Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient
Abstract Background Understanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology. However, so far very little is known about the distributional response...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-04-01
|
| Series: | BMC Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-017-0128-x |
| _version_ | 1818737501542547456 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhixin Wen Yi Wu Deyan Ge Jilong Cheng Yongbin Chang Zhisong Yang Lin Xia Qisen Yang |
| author_facet | Zhixin Wen Yi Wu Deyan Ge Jilong Cheng Yongbin Chang Zhisong Yang Lin Xia Qisen Yang |
| author_sort | Zhixin Wen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Understanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology. However, so far very little is known about the distributional responses of subtropical species to climate change, especially for small mammals. In this study, we examined the elevational range shifts at three range points (upper and lower range limits and abundance-weighted range centre) of rodents over a 30-year period (1986 to 2014–2015), in a subtropical forest of Southwest China. We also examined the influences of four ecological traits (body mass, habitat breadth, diet and daily activity pattern) on the upslope shifts in species’ abundance-weighted range centres. Results Despite the warming trend between 1986 and 2015, the 11 rodent species in analysis displayed heterogeneous dynamics at each of the three range points. Species which have larger body sizes and narrower habitat breadths, show both diurnal and nocturnal activities and more specialized dietary requirements, are more likely to exhibit upslope shifts in abundance-weighted range centres. Conclusions Species’ distributional responses can be heterogeneous even though there are directional changes in climate. Our study indicates that climate-induced alleviation of competition and lag in response may potentially drive species’ range shift, which may not conform to the expectation from climate change. Difference in traits can lead to different range dynamics. Our study also illustrates the merit of multi-faceted assessment in studying elevational range shifts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:54:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1f78254ec5f4855bdcaee0c5c2f7e27 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6785 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:54:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1f78254ec5f4855bdcaee0c5c2f7e272022-12-21T21:26:35ZengBMCBMC Ecology1472-67852017-04-011711910.1186/s12898-017-0128-xHeterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradientZhixin Wen0Yi Wu1Deyan Ge2Jilong Cheng3Yongbin Chang4Zhisong Yang5Lin Xia6Qisen Yang7Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesCollege of Life Sciences, Guangzhou UniversityKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Rare Animals and Plants, China West Normal UniversityKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Background Understanding whether species’ elevational range is shifting in response to directional changes in climate and whether there is a predictable pattern in that response is one of the major challenges in ecology. However, so far very little is known about the distributional responses of subtropical species to climate change, especially for small mammals. In this study, we examined the elevational range shifts at three range points (upper and lower range limits and abundance-weighted range centre) of rodents over a 30-year period (1986 to 2014–2015), in a subtropical forest of Southwest China. We also examined the influences of four ecological traits (body mass, habitat breadth, diet and daily activity pattern) on the upslope shifts in species’ abundance-weighted range centres. Results Despite the warming trend between 1986 and 2015, the 11 rodent species in analysis displayed heterogeneous dynamics at each of the three range points. Species which have larger body sizes and narrower habitat breadths, show both diurnal and nocturnal activities and more specialized dietary requirements, are more likely to exhibit upslope shifts in abundance-weighted range centres. Conclusions Species’ distributional responses can be heterogeneous even though there are directional changes in climate. Our study indicates that climate-induced alleviation of competition and lag in response may potentially drive species’ range shift, which may not conform to the expectation from climate change. Difference in traits can lead to different range dynamics. Our study also illustrates the merit of multi-faceted assessment in studying elevational range shifts.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-017-0128-xClimate changeHeterogeneityRange shiftRodentSpecies traitsSubtropical |
| spellingShingle | Zhixin Wen Yi Wu Deyan Ge Jilong Cheng Yongbin Chang Zhisong Yang Lin Xia Qisen Yang Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient BMC Ecology Climate change Heterogeneity Range shift Rodent Species traits Subtropical |
| title | Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| title_full | Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| title_fullStr | Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| title_short | Heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming: evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| title_sort | heterogeneous distributional responses to climate warming evidence from rodents along a subtropical elevational gradient |
| topic | Climate change Heterogeneity Range shift Rodent Species traits Subtropical |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-017-0128-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhixinwen heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT yiwu heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT deyange heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT jilongcheng heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT yongbinchang heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT zhisongyang heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT linxia heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient AT qisenyang heterogeneousdistributionalresponsestoclimatewarmingevidencefromrodentsalongasubtropicalelevationalgradient |