Articles tagged with Species Distribution
Research using museum specimens found support for alternative hypotheses on the evolution of locally distributed endemism, suggesting multiple processes develop local endemism. This knowledge can help identify priorities in conservation planning.
Scientists have developed a new computer model predicting climate-driven shifts in commercially important fish species. The study suggests that most fish will migrate towards the Pole, with devastating consequences for developing countries' fishing industries.
A new study using ecological niche modeling found that small mammals on mountaintops in the Great Basin are not as isolated as previously believed. The research used climate data to 'backcast' species distributions at the height of the last ice age, finding most species lived at lower elevations and had larger ranges.
Researchers from Conservation International discovered 14 new species in the Cerrado, a biodiversity hotspot threatened by deforestation and urbanization. The finds include a legless lizard and a tiny woodpecker, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts in this region.
A team of international collaborators, led by Academy entomologist Brian Fisher, creates a conservation map for Madagascar by analyzing distribution data from 2,315 species. The proposed locations for new protected areas preserve the maximum number of species, providing a valuable model for biodiversity hotspots worldwide.
A recent study published in Conservation Biology found that threatened bird species tend to have their ranges overestimated by 40-70% compared to actual surveys. This overestimation is particularly pronounced for narrow-ranging and specialized species, which are also more vulnerable to extinction.
A landmark review evaluates six statistical methods to identify factors correlating with species distribution patterns and provides guidelines for their application. This work offers invaluable technical means to account for spatial dependencies in species distributions.
Researchers found that drought sensitivity is a key factor shaping tropical plant species distribution patterns, with denser plants on wetter sides and fewer on drier ones. This study provides new insights into the importance of water availability in shaping tropical forest ecosystems.
Researchers found that drought tolerance predicts plant distributions at local and regional scales in tropical forests. Drought-tolerant plants are more common in dry sites than in wet sites, even in humid forests.
A study by Conservation International finds that existing protected areas remain effective in the early stages of climate change, but adding new ones would maintain species protection in future decades and centuries. The research concludes that anticipating the need for new protected areas and getting them created in the short term wil...
A new study analyzing western hemlock distribution in North America's Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountains reveals that climate alone cannot explain species range. Spatial analysis suggests hemlock adapts better to drier summer conditions in the Rockies than coastal regions.
A recent DNA study has identified a single origin for domesticated potatoes, tracing them back to a broad area of southern Peru. This finding contradicts prior hypotheses of multiple origins and sheds new light on the evolutionary history of one of the world's most widely cultivated crops.
The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) partners with NASA to improve invasive species management. NASA provides Earth observations and predictive models to enhance partner abilities, improving accuracy and timeliness of predictive maps and plant species distribution forecasts.
Conservation efforts in Canada are threatened by growing human populations and economic development. Despite these challenges, conservation initiatives continue to focus on preserving biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Research by Jayanth Banavar, Igor Volkov, and Amos Maritan provides a mathematically stronger framework for Hubbell's Neutral Theory of Biodiversity, explaining patterns of relative species abundance and biogeography. The study rebuts criticisms and sheds light on the long-standing problem in island biogeography.
Researchers equipped Weddell seals with cameras and data recorders to track their movements and interactions with prey, gaining new insights into the habits of Antarctic silverfish and toothfish. The 'seal cam' technique sheds light on the behaviors of these little-known species, including migration patterns and depth ranges.
Scientists at Emory University create transgenic mice with a prairie vole vasopressin receptor gene, showing increased social behavior and adopting gregarious behaviors. The study provides an explanation for the species difference in receptor distribution and its impact on social behavior.