Hydrology as a driver of biodiversity: Controls on carrying capacity, niche formation, and dispersal
نویسندگان
چکیده
A synthesis is presented highlighting the importance of hydrologic variables and dynamics to biodiversity patterns. The focus of this paper is the key hydrologic controls crucial towards quantifying the impacts of climate changes on the distribution of species. Specifically, we highlight the hydrologic controls operating on the carrying capacity, niche formation, and dispersal dynamics. This synthesis will facilitate avenues of future research and is connected to issues of major practical importance, such as the integration of the structure of river networks into conservation strategies and the evaluations of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
منابع مشابه
Urban expansion as a driver of biodiversity loss: Integrating biodiversity in urban planning in African context
Africa has high biodiversity and is rapidly urbanizing. However, there is limited understanding of how urban expansion in Africa is likely to affect its habitats and biodiversity. Little urban ecological research has been done in Africa. This study needs to think ahead as Africa move into the “urban age” it is critical to inform the public on the importance of urban environment...
متن کاملUsing ecological niche modeling to determine avian richness hotspots
Understanding distributions of wildlife species is a key step towards identifying biodiversity hotspots and designing effective conservation strategies. In this paper, the spatial pattern of diversity of birds in Golestan Province, Iran was estimated. Ecological niche modeling was used to determine distributions of 144 bird species across the province using a maximum entropy algorithm. Richness...
متن کاملA Review on Bush Encroachment Effect on Cattle Rearing in Rangelands
Bush encroachment is an increase in woody plant density typically resulting in impenetrable thickets, suppressing palatable grasses and herbs. Moreover, bush encroachment is a globally observed phenomenon. Besides, increasing the density of unpalatable shrubs and trees has reduced the carrying capacity and threatens the sustainability of grazing animal production, especially in arid and semi-ar...
متن کاملShifts in Climate Foster Exceptional Opportunities for Species Radiation: The Case of South African Geraniums
Climate change is often assumed to be a major driver of biodiversity loss. However, it can also set the stage for novel diversification in lineages with the evolutionary ability to colonize new environments. Here we tested if the extraordinary evolutionary success of the genus Pelargonium was related to the ability of its species to capitalize on the climate niche variation produced by the hist...
متن کاملA General Unified Niche-Assembly/Dispersal-Assembly Theory of Forest Species Biodiversity
A generalised niche-assembly/dispersal-assembly theory is outlined. The aim is an explanatory theory of island/sample species abundance curves, of species-area curves, and of island biogeography phenomena. A niche space is defined over a spatial domain in terms of, for example, a stratification obtained from an environmental variable defined over that domain. Within each niche a neutral individ...
متن کامل