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Biogeography, macroecology and species' traits mediate competitive interactions in the order L agomorpha
Author(s) -
Leach Katie,
Montgomery W. Ian,
Reid Neil
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
mammal review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.574
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2907
pISSN - 0305-1838
DOI - 10.1111/mam.12035
Subject(s) - interspecific competition , biogeography , biology , ecology , macroecology , abiotic component , environmental change , climate change , competition (biology)
In addition to abiotic determinants, biotic factors, including competitive, interspecific interactions, limit species' distributions. Environmental changes in human disturbance, land use and climate are predicted to have widespread impacts on interactions between species, especially in the order L agomorpha due to the higher latitudes and more extreme environmental conditions they occupy. We reviewed the published literature on interspecific interactions in the order L agomorpha and compared the biogeography, macroecology, phylogeny and traits of species known to interact with those of species with no reported interactions, to investigate how projected future environmental change may affect interactions and potentially alter species' distributions. Thirty‐three lagomorph species have competitive interactions reported in the literature; the majority involve hares ( L epus sp.) or the eastern cottontail rabbit ( S ylvilagus floridanus ). Key regions for interactions are located between 30–50° N of the E quator, and include eastern A sia (southern R ussia on the border of M ongolia) and N orth A merica (north‐western USA ). Closely related, large‐bodied, similarly sized species occurring in regions of human‐modified, typically agricultural landscapes, or at high elevations, are significantly more likely to have reported competitive interactions than other lagomorph species. We identify species' traits associated with competitive interactions, and highlight some potential impacts that future environmental change may have on interspecific interactions. Our approach using bibliometric and biological data is widely applicable, and with relatively straightforward methodologies, can provide insights into interactions between species. Our results have implications for predicting species' responses to global change, and we advise that capturing, parameterizing and incorporating interspecific interactions into analyses (e.g. species distribution modelling) may be more important than suggested by the literature.