Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean‐warming hotspot

Citations Over TimeTop 1% of 2015 papers

Abstract

Species' ranges are shifting globally in response to climate warming, with substantial variability among taxa, even within regions. Relationships between range dynamics and intrinsic species traits may be particularly apparent in the ocean, where temperature more directly shapes species' distributions. Here, we test for a role of species traits and climate velocity in driving range extensions in the ocean-warming hotspot of southeast Australia. Climate velocity explained some variation in range shifts, however, including species traits more than doubled the variation explained. Swimming ability, omnivory and latitudinal range size all had positive relationships with range extension rate, supporting hypotheses that increased dispersal capacity and ecological generalism promote extensions. We find independent support for the hypothesis that species with narrow latitudinal ranges are limited by factors other than climate. Our findings suggest that small-ranging species are in double jeopardy, with limited ability to escape warming and greater intrinsic vulnerability to stochastic disturbances.

Related Papers

• → Hydropower Plants as Dispersal Barriers in Freshwater Species Distribution Models: Using Restrictions through Asymmetrical Dispersal Predictors(2023)5 cited
• → Incorporating classified dispersal assumptions in predictive distribution models – A case study with grasshoppers and bush-crickets(2011)25 cited
• → Assessing the impact of climate change on the potential distribution of the Carthaginian tree frog (Hyla carthaginiensis): a species distribution modelling approach integrating different dispersal scenarios(2024)5 cited
• → Dispersal patterns in Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys(2021)5 cited
• → CTI and Thermal Affinity Data from Functional shifts in rocky reef communities from an ocean warming hotspot depend on protection from exploitation(2017)