Differences between microhabitat and broad-scale patterns of niche evolution in terrestrial salamanders.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Biogeography

Background:

• Ecological niche similarity in related species is debated.
• Macroecological niche analyses use broad climatic data, but species interactions occur at fine scales.
• The validity of macroscale analyses for predicting fine-scale processes is untested.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare broad-scale (macroecological) and fine-scale (microhabitat) approaches for analyzing species niches.
• To investigate niche evolution in European plethodontid salamanders using both approaches.
• To assess the congruence between macroecological and microhabitat niche characteristics and their evolutionary patterns.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed European plethodontid salamander niches using both macroecological (broad-scale climate) and microhabitat (fine-scale) data.
• Compared niche differences identified by each approach.
• Examined niche evolution in relation to phylogenetic history for both scales.

Main Results:

• Both macroecological and microhabitat analyses revealed niche differentiation among species.
• The correspondence between macroecological and microhabitat niches was weak.
• Macroecological analyses suggested a link between niche and phylogeny, but fine-scale analyses did not.
• Broad-scale analyses may oversimplify niche evolution due to range proximity.

Conclusions:

• Macroecological niche analyses may not accurately reflect fine-scale processes or niche evolution.
• Species' actual environments are more heterogeneous than broad-scale predictors suggest.
• Integrating macroecological and fine-grained data is crucial for robust ecological generalizations.