Changes In Distribution Range Research Articles

Recognising the role of ruderal species in restoration of degraded lands

Ruderal plants are an important component of plant communities that develop on the range of anthropogenically degraded lands. Yet they were highly neglected and not recognised as desirable for restoration purposes. The aim of this study was to analyse the potential for using ruderal species in restoration processes and to identify preliminary criteria for species selection that could be included in ecological restoration of degraded man-made habitats under future conditions of increased human disturbance and climate changes. The desirable characteristics of the species depend primarily on the type of habitat to be restored, with plant height, specific leaf area, rooting depth and seed characteristics being the most important traits. The recognised ecosystem services of the species analysed show that the provisioning and regulating services are well represented, particularly erosion control, pollination, phytoremediation and other soil quality improvements. Most of the dominant and diagnostic ruderal species from the man-made habitats of the north-western Balkan Peninsula are sensitive to climate change and their potential distribution range is expected to decrease at the European scale. Higher certain ecological indicator values, as well as values for disturbance severity, frequency and soil disturbance indices were found for species that are expected to increase their range. Ruderal species are becoming increasingly important for restoration purposes, as the focus shifts to the significance of early successional species. The inclusion of ruderal species in the restoration of degraded sites should be based on criteria such as: non-invasiveness, plant traits favourable for colonisation (height, SLA, seed traits, rooting depth), values of ecological and disturbance indices, provision of ecosystem services, and change of distribution range under changing climate conditions.

Amphibians and reptiles in North Sweden: distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance (Classes: Amphibia and Reptilia).

North Sweden ('Norrland' in Swedish) covers 243000 km2 and lies mainly in the boreal biome. The herpetofauna comprises five amphibian and four reptile species: Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix, and Vipera berus. Successful conservation and management of amphibians and reptiles depend on accurate information about distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance. Such knowledge is also essential as a benchmark to assess changes in distribution and abundance that may come about as a result of climate change and human habitat alteration. This paper aims to present accurate distribution maps, describe habitat affinities, and provide abundance estimates for the herpetofauna of North Sweden for the period 1970-2022. Distribution data are presented by traditional faunistic provinces, as well as by biotic regions and alpine life zones. Separate sections address post-glacial colonization and a herpetological perspective on anthropogenic changes in relation to species´ present status. Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus are widely distributed throughout the boreal sub-regions. Rana temporaria, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus also extend into the alpine region. Triturus cristatus, Anguis fragilis, and Natrix natrix occur mainly in the coastal parts of the Southern Boreal region. There are no signs of recent changes in distribution range, but Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, and Rana arvalis have been largely overlooked in the past and have a much wider occurrence than previously recognized. Most species are found in habitats usually not described in all-European field guides. Nearly all anurans hibernate in water. Abundance estimates suggest that some species are more common in the boreal than thought, supporting the notion that a large share of their total European population occurs there. Although local extinctions and declines are known, there are no signs of widespread population decline for any species during the study period.

Range reduction of the Appalachia Darter in the lower New River drainage with comments on the status of endemic fishes.

The Appalachia Darter, Percina gymnocephala, is an endemic fish of the New River drainage in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Within the lower New River watershed, this species has a limited distribution range in the Gauley and Greenbrier river drainages, and conservation of the species could benefit from population status and threat assessments. We documented temporal changes in distribution range based on historic and current fish survey data. The range reduction of the Appalachia Darter is consistent with patterns found for other New River endemics, including the Candy Darter, New River Shiner, and Kanawha Minnow. The range reduction of the Appalachia Darter and other New River endemics in West Virginia waters likely has multiple causes, where threats could include land use, impacts to habitat and water quality, and nonnative species.

Preface: Functional biogeography in Japanese cedar

Preface: Functional biogeography in Japanese cedar

Projecting changes in the distribution and maximum catch potential of warm water fishes under climate change scenarios in the Yellow Sea

AbstractAimOcean warming has been observed in a number of marine ecosystems and is believed to influence marine species in many ways, such as through changes in distribution range and abundance. In this study, we investigated the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution and maximum catch potential of 34 warm water fishes from 2000 to 2060.LocationYellow Sea, China.MethodsWe used a dynamic bioclimate envelope model under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios with Earth system models, including GFDL, IPSL, MPI and their ensemble average, to predict current species distributions and their relative abundance and project future species distributions and maximum catch potential (MCP). Results are subsequently summarized by indices such latitudinal centroid (LC) and mean temperature of relative abundance (MTRA).ResultsOur results showed that the 34 warm water fish species in the Yellow Sea will likely shift to lower latitude regions under future climate change scenarios. In particular, the average LC in the Earth system models of GFDL, IPSL and MPI from 1970 to 2060 is projected to shift at rate of −2.96 ± 1.29 (SE) and −3.20 ± 1.94 (SE) km per decade under the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. In addition, the corresponding maximum catch potential is decreased under the above climate change scenarios. The projected changes in the distribution may have major ecological and socio‐economic importance as well as implications for invasive species management, marine ranching construction and shifts in fishing grounds.Main conclusionsThe projected distribution of 34 warm water fish species in the Yellow Sea shifted to lower latitudes from 2000 to 2060 following both RCP scenarios and Earth system models. This result is contrary to the projections of previous studies suggesting that fish species can shift to higher latitudes or deeper waters under increased temperature scenarios. This difference might be due to the semi‐enclosed shelf sea of Yellow Sea, which is commonly influenced by the fluctuation of the coastal current, the warm current, the cold water mass and overfishing.

Knowledge Gaps or Change of Distribution Ranges? Explaining New Records of Birds in the Ecuadorian Tumbesian Region of Endemism

The change in the distribution range is a common response of various species facing the effects of anthropogenic global change. We used new distribution records of birds reported during the last two decades from the Ecuadorian part of the Tumbesian region (western Ecuador and northwestern Peru) available through a bibliographic review, together with our own field data collected during 2014–2019, and generated a methodology that explored whether these new reports are likely due to knowledge gaps or changes in the distribution range. We classified the species with new records as either Change of distribution range, Likely change of distribution range, Accidental, Knowledge gap, or Undetermined based on information about the distribution area, species conspicuousness, and dynamics of the records in the new location. We gathered data for 46 bird species newly reported in the Ecuadorian Tumbesian region in the last two decades. Of this, 35% of species were classified as Accidental, 24% as Knowledge gaps, 22% as Change of distribution range, 15% as Undetermined, and 4% as Likely change of distribution range. Species classified as Change of distribution range were mostly aquatic. Terrestrial species were mostly classified as Knowledge gap, while aquatic species were mostly classified as Accidental. Our protocol was validated using species which are known to have modified their distribution range in the Palearctic region, all of which were correctly classified by our methodology. The proposed method was precise and easy to apply and will allow us to better understand how species respond to anthropogenic global change, especially in areas where long-term studies are scarce, such as in tropical areas.

Multilocus approach reveals an incipient differentiation process in the Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus around the Mediterranean basin

The Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, a steppe bird species, is mainly distributed in the Mediterranean and Macaronesian regions, which are considered hotspots of biodiversity with priority for animal and plant species richness conservation. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of the Stone-curlew in the Mediterranean basin and in the Canary Islands by applying a multilocus approach. We analysed mitochondrial and nuclear markers in order to evaluate the genetic structure and the congruence between morphological subspecies and geographic samples. We found a significant level of genetic differentiation between Mediterranean and Canary Island populations with all markers. Both in the Mediterranean basin and in the Canary Islands, we found a significant level of genetic diversity with nuclear markers only. We identified seven population groups, including insular populations. The four subspecies described for the Western Palaearctic were confirmed with some changes in distribution range. In spite of habitat fragmentation and negative population trend, the Stone-curlew showed a significant level of genetic diversity and gene flow among continental populations. However, islands constitute important reservoirs of genetic diversity and a potential for the evolution of the species.

Present, past and future of the European rock fern Asplenium fontanum: combining distribution modelling and population genetics to study the effect of climate change on geographic range and genetic diversity

Climate change is expected to alter the geographic range of many plant species dramatically. Predicting this response will be critical to managing the conservation of plant resources and the effects of invasive species. The aim of this study was to predict the response of temperate homosporous ferns to climate change. Genetic diversity and changes in distribution range were inferred for the diploid rock fern Asplenium fontanum along a South-North transect, extending from its putative last glacial maximum (LGM) refugia in southern France towards southern Germany and eastern-central France. This study reconciles observations from distribution models and phylogeographic analyses derived from plastid and nuclear diversity. Genetic diversity distribution and niche modelling propose that genetic diversity accumulates in the LGM climate refugium in southern France with the formation of a diversity gradient reflecting a slow, post-LGM range expansion towards the current distribution range. Evidence supports the fern's preference for outcrossing, contradicting the expectation that homosporous ferns would populate new sites by single-spore colonization. Prediction of climate and distribution range change suggests that a dramatic loss of range and genetic diversity in this fern is possible. The observed migration is best described by the phalanx expansion model. The results suggest that homosporous ferns reproducing preferentially by outcrossing accumulate genetic diversity primarily in LGM climate refugia and may be threatened if these areas disappear due to global climate change.

Current population trends mirror forecasted changes in climatic suitability for Swedish breeding birds

Capsule Swedish breeding bird species that are predicted to experience a more suitable climate by 2050 are currently increasing in numbers. Aims To test, for a large set of breeding birds, if recent population trends mirror the changes in predicted climatic suitability across the Swedish distribution range, and to test if considering natal dispersal improves the fit of the predictive models. Methods Recent decadal population trends of 131 species of birds breeding in Sweden were compared to forecasted change in their future national distribution range by 2050, as simulated by suitability distribution models using climate and natal dispersal scenarios. Two other potential predictors of recent demographic trends are controlled for – namely habitat specialization and generation time. Results The 1998–2009 population trends were positively correlated with predicted changes in distribution range. Thus, forecasted changes in climatic suitability predict recent population trends. Accounting for the species-specific natal dispersal provided only a slightly better fit. Conclusion Recent climate change has affected the population size of Swedish breeding birds. Climatic suitability models can be an efficient tool for predicting the impacts of climate change on the abundance of birds.

Impact of climate change and prey abundance on nesting success of a top predator, the goshawk

Contemporary research has documented a large number of shifts in spring phenology and changes in distribution range although the average spring temperatures have increased by only 0.3-0.6 °C over the past 100 years. Generally, earlier breeding birds have larger clutch sizes, and the advancing spring could thus potentially increase breeding success. Shifts in spring phenology can, however, be crucial for bird reproduction, and mistiming the breeding event may even have negative consequences for population development. Our aim was to explore how weather and prey abundance relates to the breeding performance of a north European top predator, the northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis. Our nationwide dataset from Finland, spanning the period 1989-2004, shows that ambient weather has a greater impact on the timing and success of breeding than the density of grouse Tetraonidae, the main prey of goshawks. Higher early spring temperatures were associated with advancing hatching date of goshawks. Correspondingly, grouse density and temperature during laying and brooding were positively associated with brood size, while precipitation showed a negative connection. Applying our models to a future scenario of climate warming, combined with a 50 % reduction in grouse density, suggests that average breeding dates will advance only 2.5 days and average breeding success would remain the same. Notably, breeding success was not spatially equal throughout Finland, as northern and eastern populations suffered most from declining grouse densities. The observed pattern is thus the opposite to what is expected from a population situated at the northern edge of its distribution range, and thus may help to understand why populations may not increase at the northern edge of their thermal distribution due to climate change.

RED DEER IN ITALY: RECENT CHANGES IN RANGE AND NUMBERS

The following paper illustrates changes in distribution range and population size of the red deer Cervus eluphus in Italy in the last three decades. It mentions the main events of reintroduction and restocking together with hunting statistics. The mean yearly increase from 1970 to 1998 was 6% in range and 8% in population size: in 28 years the range had a five fold and the numers a tenfold incrase. In 1998 the total red deer population in Italy was estimated at 32,000 head, of which 75% are in the cen- tral and eastern Alps. In the central and eastern Alps the current population derives mainly from spon- taneous recolonisation from neighbouring countries. In the western Alps the contribution of reintro- duction prevails. In the northern and central Apennines the present occurrence of red deer is exclusively due to reintroduction. In Sardinia C. e. corsicnrzits is recovering gradually. The autochthonous nucleus from Mesola Wood needs a long term conservation plan.