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NICHE DIFFERENTIATION AND FINE‐SCALE PROJECTIONS FOR ARGENTINE ANTS BASED ON REMOTELY SENSED DATA
Author(s) -
Roura-Pascual Núria,
Suarez Andrew V.,
McNyset Kristina,
Gómez Crisanto,
Pons Pere,
Touyama Yoshifumi,
Wild Alexander L.,
Gascon Ferran,
Peterson A. Townsend
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1832:ndafpf]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - linepithema , niche , ecological niche , ecology , environmental niche modelling , geography , invasive species , biology , habitat
Modeling ecological niches of species is a promising approach for predicting the geographic potential of invasive species in new environments. Argentine ants ( Linepithema humile ) rank among the most successful invasive species: native to South America, they have invaded broad areas worldwide. Despite their widespread success, little is known about what makes an area susceptible—or not—to invasion. Here, we use a genetic algorithm approach to ecological niche modeling based on high‐resolution remote‐sensing data to examine the roles of niche similarity and difference in predicting invasions by this species. Our comparisons support a picture of general conservatism of the species' ecological characteristics, in spite of distinct geographic and community contexts.