Biotic interactions are more often important at species' warm versus cool range edges

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Biogeography
• Climate Change Biology

Background:

• Understanding species distribution is key to predicting ecological responses to global change.
• Darwin's hypothesis suggests abiotic factors limit cool range edges and biotic interactions limit warm edges, but empirical evidence is mixed.

Discussion:

• This study clarifies Darwin's hypothesis by analyzing 885 range limits.
• Biotic interactions (competition, predation, parasitism) were found to cause over 60% of range limits.
• Biotic factors were more influential at warm range limits than cool ones.

Key Insights:

• Abiotic factors were more common at cool range limits.
• Temperature influenced both warm and cool range limits.
• Most species' range limits will be affected by climate warming, with warm limits particularly influenced by biotic interactions.

Outlook:

• Future research should focus on the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in determining species distributions.
• Accurate forecasting of species' geographic shifts under climate change requires integrating both interaction types.
• Conservation strategies must consider the complex drivers of species' range limits for effective biodiversity protection.