Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México
Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are an increasingly important tool for conservation particularly for difficult‐to‐study locations and with understudied fauna. Our aims were to (1) use SDMs and ensemble SDMs to predict the distribution of freshwater mussels in the Pánuco River Basin in Ce...
| Huvudupphovsmän: | , , , , , , |
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| Materialtyp: | Artikel |
| Språk: | English |
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Wiley
2022-05-01
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| Serie: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Ämnen: | |
| Länkar: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8909 |
| _version_ | 1828345232661413888 |
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| author | Alexander H. Kiser Kevin S. Cummings Jeremy S. Tiemann Chase H. Smith Nathan A. Johnson Roel R. Lopez Charles R. Randklev |
| author_facet | Alexander H. Kiser Kevin S. Cummings Jeremy S. Tiemann Chase H. Smith Nathan A. Johnson Roel R. Lopez Charles R. Randklev |
| author_sort | Alexander H. Kiser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are an increasingly important tool for conservation particularly for difficult‐to‐study locations and with understudied fauna. Our aims were to (1) use SDMs and ensemble SDMs to predict the distribution of freshwater mussels in the Pánuco River Basin in Central México; (2) determine habitat factors shaping freshwater mussel occurrence; and (3) use predicted occupancy across a range of taxa to identify freshwater mussel biodiversity hotspots to guide conservation and management. In the Pánuco River Basin, we modeled the distributions of 11 freshwater mussel species using an ensemble approach, wherein multiple SDM methodologies were combined to create a single ensemble map of predicted occupancy. A total of 621 species‐specific observations at 87 sites were used to create species‐specific ensembles. These predictive species ensembles were then combined to create local diversity hotspot maps. Precipitation during the warmest quarter, elevation, and mean temperature were consistently the most important discriminatory environmental variables among species, whereas land use had limited influence across all taxa. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first freshwater mussel‐focused research to use an ensemble approach to determine species distribution and predict biodiversity hotspots. Our study can be used to guide not only current conservation efforts but also prioritize areas for future conservation and study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:08:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e7002a7ddd04ef6ad4b742b508c67b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:08:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e7002a7ddd04ef6ad4b742b508c67b02022-12-22T02:23:26ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582022-05-01125n/an/a10.1002/ece3.8909Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in MéxicoAlexander H. Kiser0Kevin S. Cummings1Jeremy S. Tiemann2Chase H. Smith3Nathan A. Johnson4Roel R. Lopez5Charles R. Randklev6Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Dallas Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Dallas Texas USAIllinois Natural History Survey Urbana‐Champaign Illinois USAIllinois Natural History Survey Urbana‐Champaign Illinois USADepartment of Integrative Biology University of Texas Austin Texas USAU.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Gainesville Florida USATexas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Dallas Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Dallas Texas USATexas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Dallas Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute Dallas Texas USAAbstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are an increasingly important tool for conservation particularly for difficult‐to‐study locations and with understudied fauna. Our aims were to (1) use SDMs and ensemble SDMs to predict the distribution of freshwater mussels in the Pánuco River Basin in Central México; (2) determine habitat factors shaping freshwater mussel occurrence; and (3) use predicted occupancy across a range of taxa to identify freshwater mussel biodiversity hotspots to guide conservation and management. In the Pánuco River Basin, we modeled the distributions of 11 freshwater mussel species using an ensemble approach, wherein multiple SDM methodologies were combined to create a single ensemble map of predicted occupancy. A total of 621 species‐specific observations at 87 sites were used to create species‐specific ensembles. These predictive species ensembles were then combined to create local diversity hotspot maps. Precipitation during the warmest quarter, elevation, and mean temperature were consistently the most important discriminatory environmental variables among species, whereas land use had limited influence across all taxa. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first freshwater mussel‐focused research to use an ensemble approach to determine species distribution and predict biodiversity hotspots. Our study can be used to guide not only current conservation efforts but also prioritize areas for future conservation and study.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8909climateconservationhabitatmaxentmycetopodidaerandom forest |
| spellingShingle | Alexander H. Kiser Kevin S. Cummings Jeremy S. Tiemann Chase H. Smith Nathan A. Johnson Roel R. Lopez Charles R. Randklev Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México Ecology and Evolution climate conservation habitat maxent mycetopodidae random forest |
| title | Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México |
| title_full | Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México |
| title_fullStr | Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México |
| title_short | Using a multi‐model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas: An example using freshwater mussels in México |
| title_sort | using a multi model ensemble approach to determine biodiversity hotspots with limited occurrence data in understudied areas an example using freshwater mussels in mexico |
| topic | climate conservation habitat maxent mycetopodidae random forest |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8909 |
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