Changes In Area Distribution Research Articles

Species traits to guide moth conservation in anthropogenic regions: A multi‐species approach using distribution trends in Flanders (northern Belgium)

Abstract Insect abundance and diversity appear to decline rapidly in recent decades, garnering significant media attention, and hence raising public awareness. Macro‐moths—a species‐rich and ecologically diverse insect group—face severe declines, particularly in urbanised and intensively farmed areas in NW Europe. Flanders is a highly anthropogenic region, serving as a case study where the impact on macro‐moths of stressors like intensive agriculture, industrialisation and urbanisation has been quantified through a recently compiled Red List. Here, for 717 macro‐moth species, we calculated relative changes in distribution area between a reference period (1980–2012) and the subsequent period (2013–2022). By correlating these species‐specific trends with 10 key ecological and life history traits, we calculated more general Multi‐Species Change Indices (MSCIs). These MSCIs showed that species associated with wet biotopes and heathlands declined on average by 20%–25%, while (sub)urban species increased by more than 60%. Species feeding on lichens or mosses increased by 31%, while grass‐feeding species decreased by 20%. Both very small (+34%) and very large species (+15%) increased, whereas medium‐sized species decreased by 5%. Monophagous (+17%), migrant (+88%) and colour‐invariable species (+5%) increased, while colour‐variable species decreased (−8%). Finally, Holarctic (−21%) and Palaearctic species (−5%) decreased, while Mediterranean (+27%) and Western‐Palaearctic species (+9%) increased. Our trait‐based approach identifies key threats and mitigation strategies for moths in anthropogenic regions, offering evidence‐based insights for crafting efficient management recommendations and informed conservation policies to safeguard moth communities.

Prediction of changes in distribution area of Scopura laminate in response to climate changes of the Odaesan National Park of South Korea

Prediction of changes in distribution area of Scopura laminate in response to climate changes of the Odaesan National Park of South Korea

Changes in Species Richness and Spatial Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Inferred From Museum Specimen Records and a Recent Inventory: A Case Study From Belgium Suggests Recent Expanded Distribution of Arbovirus and Malaria Vectors

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) distribution data from a recent inventory of native and invading mosquito species in Belgium were compared with historical data from the period 1900-1960 that were retrieved from a revision of the Belgian Culicidae collection at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Both data sets were used to investigate trends in mosquito species richness in several regions in Belgium. The relative change in distribution area of mosquito species was particularly important for species that use waste waters and used tires as larval habitats and species that recently shifted their larval habitat to artificial larval habitats. More importantly, several of these species are known as vectors of arboviruses and Plasmodium sp. and the apparent habitat shift of some of them brought these species in proximity to humans. Similar studies comparing current mosquito richness with former distribution data retrieved from voucher specimens from collections is therefore encouraged because they can generate important information concerning health risk assessment at both regional and national scale.

Changes in the distribution of carabid beetles in Belgium revisited: Have we halted the diversity loss?

Twenty years ago, Desender and Turin (1989) analysed the changes in the composition of carabid beetles in four NW European countries between the periods <1950 and 1950–1985. Recently, a new distribution atlas of carabid beetles in Belgium was compiled using data collected during the period 1986–2008. In the light of the Countdown2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity, we used these new data to test whether or not previously observed trends were altered. Since 1950, 46 species were no longer recorded in Belgium and seven species were added to the Belgian fauna. By relating the changes in distribution area to ecological and life history traits as well as to conservation priorities of the species, we examined which species characteristics were associated with the strongest changes in distribution. Comparing the period before 1950 with the period 1950–1985 showed that species from nutrient-poor dry biotopes and heathlands, threatened, rare and big species declined. Generalists, non-threatened species, species with a pan-European distribution range, species in the centre of their distribution range and common species, on the other hand, increased. From the period 1950–1985 to 1986–2008, mainly macropterous species, both rare and very common species and big species decreased, while generalists, dimorphic species, species with a pan-European distribution range and species that were already common in the second period increased. For the conservation of carabid beetles in a strongly industrialised and highly fragmented NW European landscape, we propose actions on two levels: first, the protection and adequate management of high quality biotopes, especially nutrient-poor grasslands and heathlands, in large core areas for specialist species and second, the creation and/or restoration of a ‘matrix’ that facilitates the exchange of individuals between core areas for the conservation of both generalist and specialist species.

Contrasting trends of butterfly species preferring semi-natural grasslands, field margins and forest edges in northern Europe

Indicator classifications help us to focus on the most relevant groups of species in monitoring the effects of land use changes on biodiversity. We studied changes in distribution area of 74 butterfly species preferring one of the three common habitats of boreal agricultural landscapes: semi-natural grasslands (35 species), arable field margins (7) and forest edges (32). Using extensive atlas data from four time periods during the last 50 years in Finland, we quantified trends in the occupancy of the species in 10 km grid squares, and classified them into four classes: declining (23), stable (17), increasing (27) and fluctuating (7) species. Trends among the species favouring three habitats were different: 60% of the species of semi-natural grasslands had declined, whereas 86% of the species typical of open field margins had increased. An increase also predominated in species associated with forest edges. Declining and increasing species differed in three ecological characteristics: increasing species were more mobile, utilized a wider range of habitats and, based on their larval host plants, lived in more eutrophic habitats than declining species. Species overwintering as adults showed more positive trends in occupancy than species overwintering as eggs, larvae or pupae. Observed trends in occupancy are in good agreement with long-term changes in land use and habitat availability in Finland: a long-continued decrease in the area of semi-natural grasslands and an increased amount of open forest edges and clearings due to modern forestry during the past 50 years.

Potential decoupling of trends in distribution area and population size of species with climate change

AbstractGlobal climates are changing rapidly and biological responses are becoming increasingly apparent. Here, we use empirical abundance patterns across an altitudinal gradient and predicted altitudinal range shifts to estimate change in total population size relative to distribution area in response to climate warming. Adopting this approach we predict that, for nine out of 12 species of regionally endemic birds, total population size will decline more rapidly than distribution area with increasing temperature. Two species showed comparable loss and one species exhibited a slower decline in population size with change in distribution area. Population size change relative to distribution area was greatest for those species that occurred at highest density in the middle of the gradient. The disproportional loss in population size reported here suggests that extinction risk associated with climate change can be more severe than that expected from decline in distribution area alone. Therefore, if we are to make accurate predictions of the impacts of climate change on the conservation status of individual species, it is crucial that we consider the spatial patterns of abundance within the distribution and not just the overall range of the species.

Long-term changes in area distribution of eelgrass ( Zostera marina) in Danish coastal waters

For five shallow-water eelgrass stands in Denmark, changes in area distribution over the period 1940/50s–1990s were assessed from aerial photographs. In areas where the wasting disease had decimated eelgrass meadows in the 1930s, this included determination of the time scale of recolonization. In addition, we aimed at evaluating whether fluctuations in eelgrass area distribution were related to various natural and human-induced disturbances, namely storm events, ice-cover, water temperature and nutrient loading. We found that populations affected by the wasting disease exhibited a time lag of more than 10 years before substantial recolonization began, probably reflecting long distances to seed-producing populations and extreme climatic events in the period. After the initial time lag, eelgrass area distribution increased rapidly, and a substantial recovery had taken place in the 1960s. All eelgrass populations showed marked inter-annual fluctuations. Declines were often rapid with reductions of about 60% occurring in less than 6 years. Recoveries occurred over similar time scales and documented that recolonization may take place relatively fast when suitable environmental conditions are present. Fluctuations in eelgrass area distribution tended to be larger in enclosed, protected bays as compared to open coasts, probably because enclosed sites are often more eutrophic. Changes in shallow-water eelgrass area distribution did not correlate with the available long-term records of natural and human-induced disturbance parameters. Thus, while deep-water eelgrass populations have declined markedly over the last century in response to eutrophication, long-term changes in shallow-water populations are less equivocal and seem more stochastic.

Changes in distribution area of Korean musk deer (Moschus moschiferus parvipes) from 1950s to 1999 in South Korea

Based on the literature reviews and questionnaire, field survey on the species, feces, and tracks in non-snow season and snow season of Korean musk deer from February to December of 1999 in South Korea (Cultural Properties Administration 1999), the authors summarized the change of distribution area and number of Korean musk deer from 1950s to 1999. The results showed that the distribution area of Korean musk deer (Moschus moschiferus parvipes) was sharply decreased from 1950s to 1999 in South Korea. Due to the road and forest road construction in the habitat of Korean musk deer, the musk deer habitats were fragmented and lost. And the illegal capture for economic benefits was the main reason of decreases in number of individuals and habitats of this species. Forest roads in high elevation area were also used as the passages for illegal captures. For the conservation and protection of Korean musk deer, strict regulation of illegal capture is urgently needed.