Open AccessCombined modelling of distribution and niche in invasion biology: a case study of two invasive Tetramorium ant species
Author(s) -
Steiner Florian M.,
SchlickSteiner Birgit C.,
VanDerWal Jeremy,
Reuther Keefe D.,
Christian Erhard,
Stauffer Christian,
Suarez Andrew V.,
Williams Stephen E.,
Crozier Ross H.
Publication year - 2008
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/j.1472-4642.2008.00472.x
Subject(s) - niche , environmental niche modelling , ecological niche , ecology , range (aeronautics) , invasive species , biology , species distribution , macroecology , biogeography , habitat , materials science , composite material
Spatial modelling of species distributions has become an important tool in the study of biological invasions. Here, we examine the utility of combining distribution and ecological niche modelling for retrieving information on invasion processes, based on species occurrence data from native and introduced ranges. Specifically, we discuss questions, concerning (1) the global potential to spread to other ranges, (2) the potential to spread within established invasions, (3) the detectability of niche differences across ranges, and (4) the ability to infer invasion history through data from the introduced range. We apply this approach to two congeneric pavement ants, Tetramorium sp.E (formerly T. caespitum (Linnaeus 1758)) and T. tsushimae Emery 1925, both introduced to North America. We identify (1) the potential of both species to inhabit ranges worldwide, and (2) the potential of T . sp.E and T. tsushimae , to spread to 23 additional US states and to five provinces of Canada, and to 24 additional US states and to one province of Canada, respectively. We confirm that (3) niche modelling can be an effective tool to detect niche shifts, identifying an increased width of T . sp.E and a decreased width of T. tsushimae following introduction, with potential changes in niche position for both species. We make feasible that (4) combined modelling could become an auxiliary tool to reconstruct invasion history, hypothesizing admixture following multiple introductions in North America for T . sp.E, and a single introduction to North America from central Japan, for T. tsushimae . Combined modelling represents a rapid means to formulate testable explanatory hypotheses on invasion patterns and helps approach a standard in predictive invasion research.