Explore the vast range of titles available.

Aim: To investigate the contribution to range filling, range extent and climatic niche space of species of information contained in the largest databank of digitized biodiversity data: the global biodiversity information facility (GBIF). We compared such information with a compilation of independent distributional data from natural history collections and other sources. Location: Europe. Methods: We used data for the hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, family Sphingidae) to assess three aspects of range information: (1) observed range filling in 100 km × 100 km grid cell squares, (2) observed European range extent and (3) observed climatic niche. Range extents were calculated as products of latitudinal and longitudinal extents. Areas derived from minimum convex polygons drawn onto a 2-dimensional niche space representing the two main axes of a principal component analysis (PCA) were used to calculate climatic niche space. Additionally, record-based permutation tests for niche differences were carried out. Results: We found that GBIF provided many more distribution records than independent compilation efforts, but contributed less information on range filling, range extent and climatic niches of species. Main conclusions: Although GBIF contributed relevant additional information, it is not yet an effective alternative to manual compilation and databasing of distributional records from collections and literature sources, at least in lesser-known taxa such as invertebrates. We discuss possible reasons for our findings, which may help shape GBIF strategies for providing more informative data.

The trend of increasing latitudinal range sizes of species towards higher latitudes, known as Rapoport's Rule, has been highly controversial in the literature since it was first proposed by Stevens in 1989. We contend that the question of interest is not whether general global patterns occur, nor whether they support or refute Rapoport's Rule, but whether the mechanism thought to underlie such patterns, the Climatic Variability Hypothesis, is supported. The Climatic Variability Hypothesis suggests that taxa originating from environmentally variable habitats, such as those at high latitudes and altitudes, should evolve wider environmental tolerances, and consequently establish wider distributions along climate gradients than taxa originating from relatively stable habitats. We applied a novel approach, incorporating measures of temperature variability across habitats within species' ranges into models of range size distributions, to determine whether the Climatic Variability Hypothesis applied to three clades of medium-sized ectotherms (lizards) distributed over Australia. Our results show that the Climatic Variability Hypothesis is supported, even in taxa that do not exhibit a traditional Rapoport Effect, due to complex, non-unidirectional climatic gradients in our study area. The results highlight the strong impact of climatic variability on species' physiological tolerances and their associated geographic distributions.

The linkages between individual migrations and population‐level distributions are essential for understanding ecological dynamics. Here we describe how an unconventional migratory strategy in the Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus) results in an extended autumn range, both north and west of its currently described range. Awareness of this redefined distribution will likely reduce possible misidentification with a similar species, the eastern red bat (L. borealis), during any form of monitoring for purposes of conservation and management efforts. At wind energy facilities during the autumn seasons of 2019–2022 in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Maryland, we discovered 49 Seminole bat carcasses as fatalities in autumn. All were outside of the species' currently described range in the southeastern United States. For 10 carcasses, we confirmed species identification using molecular techniques. We then modeled the geographic origins of viable fur samples from 17 carcasses using stable hydrogen isotope analysis. Finally, we synthesized current and historical records of the species to redefine seasonal range boundaries. Genetic analysis confirmed that carcasses were Seminole bats, and stable isotope analysis revealed that all bats sampled had migrated north between summer and autumn, leaving the previously defined species range. Our seasonally explicit range delineation for Seminole bats shows that this species expands its range northward in summer and again expands its range in autumn to the north and west to a region that is 1.3 million km2 larger than previously recognized. Northward migration in autumn, and the corresponding range extension, were previously undetected in Seminole bats. Our findings also demonstrate that this species, like its congeners, is susceptible to wind turbine fatality. Although the breadth of conservation risk is unknown, this study highlights the importance of obtaining an accurate understanding of migratory movements and the distribution of species to aid in species identification, management, and conservation. We found 49 Seminole bats (Lasiurus seminolus) hundreds of kilometers outside of their currently accepted range boundary in autumn. Using a combination of genetic and molecular techniques, we determined that individuals had migrated north from the interior of their core range to well outside of the range. The abundance and consistency in these observations support the redefinition of seasonal range boundaries.

Aim Geographic distributions of mushroom species remain poorly understood despite their importance for advancing our understanding of the habitat requirements, species interactions and ecosystem functions of this key group of organisms. Here, we estimate geographic range extents (maximum within‐species geographic distance) of genetically defined operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Location World‐wide, with emphasis on the American Pacific Northwest. Taxa Amanita, Agaricus, Cortinarius, Galerina, Hebeloma, Hydnum, Hygrocybe, Hygrophorus, Inocybe, Lepiota, Pholiota, and Russula + Lactarius; other genera in Agaricomycotina. Method We used publicly available OTUs from ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences (n = 15,373) from 12 mushroom genera with worldwide distributions. For each of 2,324 ~ species‐level OTUs, we estimated the maximum within‐species range extent based on sample locality records. In parallel, we estimated range extents for species in four tree genera. Contrasting estimates from well‐studied trees allowed us to test for potential biases in our range estimates of less well inventoried mushrooms. Results The median range extents across the 2,324 mushroom OTUs varied from ~ 1,200 to 4,039 km, depending on assumptions. These extents were significantly lower than estimates from permuted or randomized data. Mushroom ranges were comparable to the median natural range extent of tree species (1,613 km). In contrast, the tree median species range increased to 16,581 km when anthropogenic range extensions were included. At least 10 mushroom species were similarly broadly distributed, eight of which have been associated with human activity. Main conclusions Overall, like tree species, mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi show evidence of biogeographic structure rather than global distributions. This reconstruction of geographic range extents drew upon investments into ITS barcoding of extensive herbarium collections. Large scale analyses such as ours can yield estimates of fungal geographic range extents that are a prerequisite to a deeper understanding of the diverse roles of fungi in ecosystems.

Aim We use publicly available data to assess the influence of ocean basin, various biological traits and sea surface temperature on biogeographic range extent for temperate, continental shelf fish species spanning 141 families. Location Coastal waters of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Taxon Teleost Fishes (Infraclass Teleostei). Methods We assess the relationship between species range extent and depth range, maximum body length, schooling behaviour and use of multiple habitats for 1,251 species of northern, temperate, continental shelf fishes in different basins (Atlantic vs. Pacific) and margins (east vs. west) using linear mixed‐effect models with family and genus as nested random effects. We further assess the relationship between species range endpoint distribution and latitudinal temperature gradient using generalized linear models. Results We found strong positive relationships between the number of species northern range endpoints and the steepness of the latitudinal sea surface temperature gradient on the western margins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but no relationship on the eastern margins of these ocean basins. The strongest predictors of range extent in our global model are ocean basin/margin and depth range. Maximum body length, schooling behaviour and use of multiple habitats are also significant predictors of range extent in the global model. The factors influencing range extent differ by basin and margin. Main conclusions There are broad differences in patterns of species range extent and distribution of species ranges among basins/margins. These differences appear to be driven in part by variation in latitudinal water temperature gradient between basin margins. Our data suggest that sharp latitudinal temperature gradients may pose a barrier to dispersal and range expansion along the western margins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but not necessarily on the eastern margins. Our work also suggests that several post‐settlement traits may be associated with range extent either globally or in some temperate basins.

The key to successful maneuvering complex extended object tracking (MCEOT) using range extent measurements provided by high resolution sensors lies in accurate and effective modeling of both the extension dynamics and the centroid kinematics. During object maneuvers, the extension dynamics of an object with a complex shape is highly coupled with the centroid kinematics. However, this difficult but important problem is rarely considered and solved explicitly. In view of this, this paper proposes a general approach to modeling a maneuvering complex extended object based on Minkowski sum, so that the coupled turn maneuvers in both the centroid states and extensions can be described accurately. The new model has a concise and unified form, in which the complex extension dynamics can be simply and jointly characterized by multiple simple sub-objects’ extension dynamics based on Minkowski sum. The proposed maneuvering model fits range extent measurements very well due to its favorable properties. Based on this model, an MCEOT algorithm dealing with motion and extension maneuvers is also derived. Two different cases of the turn maneuvers with known/unknown turn rates are specifically considered. The proposed algorithm which jointly estimates the kinematic state and the object extension can also be easily implemented. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed modeling and tracking approaches.

Despite its critical conservation status, no formal estimate of the Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) distribution has ever been attempted, nor a coordinated effort to compile and verify all recent occurrences has ever been ensured. We used 48331 verified bear location data collected by qualified personnel from 2005-2014 in the central Apennines, Italy, to estimate the current distribution of Apennine brown bears. Data sources included telemetry relocations (86%), scats and DNA-verified hair samples (11.3%), sightings (1.1%), indirect signs of presence (1.1%), photos from camera traps (0.3%), and damage to properties (0.3%), both from the central and the peripheral portions of the range. Using a grid-based zonal analysis to transform raw data density, we applied ordinary kriging and estimated a 4923 km2 main bear distribution, encompassing the historical stronghold of the bear population, and including a smaller (1460 km2) area of stable occupancy of reproducing female bears. National and Regional Parks cover 40.5% of the main bear distribution, plus an additional 18% encompassed by the Natura 2000 network alone. Despite some methodological and sampling problems related to spatial and temporal variation in sampling effort at the landscape scale, our approach provides an approximation of the current bear distribution that is suited to frequently update the distribution map. Future monitoring of this bear population would benefit from estimating detectability across a range on environmental and sampling variables, and from intensifying the collection of bear presence data in the peripheral portions of the distribution.

The distribution of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population has expanded into areas unoccupied since the early 20th century. Up-to-date information on the area and extent of this distribution is crucial for federal, state, and tribal wildlife and land managers to make informed decisions regarding grizzly bear management. The most recent estimate of grizzly bear distribution (2004) utilized fixed-kernel density estimators to describe distribution. This method was complex and computationally time consuming and excluded observations of unmarked bears. Our objective was to develop a technique to estimate grizzly bear distribution that would allow for the use of all verified grizzly bear location data, as well as provide the simplicity to be updated more frequently. We placed all verified grizzly bear locations from all sources from 1990 to 2004 and 1990 to 2010 onto a 3-km × 3-km grid and used zonal analysis and ordinary kriging to develop a predicted surface of grizzly bear distribution. We compared the area and extent of the 2004 kriging surface with the previous 2004 effort and evaluated changes in grizzly bear distribution from 2004 to 2010. The 2004 kriging surface was 2.4% smaller than the previous fixedkernel estimate, but more closely represented the data. Grizzly bear distribution increased 38.3% from 2004 to 2010, with most expansion in the northern and southern regions of the range. This technique can be used to provide a current estimate of grizzly bear distribution for management and conservation applications.

Aim We studied global variation in beta diversity patterns of lake macrophytes using regional data from across the world. Specifically, we examined (1) how beta diversity of aquatic macrophytes is partitioned between species turnover and nestedness within each study region, and (2) which environmental characteristics structure variation in these beta diversity components. Location Global. Methods We used presence–absence data for aquatic macrophytes from 21 regions distributed around the world. We calculated pairwise-site and multiple-site beta diversity among lakes within each region using Sørensen dissimilarity index and partitioned it into turnover and nestedness coefficients. Beta regression was used to correlate the diversity coefficients with regional environmental characteristics. Results Aquatic macrophytes showed different levels of beta diversity within each of the 21 study regions, with species turnover typically accounting for the majority of beta diversity, especially in high-diversity regions. However, nestedness contributed 30–50% of total variation in macrophyte beta diversity in low-diversity regions. The most important environmental factor explaining the three beta diversity coefficients (total, species turnover and nestedness) was elevation range, followed by relative areal extent of freshwater, latitude and water alkalinity range. Main conclusions Our findings show that global patterns in beta diversity of lake macrophytes are caused by species turnover rather than by nestedness. These patterns in beta diversity were driven by natural environmental heterogeneity, notably variability in elevation range (also related to temperature variation) among regions. In addition, a greater range in alkalinity within a region, likely amplified by human activities, was also correlated with increased macrophyte beta diversity. These findings suggest that efforts to conserve aquatic macrophyte diversity should primarily focus on regions with large numbers of lakes that exhibit broad environmental gradients.