Genetic and ecological differences between two Utah endemics: US federally threatened Townsendia aprica and its close congener, T. jonesii var. lutea (Asteraceae)

Botany ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-250
Author(s):  
Linda P.J. Lipsen ◽  
Christopher Lee ◽  
Jeannette Whitton
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Soil Analysis ◽  
Neighbor Joining ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Herbaceous Perennials ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Isozyme Loci ◽  
Significant Divergence ◽  
Ecological Differences

We used genetic data from isozymes, along with soil analysis and ecological niche models to characterize two rare, morphologically similar Utah endemic Townsendias (Asteraceae). Townsendia aprica Welsh & Reveal and Townsendia jonesii (Beaman) Reveal var. lutea S.L. Welsh are herbaceous perennials endemic to adjacent areas of the Colorado Plateau region in southern Utah. Both are rare (T. aprica is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, USA), and the validity of recognizing them as separate has been questioned. Populations of both taxa were scored for nine informative isozyme loci. High levels of genetic variation were found in each, with little variation among populations within taxa and low but significant divergence estimated between the taxa (FST = 0.119). Neighbor-joining analysis revealed two moderately supported clusters of populations corresponding to the two taxa. Characteristics of the soils on which the two taxa occur differed significantly in percentage sand (higher for T. aprica), percentage clay, and CaCO3 (both higher for T. jonesii var. lutea). Furthermore, ecological niche modeling using 19 climatic variables suggests that the two taxa occupy distinct niches. Taken together, these results support recognition of the two taxa as distinct, and suggest that they are equally imperiled based on their genetic and ecological features.

Species’ Invasions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Native And Introduced Ranges ◽  
Niche Models

This chapter discusses the use of ecological niche modeling to study species invasions, and more specifically to identify and understand genuine exceptions to ecological niche equivalency between native and introduced ranges of species. In addition, it examines the degree to which the geographic course of species’ invasions can be anticipated based on scenopoetic variables and biotic interactions. The chapter also reviews practical considerations that must be taken into account when exploring the utility of ecological niche models in understanding species’ invasions, such as using niche conservatism to predict likely changes in the distributional potential of invasive species under scenarios of changing environmental conditions. Finally, it describes caveats and limitations of the approach and outlines future research directions and challenges involved in the application of niche modeling ideas in species invasions.

scholarly journals Ecological Niche Models of Four Hard Tick Genera (Ixodidae) in Mexico

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Clarke-Crespo ◽  
Claudia N. Moreno-Arzate ◽  
Carlos A. López-González
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Niche Models

Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, and in recent years, they have participated in the rise of multiple infectious outbreaks around the world. Studies have proposed that temperature and precipitation are the main variables that limit the geographical distribution of ticks. The analysis of environmental constraints with ecological niche modeling (ENM) techniques can improve our ability to identify suitable areas for emergence events. Algorithms used in this study showed different distributional patterns for each tick genera; the environmental suitability for Amblyomma includes warm and humid localities below 1000 m above the sea level, while Ixodes is mainly associated with ecosystems with high vegetation cover. Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus genus presented wider distribution patterns; the first includes species that are well adapted to resist desiccation, whereas the latter includes generalist species that are mostly associated with domestic hosts in Mexico. Ecological niche models have proven to be useful in estimating the geographic distribution of many taxa of ticks. Despite our limited knowledge of tick’s diversity, ENM can improve our understanding of the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and can assist public health decision-making processes.

scholarly journals Novel insights into the historical biogeography of the streak-breasted scimitar babbler complex (Aves: Timaliidae: Pomatorhinus ruficollis complex)

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 910-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushma Reddy ◽  
Árpád S. Nyári
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Hainan Island ◽  
Central China ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
History Of

Abstract The Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers of the Pomatorhinus ruficollis species complex are found in most of the forested habitats across southern and eastern Asia. The diversification history of this group is obscured by high plumage variation across populations and conflicting genetic signal across loci. We combined genetic and geographic data from several recent studies to investigate how these species diversified across China using both phylogenetic and ecological niche modeling analyses. These two lines of evidence are consistent in showing that two well-sampled species, P. reconditus and P. nigrostellatus, in central and southern China respectively, likely experienced a history of isolation and expansion as suitable habitat contracted during the last interglacial and expanded in patchy extent during the glacial maximum. The genetic analysis showed that populations of P. nigrostellatus on Hainan Island are very similar to the ones in nearby mainland southern China. We recovered two well-supported clades within P. reconditus that were not geographically structured with both containing individuals from the same localities across central China. This phylogenetic result corresponded to the ecological niche models that showed expansion from refugia since the last interglacial. This study illustrates the value of using an integrative approach and detailed geographic sampling to help understand the recent diversification of birds in China.

scholarly journals Prediction of high CPT yielding ecotypes of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham) Mabb. in Western Ghats using Ecological Niche Modeling

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 2451-2458
Author(s):  
Cordilea Hannah ◽  
Joyce Sudandara Priya ◽  
Kasthuri Bhai N.
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Nothapodytes Nimmoniana ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Chemical Content

Camptothecin (CPT) is one of anticancer drug that is widely used for treating various cancers. In India, the drug is primarily sourced from natural habitats of the red listed species Nothapodytes nimmoniana. Ecological niche models are potential tools to define and predict the “ecological niche” of a species that exhibit ecological variations. The predicted ecological niche of a species indicates their survival fitness against Bioclimatic variables. The habitat suitability was predicted using Maxent for different ecotypes of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham.) Mabb. In this study the synonymised populations of N. nimmoniana in the Western Ghats were cogitated as five different ecotypes. The predicted habitat suitability of different ecotypes were evaluated and correlated against CPT content using high performance thin layer chromatography. The study shows a significant positive correlation between the predicted habitat quality and chemical content. The ecotypes growing in sites predicted as highly suitable showed high content of camptothecin compared to those growing in poorly suitable sites. Thereby enabling precise identification of “chemical hot-spots” which will eventually establish a strong foot hold on monoculture of the species, an effort towards conservation.

Environmental Data

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Townsend Peterson ◽  
Jorge Soberón ◽  
Richard G. Pearson ◽  
Robert P. Anderson ◽  
Enrique Martínez-Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Species Distributions ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Potential Utility ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Niche Models

This chapter focuses on the conceptual and applied aspects of environmental data in the context of building and interpreting ecological niche models. It first examines how different suites of environmental factors may affect species distributions across a range of spatial scales before discussing which and how many variables are needed for ecological niche modeling. It then reviews the diverse sources of environmental datasets that are of potential utility in ecological niche modeling and concludes by considering a number of challenges involved in designing and choosing environmental data for ecological niche modeling. These challenges include data preparation, data quality, spatial extent, resolution in space and time, types of environmental data, and ancillary data.

scholarly journals Geographic Distribution of Colombian Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) via Ecological Niche Modeling: A Prediction for the Main Tropical Forages' Pest in the Neotropics

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis M. Hernández ◽  
Paula Espitia ◽  
David Florian ◽  
Valheria Castiblanco ◽  
Juan Andrés Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) are the main tropical pests in Central and South America of cultivated pastures. We aimed to estimate the potential distribution of Aeneolamia varia, A. lepidior, A. reducta, Prosapia simulans, Zulia carbonaria, and Z. pubescens throughout the Neotropics using ecological niche modeling. These six insect species are common in Colombia and cause large economic losses. Records of these species, prior to the year 2000, were compiled from human observations, specimens from CIAT Arthropod Reference Collection (CIATARC), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), speciesLink (splink), and an extensive literature review. Different ecological niche models (ENMs) were generated for each species: Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), generalized linear (GLM), multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), and random forest model (RF). Bioclimatic datasets were obtained from WorldClim and the 19 available variables were used as predictors. Future changes in the potential geographical distribution were simulated in ENMs generated based on climate change projections for 2050 in two scenarios: optimistic and pessimistic. The results suggest that (i) Colombian spittlebugs impose an important threat to Urochloa production in different South American countries, (ii) each spittlebug species has a unique geographic distribution pattern, (iii) in the future the six species are likely to invade new geographic areas even in an optimistic scenario, (iv) A. lepidior and A. reducta showed a higher number of suitable habitats across Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador, where predicted risk is more severe. Our data will allow to (i) monitor the dispersion of these spittlebug species, (ii) design strategies for integrated spittlebug management that include resistant cultivars adoption to mitigate potential economic damage, and (iii) implement regulatory actions to prevent their introduction and spread in geographic areas where the species are not yet found.

Ecological niche modeling on the effect of climatic change and conservation of Ternstroemia lineata DC. (Ternstroemiaceae) in Mesoamerica

Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 637-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isolda Luna-Vega ◽  
Othón Alcántara-Ayala ◽  
Raúl Contreras-Medina ◽  
César A. Ríos-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Change ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Emission Scenarios ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Bioclimatic Modeling ◽  
Rule Set ◽  
Niche Models

A bioclimatic modeling of the tree Ternstroemia lineata DC. (Ternstroemiaceae) was undertaken. The genus itself is considered as diagnostic or characteristic of the Mexican cloud forest. Ternstroemia lineata has the broadest distribution of all species in this family in Mexico and northern Central America. This species consists of two subspecies, T. lineata subsp. lineata and T. lineata subsp. chalicophila (Loes.) B.M. Barthol. Ecological niche models for both subspecies were generated using the genetic algorithm for rule-set production method. The ecological models for the years 2020, 2050, and 2080 were obtained under the effects of global climatic change considering two emission scenarios (A2a and B2a). When climatic change values were introduced, the ecological niche representation for both subspecies contracted in such a way that they became almost lost throughout their entire geographical range. In both cases, predictions for all years in both scenarios contracted more than 90%. This species may not be able to adapt to modifications caused by climatic change to future conditions, so it is at risk of extinction in the immediate future.

scholarly journals Ecological niche modeling as an effective tool to predict the distribution of freshwater organisms: The case of the Sabaleta Brycon henni (Eigenmann, 1913)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247876
Author(s):  
Daniel Valencia-Rodríguez ◽  
Luz Jiménez-Segura ◽  
Carlos A. Rogéliz ◽  
Juan L. Parra
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Temperature ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Species Occurrences

Ecological niche models (ENMs) aim to recreate the relationships between species and the environments where they occur and allow us to identify unexplored areas in geography where these species might be present. These models have been successfully used in terrestrial organisms but their application in aquatic organisms is still scarce. Recent advances in the availability of species occurrences and environmental information particular to aquatic systems allow the evaluation of these models. This study aims to characterize the niche of the Sabaleta Brycon henni Eigenmann 1913, an endemic fish of the Colombian Andes, using ENMs to predict its geographical distribution across the Magdalena Basin. For this purpose, we used a set of environmental variables specific to freshwater systems in addition to the customary bioclimatic variables, and species’ occurrence data to model its potential distribution using the Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). We evaluate the relative importance between these two sets of variables, the model’s performance, and its geographic overlap with the IUCN map. Both on-site (annual precipitation, minimum temperature of coldest month) and upstream variables (open waters, average minimum temperature of the coldest month and average precipitation seasonality) were included in the models with the highest predictive accuracy. With an area under the curve of 90%, 99% of the species occurrences and 68% of absences correctly predicted, our results support the good performance of ENMs to predict the potential distribution of the Sabaleta and the utility of this tool in conservation and decision-making at the national level.

scholarly journals Supraspecific units in correlative niche modeling improves the prediction of geographic potential of biological invasions

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10454
Author(s):  
Sandra Castaño-Quintero ◽  
Jazmín Escobar-Luján ◽  
Luis Osorio-Olvera ◽  
A Townsend Peterson ◽  
Xavier Chiappa-Carrara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Complete Characterization ◽  
Niche Modeling ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Niche Models

Background Biological invasions rank among the most significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. Correlative ecological niche modeling is among the most frequently used tools with which to estimate potential distributions of invasive species. However, when areas accessible to the species across its native distribution do not represent the full spectrum of environmental conditions that the species can tolerate, correlative studies often underestimate fundamental niches. Methods Here, we explore the utility of supraspecific modeling units to improve the predictive ability of models focused on biological invasions. Taking into account phylogenetic relationships in correlative ecological niche models, we studied the invasion patterns of three species (Aedes aegypti, Pterois volitans and Oreochromis mossambicus). Results Use of supraspecific modeling units improved the predictive ability of correlative niche models in anticipating potential distributions of three invasive species. We demonstrated that integrating data on closely related species allowed a more complete characterization of fundamental niches. This approach could be used to model species with invasive potential but that have not yet invaded new regions.

The effect of seasonal variation on the activity patterns of the American black bear: an ecological niche modeling approach

Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-322
Author(s):  
Carolina Gámez-Brunswick ◽  
Octavio Rojas-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Ecological Niche Modeling ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ecological Niche Models ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
American Black Bear ◽  
American Black ◽  
High Degree

AbstractThe American black bear (Ursus americanus) has very plastic activity patterns that maximize its ability to adapt to changing environments. Hibernation length is positively correlated with latitude, where northern populations remain in hibernation for up to 5 months during the winter; however, the species may not hibernate at all in its southern range. Several studies have focused on the description of the species’ ecology from specific locations; however, the macroecological perspective of the seasonal activity in black bears has not been explored. Using ecological niche models and temporal climate transfers, we tested for a correlation between the 971 monthly activity records we obtained for this species within its whole distribution and monthly climatic conditions. We observed that there was a high degree of geographic overlap among the monthly potential transferred areas and the monthly presence locality records. Thus, we suggest that climate is one of the main factors affecting the cycles of activity of this species and explains its hibernation patterns.

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