Predicting species distribution: offering more than simple habitat models
Antoine Guisan1, Wilfried Thuiller2,3
1Laboratoire de Biologie de la Conservation (LBC), Département d'Ecologie et d'Evolution (DEE), Université de Lausanne, Bâtiment de Biologie, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Ecology Letters
|September 14, 2021
Summary
Species distribution models (SDMs) are advancing, but limitations remain for ecological applications. Future research should integrate migration, population dynamics, and community ecology for better biodiversity forecasting.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Biodiversity Science
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Species distribution models (SDMs) have seen a surge in interest over the past 20 years.
- Advances in SDMs offer potential for forecasting anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity.
- Current limitations hinder the widespread application of SDMs in theoretical and practical ecological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of recent advancements in species distribution modeling.
- To discuss the ecological principles, assumptions, limitations, and evaluation of SDMs.
- To highlight the application of SDMs in climate change impact assessment and conservation management.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on species distribution models.
- Discussion of ecological principles and assumptions underpinning SDMs.
- Analysis of critical limitations and decision-making processes in SDM construction and evaluation.
Main Results:
- SDMs are increasingly used to forecast biodiversity patterns under anthropogenic pressures.
- Key limitations in SDMs affect their utility in various ecological applications.
- Emphasis is placed on using SDMs for climate change impact and conservation management.
Conclusions:
- Further development of SDMs is needed to address limitations and enhance ecological applications.
- Suggests incorporating species migration, population dynamics, biotic interactions, and community ecology into SDMs.
- Recommends better integration of SDMs with ecological theory for multi-scale analyses and improved biodiversity predictions.
Related Concept Videos
00:54Distribution and Dispersion
22.7K
To understand intra-specific interactions in populations, scientists measure the spatial arrangement of species individuals. This geographic arrangement is known as the species distribution or dispersion. Highly territorial species exhibit a uniform distribution pattern, in which individuals are spaced at relatively equal distances from one another. Species that are highly tied to particular resources, such as food or shelter, tend to concentrate around those resources, and thus exhibit a...
22.7K
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
19.0K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
19.0K
01:23Mechanistic Models: Compartment Models in Individual and Population Analysis
111
Mechanistic models are utilized in individual analysis using single-source data, but imperfections arise due to data collection errors, preventing perfect prediction of observed data. The mathematical equation involves known values (Xi), observed concentrations (Ci), measurement errors (εi), model parameters (ϕj), and the related function (ƒi) for i number of values. Different least-squares metrics quantify differences between predicted and observed values. The ordinary least...
111
01:06Model Approaches for Pharmacokinetic Data: Distributed Parameter Models
149
Pharmacokinetic models are mathematical constructs that represent and predict the time course of drug concentrations in the body, providing meaningful pharmacokinetic parameters. These models are categorized into compartment, physiological, and distributed parameter models.
The distributed parameter models are specifically designed to account for variations and differences in some drug classes. This model is particularly useful for assessing regional concentrations of anticancer or...
The distributed parameter models are specifically designed to account for variations and differences in some drug classes. This model is particularly useful for assessing regional concentrations of anticancer or...
149
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
259
In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
259
01:26Pharmacokinetic Models: Comparison and Selection Criterion
177
Physiological and compartmental models are valuable tools used in studying biological systems. These models rely on differential equations to maintain mass balance within the system, ensuring an accurate representation of the dynamic processes at play.
Physiological models take a detailed approach by considering specific molecular processes. They can predict drug distribution, metabolism, and elimination changes, providing a comprehensive understanding of how drugs interact with the body.
Physiological models take a detailed approach by considering specific molecular processes. They can predict drug distribution, metabolism, and elimination changes, providing a comprehensive understanding of how drugs interact with the body.
177