Niche Estimation Above and Below the Species Level. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Adam B.; Godsoe, William; Rodríguez-Sánchez, Francisco; Wang, Hsiao-Hsuan; Warren, Dan
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 34:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 260
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: ecological niche model -- species distribution model -- multiresponse model -- phylogenetic niche conservatism -- local adaptation; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2018.10.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : Ecological niches reflect not only adaptation to local circumstances but also the tendency of related lineages to share environmental tolerances. As a result, information on phylogenetic relationships has underappreciated potential to inform ecological niche modeling. Here we review three strategies for incorporating evolutionary information into niche models: splitting lineages into subunits, lumping across lineages, and partial pooling of lineages into a common statistical framework that implicitly or explicitly accounts for evolutionary relationships. We challenge the default practice of modeling at the species level, which ignores the process of niche evolution and erroneously assumes that the species is always the appropriate level for niche estimation. Progress in the field requires reexamination of how we assess models of niches versus models of distributions. Highlights: Modeling niches at the species level disregards information about evolutionary processes above and below the level of species. Species-level models ignore the potential for locally adaptive responses and assume that current distributions reflect the entire set of suitable conditions. In many cases splitting taxa into subunits and modeling each separately or lumping related taxa can improve niche estimates. Partial pooling of lineages into a single multiresponse framework has underutilized potential for niche estimation, especially when accounting for phylogenetic relationships. The advancement of evolutionarily informed niche models will be accelerated by emphasizing their ability to generate biologically plausible niche envelopes over their ability to recreate geographic distributions, which can be shaped by factors unrelated to the fundamental niche.