Usefulness of Species Traits in Predicting Range Shifts.

Summary, in English

Information on the ecological traits of species might improve predictions of climate-driven range shifts. However, the usefulness of traits is usually assumed rather than quantified. Here, we present a framework to identify the most informative traits, based on four key range-shift processes: emigration of individuals or propagules away from the natal location; the distance a species can move; establishment of self-sustaining populations; and proliferation following establishment. We propose a framework that categorises traits according to their contribution to range-shift processes. We demonstrate how the framework enables the predictive value of traits to be evaluated empirically and how this categorisation can be used to better understand range-shift processes; we also illustrate how range-shift estimates can be improved.

• Author: Alba Estrada; Ignacio Morales-Castilla; Paul Caplat; Regan Early
• Department/s: Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC); BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
• Publishing year: 2016-01-14
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2015.12.014
• Document type: Journal article review
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Ecology; Climate Research
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1872-8383