Abstract
BackgroundUnderstanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology. However, so far very little is known about the distributional responses of subtropical species to climate change, especially for small mammals. In this study, we examined the elevational range shifts at three range points (upper and lower range limits and abundance-weighted range centre) of rodents over a 30-year period (1986 to 2014–2015), in a subtropical forest of Southwest China. We also examined the influences of four ecological traits (body mass, habitat breadth, diet and daily activity pattern) on the upslope shifts in species’ abundance-weighted range centres.ResultsDespite the warming trend between 1986 and 2015, the 11 rodent species in analysis displayed heterogeneous dynamics at each of the three range points. Species which have larger body sizes and narrower habitat breadths, show both diurnal and nocturnal activities and more specialized dietary requirements, are more likely to exhibit upslope shifts in abundance-weighted range centres.ConclusionsSpecies’ distributional responses can be heterogeneous even though there are directional changes in climate. Our study indicates that climate-induced alleviation of competition and lag in response may potentially drive species’ range shift, which may not conform to the expectation from climate change. Difference in traits can lead to different range dynamics. Our study also illustrates the merit of multi-faceted assessment in studying elevational range shifts.
Highlights
Understanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology
Mountains are perhaps the best systems to investigate the interplay between climate change and species’ ranges because researchers can benefit from studying shifts in both range limits of a species over relatively short spatial distances
Evaluating range shifts We examined the shifts in upper range limit, lower range limit and abundance-weighted range centre of the 11 most common species between 1986 and 2014–2015
Summary
Understanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology. Mountains are perhaps the best systems to investigate the interplay between climate change and species’ ranges because researchers can benefit from studying shifts in both range limits (i.e. upper and lower) of a species over relatively short spatial distances. For this reason, a substantial number of empirical studies (usually carried out at one or several mountain ranges) and meta-analyses [6, 7] have been conducted to explore species’ elevational range shifts, with the focal species including almost all the biotic groups on earth. The ability to make an accurate prediction will be valuable to the evaluation of future species assemblage structures at different elevations of a mountain
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