Open AccessLineage‐level distribution models lead to more realistic climate change predictions for a threatened crayfish
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhixin,
Kass Jamie M.,
Mammola Stefano,
Koizumi Itsuro,
Li Xuecao,
Tanaka Kazunori,
Ikeda Kousuke,
Suzuki Toru,
Yokota Masashi,
Usio Nisikawa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/ddi.13225
Subject(s) - threatened species , climate change , niche , lineage (genetic) , ecological niche , environmental niche modelling , ecology , biodiversity , species distribution , biology , habitat , niche segregation , niche differentiation , intraspecific competition , adaptation (eye) , biochemistry , neuroscience , gene
Abstract Aim As climate change presents a major threat to biodiversity in the next decades, it is critical to assess its impact on species habitat suitability to inform biodiversity conservation. Species distribution models (SDMs) are a widely used tool to assess climate change impacts on species’ geographical distributions. As the name of these models suggests, the species level is the most commonly used taxonomic unit in SDMs. However, recently it has been demonstrated that SDMs considering taxonomic resolution below (or above) the species level can make more reliable predictions of biodiversity change when different populations exhibit local adaptation. Here, we tested this idea using the Japanese crayfish ( Cambaroides japonicus ), a threatened species encompassing two geographically structured and phylogenetically distinct genetic lineages. Location Northern Japan. Methods We first estimated niche differentiation between the two lineages of C. japonicus using n ‐dimensional hypervolumes and then made climate change predictions of habitat suitability using SDMs constructed at two phylogenetic levels: species and intraspecific lineage. Results Our results showed only intermediate niche overlap, demonstrating measurable niche differences between the two lineages. The species‐level SDM made future predictions that predicted much broader and severe impacts of climate change. However, the lineage‐level SDMs led to reduced climate change impacts overall and also suggested that the eastern lineage may be more resilient to climate change than the western one. Main conclusions The two lineages of C. japonicus occupy different niche spaces. Compared with lineage‐level models, species‐level models can overestimate climate change impacts. These results not only have important implications for designing future conservation strategies for this threatened species, but also highlight the need for incorporating genetic information into SDMs to obtain realistic predictions of biodiversity change.