Midpoint attractors and species richness: Modelling the interaction between environmental drivers and geometric constraints

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F16%3A43890964" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/16:43890964 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60077344:_____/16:00461662

Result on the web

<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.12640/abstract;jsessionid=B1DE85568C7D857F688DA2703D40FDEB.f04t02" target="_blank" >http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.12640/abstract;jsessionid=B1DE85568C7D857F688DA2703D40FDEB.f04t02</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ele.12640" target="_blank" >10.1111/ele.12640</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Midpoint attractors and species richness: Modelling the interaction between environmental drivers and geometric constraints

Original language description

We introduce a novel framework for conceptualising, quantifying and unifying discordant patterns of species richness along geographical gradients. While not itself explicitly mechanistic, this approach offers a path towards understanding mechanisms. In this study, we focused on the diverse patterns of species richness on mountainsides. We conjectured that elevational range midpoints of species may be drawn towards a single midpoint attractor - a unimodal gradient of environmental favourability. The midpoint attractor interacts with geometric constraints imposed by sea level and the mountaintop to produce taxon-specific patterns of species richness. We developed a Bayesian simulation model to estimate the location and strength of the midpoint attractor from species occurrence data sampled along mountainsides. We also constructed midpoint predictor models to test whether environmental variables could directly account for the observed patterns of species range midpoints. We challenged these models with 16 elevational data sets, comprising 4500 species of insects, vertebrates and plants. The midpoint predictor models generally failed to predict the pattern of species midpoints. In contrast, the midpoint attractor model closely reproduced empirical spatial patterns of species richness and range midpoints. Gradients of environmental favourability, subject to geometric constraints, may parsimoniously account for elevational and other patterns of species richness.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_x - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)

CEP classification

EH - Ecology - communities

OECD FORD branch

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Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2016

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Ecology Letters

ISSN

1461-023X

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

19

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

1009-1022

UT code for WoS article

000382542500001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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