Positive species interactions shape species' range limits

The relationship between niche and distribution, especially the role of biotic interactions in shaping species' geographic distributions, has gained increasing interest last two decades. Most ecological research focused on negative species interactions, competition, predation parasitism. Yet relevance positive – mutualisms commensalisms have been brought to fore recent years by an number empirical studies exploring their impact range limits. Based a review 73 from Web Science search, we found strong evidence that can influence extent or ranges through diversity mechanisms. More specifically, while obligate mutualisms, tend constrain one both partners, facultative widen ranges. Nonetheless, there was more variation effects limits, pointing important context-dependencies. Therefore, propose conceptual development this field will come studying context networks many across environmental gradients, since pairwise alone might overlook indirect environmentally-contingent each other communities interacting species. Finally, our study also revealed key data gaps limit current understanding pervasiveness ranges, highlighting potential avenues for future theoretical experimental work.