structures, should be considered in environmental impact assessments during operation and decommissioning phases.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13950","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eric W. Sanderson, Dale G. Miquelle, Abishek Harihar, Urs Breitenmoser, Christine Breitenmoser-Würsten, David M. Cooper, Kaveh Faziolahi, Kim Fisher, John Goodrich, Thomas N. E. Gray, Aili Kang, Andrew C. Kitchener, Douglas C. MacMillan, Stephane Ostrowski, Lucinda Royte, Kanchan Thapa, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi
{"title":"The Indigenous Range of the Tiger (Panthera tigris)","authors":"Eric W. Sanderson, Dale G. Miquelle, Abishek Harihar, Urs Breitenmoser, Christine Breitenmoser-Würsten, David M. Cooper, Kaveh Faziolahi, Kim Fisher, John Goodrich, Thomas N. E. Gray, Aili Kang, Andrew C. Kitchener, Douglas C. MacMillan, Stephane Ostrowski, Lucinda Royte, Kanchan Thapa, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi","doi":"10.1111/ddi.13947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13947","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Indigenous range maps are fundamental documents in biogeography, phylogeny and conservation. We define the indigenous range of a species as ecoregions (or parts of ecoregions) where the species was likely found before humans became a major factor shaping the species' distribution, beginning at a time when the geographical alignment of the continents and the prevailing climate are (or at least were) roughly consistent with current conditions. We developed a structured, generally applicable method to map a species' indigenous range and applied this process to the tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i>).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Terrestrial Asia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To guide our mapping, we synthesised a database of over 70,000 tiger observations with dates and locations. We developed a structured Delphi process to assign categories of indigenous range to ecoregions aided by a climate niche model. We analysed tiger habitat change at the ecoregional scale using the anthropogenically modified biomes (‘Anthrome 12K’) dataset to suggest dates of first significant human impact. Finally, we estimated extirpation dates for ecoregions where tigers have been extirpated.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found the tiger once occupied a likely indigenous resident range of approximately 11.5 million km<sup>2</sup>, crossing 116 ecoregions. We also mapped an additional c. 11.7 million km<sup>2</sup> of exploratory range and 1.2 million km<sup>2</sup> of possible resident range. Collectively these areas overlap with 36 modern countries. Significant human disruption of the species' habitat seems to have begun over 6000 years ago in some areas, but in other regions has yet to materialise. In few arid ecoregions, human activities appear to have modestly increased habitat availability in the past, yet overall tigers have lost between 90% and 95% of their indigenous range over the last 8500 years.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We define the ‘indigenous range’ of a species, develop a replicable biogeographical procedure, apply the procedure to the tiger and discuss transferability to other species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.13947","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143116185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}