Abstract
AimThe nested pattern in the geographical distribution of three Indian owlets, resulting in a gradient of endemicity, is hypothesized to be an impact of historical climate change. In current time, the Forest Owlet Athene blewitti is endemic to central India, and its range is encompassed within the ranges of the Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum (distributed through South Asia) and Spotted Owlet Athene brama (distributed through Iran, South and Southeast Asia). Another phylogenetically close species, Little Owl Athene noctua, which is largely Palearctic in distribution, is hypothesized to have undergone severe range reduction during the Last Glacial Maximum, showing a postglacial expansion. The present study tests hypotheses on the possible role of Quaternary climatic fluctuations in shaping geographical ranges of owlets.MethodsWe used primary field observations, open access data, and climatic niche modeling to construct climatic niches of four owlets for four periods, the Last Interglacial (~120–140 Ka), Last Glacial Maximum (~22 Ka), Mid‐Holocene (~6 Ka), and Current (1960–1990). We performed climatic niche extent, breadth, and overlap analyses and tested if climatically suitable areas for owlets are nested in a relatively stable climate.ResultsClimatically suitable areas for all owlets examined underwent cycles of expansion and reduction or a gradual expansion or reduction since the Last Interglacial. The Indian owlets show significant climatic niche overlap in the current period. Climatically suitable areas for Little Owl shifted southwards during the Last Glacial Maximum and expanded northwards in the postglaciation period. For each owlet, the modeled climatic niches were nested in climatically stable areas.Main ConclusionsThe study highlights the impact of Quaternary climate change in shaping the present distribution of owlets. This is relevant to the current scenario of climate change and global warming and can help inform conservation strategies, especially for the extremely range‐restricted Forest Owlet.
Highlights
Past climatic fluctuations have played a major role in shaping the ranges of several species, especially endemic and endangered species in the regions harboring much of today's biodiversity such as the tropics (Bose, Munoz, Ramesh, & Pélissier, 2016; Bueno et al, 2017; Carnaval & Moritz, 2008; Costa et al, 2018; Pinilla‐Buitrago, Escalante, Gutiérrez‐Velázquez, Reyes‐Castillo, & Rojas‐Soto, 2018; Werneck, Nogueira, Colli, Sites, & Costa, 2012)
We examine the effect of the Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the climatic niche extents of owlets that show a gradient of endemicity and overlap in their current geographical distributions in parts of their ranges
We explore if Quaternary climatic fluctuations played a role in shaping the geographical distributions of owlets, using past‐projected climatic niche models (CNMs) and examine if the suitable areas for the endemic and Endangered Forest Owlet were nested within climatically stable areas to a greater extent, as compared to the other relatively widespread species
Summary
Past climatic fluctuations have played a major role in shaping the ranges of several species, especially endemic and endangered species in the regions harboring much of today's biodiversity such as the tropics (Bose, Munoz, Ramesh, & Pélissier, 2016; Bueno et al, 2017; Carnaval & Moritz, 2008; Costa et al, 2018; Pinilla‐Buitrago, Escalante, Gutiérrez‐Velázquez, Reyes‐Castillo, & Rojas‐Soto, 2018; Werneck, Nogueira, Colli, Sites, & Costa, 2012). We examine the effect of the Quaternary climatic fluctuations on the climatic niche extents of owlets that show a gradient of endemicity and overlap in their current geographical distributions in parts of their ranges Such comparative biogeography studies are scarce and have been recommended to comprehend community responses to global climate change (Berg et al, 2010). The four owlets with varying range extents, habitat requirements and degrees of overlap with each other are phylogenetically closely related (Koparde et al, 2018) Understanding how their ecological and evolutionary histories shaped their current distribution can provide vital information on how they respond to climatic changes, which will help plan their conservation strategies in the current scenario, especially in case of the Endangered Forest Owlet. We explore if Quaternary climatic fluctuations played a role in shaping the geographical distributions of owlets, using past‐projected climatic niche models (CNMs) and examine if the suitable areas for the endemic and Endangered Forest Owlet were nested within climatically stable areas to a greater extent, as compared to the other relatively widespread species
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