Dylan M. Osterhaus, Martha J. Desmond, Timothy F. Wright
Migration is challenging for birds, especially juveniles, who experience high mortality rates during migration. The challenge is exacerbated in the Anthropocene, contributing to widespread population declines. Conservation efforts focused on increasing juvenile survival could bolster population recovery. Understanding how age structure of the migrant community shifts throughout migration could inform conservation efforts and future questions of migration ecology. However, it is unknown whether the age structure of the migrant community shifts spatially or temporally during migration. To answer these questions, we first analyzed age‐related differences in migration speed and timing of departure during fall migration using 6 567 747 banding encounters, as variability in these components of migration could generate shifts in community demographics. We found widespread differences in migration speed (km d −1 ) with adults being faster than juveniles in most species, and departure timing differences tied to adult molt. Our analyses revealed shifts in community demographics, with the proportion of juveniles within the community decreasing at northerly latitudes throughout migration. We also determined that demographics have shifted over 53 years, with the proportion of juveniles increasing in the north, and decreasing in the south. Our findings contribute to our knowledge of migration ecology, and our understanding of community shifts over time.
{"title":"Migration speed, timing, and long‐term shifts in age structure in North American passerines during fall migration","authors":"Dylan M. Osterhaus, Martha J. Desmond, Timothy F. Wright","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08470","url":null,"abstract":"Migration is challenging for birds, especially juveniles, who experience high mortality rates during migration. The challenge is exacerbated in the Anthropocene, contributing to widespread population declines. Conservation efforts focused on increasing juvenile survival could bolster population recovery. Understanding how age structure of the migrant community shifts throughout migration could inform conservation efforts and future questions of migration ecology. However, it is unknown whether the age structure of the migrant community shifts spatially or temporally during migration. To answer these questions, we first analyzed age‐related differences in migration speed and timing of departure during fall migration using 6 567 747 banding encounters, as variability in these components of migration could generate shifts in community demographics. We found widespread differences in migration speed (km d <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) with adults being faster than juveniles in most species, and departure timing differences tied to adult molt. Our analyses revealed shifts in community demographics, with the proportion of juveniles within the community decreasing at northerly latitudes throughout migration. We also determined that demographics have shifted over 53 years, with the proportion of juveniles increasing in the north, and decreasing in the south. Our findings contribute to our knowledge of migration ecology, and our understanding of community shifts over time.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"90 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147519281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristy M. Ferraro, Elizabeth S. Forbes, Andrew J. Abraham, Julia D. Monk
Mammals play important roles in redistributing elements across ecosystems, concentrating biogeochemical inputs across both space and time. However, research on zoogeochemical inputs is often constrained by logistical considerations, potentially limiting our knowledge of mammals' impacts on biogeochemical patterns and processes. Here, we present a bibliometric analysis that synthesizes both the spatiotemporal scope of research and range of methodological approaches used to study zoogeochemical inputs from mammals. Our assessment focuses on the major material pathways – fecal matter, urine, carcasses, and other body wastes – that are directly deposited by mammals. Our goal was to identify the ecological variables, ecosystem processes, and the spatial and temporal scales investigated by these studies, characterize geographic and taxonomic biases, and draw attention to opportunities for improved conceptual continuity. We found that while many studies effectively characterized the biogeochemical composition of mammalian inputs themselves, there is little methodological standardization across measurements that characterize the fates and functional impacts of these inputs within ecosystems. The diversity of approaches reflects the wide range of research questions in the field; however, paired with a lack of standardized measurement protocols and limited data sharing, this diversity prevents cross-study empirical and conceptual synthesis. Notably, almost all studies were limited in duration (< 3 years) and did not follow ecosystem processes long enough to detect when (or if) the input's effects tapered off – highlighting a key opportunity for future research. Geographically, North American and European sites were relatively well represented, while deserts, boreal and tropical forests, and tropical systems were under-represented relative to their global area. Addressing geographic biases, standardizing measurement protocols, and extending the duration of field studies to capture the full impacts of zoogeochemical inputs will enhance the ability to reconcile empirical and theoretical approaches and develop a more robust understanding of the spatiotemporal scale of mammalian control over ecosystem processes.
{"title":"Hot spots or hot moments? Contextualizing the spatio-temporal scale of research on animal inputs","authors":"Kristy M. Ferraro, Elizabeth S. Forbes, Andrew J. Abraham, Julia D. Monk","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08351","url":null,"abstract":"Mammals play important roles in redistributing elements across ecosystems, concentrating biogeochemical inputs across both space and time. However, research on zoogeochemical inputs is often constrained by logistical considerations, potentially limiting our knowledge of mammals' impacts on biogeochemical patterns and processes. Here, we present a bibliometric analysis that synthesizes both the spatiotemporal scope of research and range of methodological approaches used to study zoogeochemical inputs from mammals. Our assessment focuses on the major material pathways – fecal matter, urine, carcasses, and other body wastes – that are directly deposited by mammals. Our goal was to identify the ecological variables, ecosystem processes, and the spatial and temporal scales investigated by these studies, characterize geographic and taxonomic biases, and draw attention to opportunities for improved conceptual continuity. We found that while many studies effectively characterized the biogeochemical composition of mammalian inputs themselves, there is little methodological standardization across measurements that characterize the fates and functional impacts of these inputs within ecosystems. The diversity of approaches reflects the wide range of research questions in the field; however, paired with a lack of standardized measurement protocols and limited data sharing, this diversity prevents cross-study empirical and conceptual synthesis. Notably, almost all studies were limited in duration (< 3 years) and did not follow ecosystem processes long enough to detect when (or if) the input's effects tapered off – highlighting a key opportunity for future research. Geographically, North American and European sites were relatively well represented, while deserts, boreal and tropical forests, and tropical systems were under-represented relative to their global area. Addressing geographic biases, standardizing measurement protocols, and extending the duration of field studies to capture the full impacts of zoogeochemical inputs will enhance the ability to reconcile empirical and theoretical approaches and develop a more robust understanding of the spatiotemporal scale of mammalian control over ecosystem processes.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147506793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Climate change is predicted to alter species interactions by exposing ecosystems to increasingly frequent and intense warm spells. In the mountain tundra, grazing by large herbivores, particularly reindeer, can limit shrub expansion and preserve Arctic plant diversity. However, the impact of rising temperatures on herbivores themselves remains understudied. Here, we combine long‐term weather data with spatially explicit behavioural data from 31 free‐ranging reindeer from three Swedish herding districts equipped with GPS, temperature sensors and tri‐axial accelerometers over two consecutive summers to investigate how warming affects grazing. We hypothesise that both heat stress and insect harassment reduce grazing under warm conditions. First, we show that reindeer significantly reduce grazing beyond a body surface temperature (T R ) of 20.3°C, likely due to insect harassment. As reindeer speed sharply declines beyond 24°C T R , our results suggest an onset of physiological heat stress, indicating that warm spells limit grazing through insect harassment, but also overheating. Second, warming also triggers a shift in habitat use, as reindeer relocate their grazing activity outside their primary grazing land for less favourable high‐elevation habitats, further reducing foraging efficiency. These behavioural and spatial shifts result in a net loss of foraging, with no evidence of compensatory grazing. Third, we find that warm spells – defined as 24‐hour periods with a maximum air temperature above 13°C – have become more frequent over the last 30 years, now occurring for half of the summer. Overall, this study highlights how thermal discomfort can disrupt and relocate the foraging patterns of reindeer, a keystone herbivore in the tundra. Such reduced herbivory pressure could have severe cascading consequences by accelerating shrubification and contributing to local biodiversity loss. Hence, climate warming does not only alter abiotic conditions, but can also disrupt biotic processes that underpin the resilience of cold ecosystems.
{"title":"Warming summers limit reindeer grazing, weakening herbivory pressure in the mountain tundra","authors":"Marianne Stoessel, Akiko Kato, Regina Lindborg","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08209","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change is predicted to alter species interactions by exposing ecosystems to increasingly frequent and intense warm spells. In the mountain tundra, grazing by large herbivores, particularly reindeer, can limit shrub expansion and preserve Arctic plant diversity. However, the impact of rising temperatures on herbivores themselves remains understudied. Here, we combine long‐term weather data with spatially explicit behavioural data from 31 free‐ranging reindeer from three Swedish herding districts equipped with GPS, temperature sensors and tri‐axial accelerometers over two consecutive summers to investigate how warming affects grazing. We hypothesise that both heat stress and insect harassment reduce grazing under warm conditions. First, we show that reindeer significantly reduce grazing beyond a body surface temperature (T <jats:sub>R</jats:sub> ) of 20.3°C, likely due to insect harassment. As reindeer speed sharply declines beyond 24°C T <jats:sub>R</jats:sub> , our results suggest an onset of physiological heat stress, indicating that warm spells limit grazing through insect harassment, but also overheating. Second, warming also triggers a shift in habitat use, as reindeer relocate their grazing activity outside their primary grazing land for less favourable high‐elevation habitats, further reducing foraging efficiency. These behavioural and spatial shifts result in a net loss of foraging, with no evidence of compensatory grazing. Third, we find that warm spells – defined as 24‐hour periods with a maximum air temperature above 13°C – have become more frequent over the last 30 years, now occurring for half of the summer. Overall, this study highlights how thermal discomfort can disrupt and relocate the foraging patterns of reindeer, a keystone herbivore in the tundra. Such reduced herbivory pressure could have severe cascading consequences by accelerating shrubification and contributing to local biodiversity loss. Hence, climate warming does not only alter abiotic conditions, but can also disrupt biotic processes that underpin the resilience of cold ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mar Repullés, Nicolas Chazot, Leidys Murillo‐ Ramos, Marianne Espeland, Karina Lucas Silva‐ Brandão, Alexandre Antonelli, André Victor Lucci Freitas, Pável Matos‐ Maraví
Understanding the relative roles of diversification and dispersal is key to explaining large‐scale biogeographical patterns. Although both processes are known to shape biodiversity, their relative contributions remain understudied for many organisms. Here, we examine how these processes have jointly contributed to the exceptional diversity and endemism of Nymphalidae butterflies in South America's Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. We obtained DNA sequences for 65 Nymphalidae species and integrated them into published time‐calibrated phylogenies. We used dispersal–xtinction–ladogenesis models and biogeographical stochastic mapping to infer historical biogeographical patterns over time, and the cladogenetic diversification rate shift (ClaDS) model to estimate region‐specific diversification patterns. We further evaluated whether regional patterns of diversification are associated with occurrence in montane environments or across the north–south biogeographical break within the Atlantic Forest. Our results show that nymphalid butterfly diversity in the region was driven primarily by recurrent dispersal from Amazonia and the Andes, rather than by elevated in situ diversification rates, which remained low and stable through time. Although dispersal increased progressively during the Cenozoic, we found no evidence that the diagonal of open formations acted as a major barrier, indicating that forest corridors probably allowed extensive dispersal between the Atlantic Forest and other Neotropical regions. Southern Atlantic Forest lineages exhibited slightly higher diversification rates than northern ones, especially among montane generalist species. However, overall diversification contributed little to the current species diversity patterns compared to the sustained input of dispersing lineages from other Neotropical biomes. Together, these findings highlight the central role of biome connectivity and dispersal in shaping Atlantic Forest Nymphalidae diversity, while underscoring the importance of jointly considering diversification and dispersal processes to better understand the macroevolutionary dynamics underlying current biodiversity patterns.
{"title":"Tracing the origins and evolution of nymphalid butterflies (Lepidoptera) in the Atlantic Forest","authors":"Mar Repullés, Nicolas Chazot, Leidys Murillo‐ Ramos, Marianne Espeland, Karina Lucas Silva‐ Brandão, Alexandre Antonelli, André Victor Lucci Freitas, Pável Matos‐ Maraví","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08419","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08419","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the relative roles of diversification and dispersal is key to explaining large‐scale biogeographical patterns. Although both processes are known to shape biodiversity, their relative contributions remain understudied for many organisms. Here, we examine how these processes have jointly contributed to the exceptional diversity and endemism of Nymphalidae butterflies in South America's Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. We obtained DNA sequences for 65 Nymphalidae species and integrated them into published time‐calibrated phylogenies. We used dispersal–xtinction–ladogenesis models and biogeographical stochastic mapping to infer historical biogeographical patterns over time, and the cladogenetic diversification rate shift (ClaDS) model to estimate region‐specific diversification patterns. We further evaluated whether regional patterns of diversification are associated with occurrence in montane environments or across the north–south biogeographical break within the Atlantic Forest. Our results show that nymphalid butterfly diversity in the region was driven primarily by recurrent dispersal from Amazonia and the Andes, rather than by elevated in situ diversification rates, which remained low and stable through time. Although dispersal increased progressively during the Cenozoic, we found no evidence that the diagonal of open formations acted as a major barrier, indicating that forest corridors probably allowed extensive dispersal between the Atlantic Forest and other Neotropical regions. Southern Atlantic Forest lineages exhibited slightly higher diversification rates than northern ones, especially among montane generalist species. However, overall diversification contributed little to the current species diversity patterns compared to the sustained input of dispersing lineages from other Neotropical biomes. Together, these findings highlight the central role of biome connectivity and dispersal in shaping Atlantic Forest Nymphalidae diversity, while underscoring the importance of jointly considering diversification and dispersal processes to better understand the macroevolutionary dynamics underlying current biodiversity patterns.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesca Malcangi, Caio Graco‐Roza, Andreas Lindén, Janne Sundell, John Loehr
The spatial ecology of stalk‐and‐ambush predators like the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx depends on prey availability and environmental features, yet the relative roles of these factors remain unclear at large spatial scales. In this study, we analysed lynx habitat use across central and southern Finland using snow‐track data from the Wildlife Triangle Scheme (2016–2020) and a joint species distribution modelling framework (HMSC) to assess both environmental drivers and spatial predator–prey associations. The Finnish lynx population offers a unique opportunity to study a contiguous population with stark regional differences in prey availability, enabling inferences about environmental and prey effects on space use. Across the study area, lynx habitat use was primarily associated with structurally complex forests and terrain, as expected for a stalk‑and‑ambush predator. Overall, environmental conditions explained habitat use patterns to a greater degree in the central region than in the south, which we posit is due to differences between the regions in prey species. In the central region, habitat use by lynx and its prey, the mountain hare Lepus timidus , was similar, in contrast to the southern region, where lynx were spatially associated with roe deer Capreolus capreolus and white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus , both of which showed habitat use patterns differing from those of lynx. These results indicate that lynx adjust their space use according to prey availability, while still retaining a core preference for complex habitat, as expected for a stalk‐and‐ambush predator. Our results are a clear demonstration of how the interplay between environmental conditions and community composition of prey shapes a generalist predator's habitat use and how this can contribute to overall resilience at the population level. Our study captures insights into habitat use at the landscape scale across contrasting ecological contexts, with implications for the management and conservation of large carnivores in human‐modified environments.
{"title":"Habitat complexity and prey composition shape an apex predator's habitat use across contrasting landscapes","authors":"Francesca Malcangi, Caio Graco‐Roza, Andreas Lindén, Janne Sundell, John Loehr","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08132","url":null,"abstract":"The spatial ecology of stalk‐and‐ambush predators like the Eurasian lynx <jats:italic>Lynx lynx</jats:italic> depends on prey availability and environmental features, yet the relative roles of these factors remain unclear at large spatial scales. In this study, we analysed lynx habitat use across central and southern Finland using snow‐track data from the Wildlife Triangle Scheme (2016–2020) and a joint species distribution modelling framework (HMSC) to assess both environmental drivers and spatial predator–prey associations. The Finnish lynx population offers a unique opportunity to study a contiguous population with stark regional differences in prey availability, enabling inferences about environmental and prey effects on space use. Across the study area, lynx habitat use was primarily associated with structurally complex forests and terrain, as expected for a stalk‑and‑ambush predator. Overall, environmental conditions explained habitat use patterns to a greater degree in the central region than in the south, which we posit is due to differences between the regions in prey species. In the central region, habitat use by lynx and its prey, the mountain hare <jats:italic>Lepus timidus</jats:italic> , was similar, in contrast to the southern region, where lynx were spatially associated with roe deer <jats:italic>Capreolus capreolus</jats:italic> and white‐tailed deer <jats:italic>Odocoileus virginianus</jats:italic> , both of which showed habitat use patterns differing from those of lynx. These results indicate that lynx adjust their space use according to prey availability, while still retaining a core preference for complex habitat, as expected for a stalk‐and‐ambush predator. Our results are a clear demonstration of how the interplay between environmental conditions and community composition of prey shapes a generalist predator's habitat use and how this can contribute to overall resilience at the population level. Our study captures insights into habitat use at the landscape scale across contrasting ecological contexts, with implications for the management and conservation of large carnivores in human‐modified environments.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"93 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147470894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte Rose Rush, Joseph Cooper, Cecilia Larrosa, Martin Wilkes
Biodiversity modelling is essential for explaining and predicting ecological responses to environmental change and assessing progress towards targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD 2022). The UK benefits from rich biodiversity time-series data and numerous open-source environmental datasets. However, integrating these into modelling workflows remains challenging – especially for those without considerable data processing expertise. Fragmented sources, spatial and temporal discrepancies and undocumented or unreproducible processing methods often create barriers and hinder coordination. We present ‘ukbioprepr', a user-friendly R package developed to address key environmental data preparation challenges in UK biodiversity modelling. It provides functions for downloading, harmonising and extracting site-level environmental variables from open-source datasets on climate, land cover and soil properties. Data products are processed to align spatially and temporarily with UK biodiversity data, allowing consistent covariate generation from 2000 onwards. Substantial data engineering – including reprojection, temporal interpolation and spatial alignment – supports model-ready outputs, whilst limitations (e.g. sparse soil data in urban areas) are transparently documented. ‘ukbioprepr'supports both point-based and grid-based survey data and includes methods for aggregating climate variables over biologically relevant time periods (e.g. seasons, custom annual windows). These features enable integration across spatial and temporal scales and support diverse biodiversity modelling approaches. We demonstrate its application in a case study modelling occupancy of the native UK wildflower Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Using derived environmental predictors, we show how these data products can inform ecological forecasts under future climate scenarios, predicting a 12.4% reduction in suitable habitat area under the most severe scenario (RCP8.5). By lowering technical barriers and enabling consistent environmental data integration, ‘ukbioprepr'supports scalable, reproducible biodiversity modelling across all four nations in the UK. The package exemplifies how targeted frameworks can streamline modelling workflows and improve coordination across biodiversity research and policy – principles that can be applied globally.
{"title":"‘ukbioprepr': an R package to support reproducible preparation of environmental data for biodiversity modelling in the UK","authors":"Charlotte Rose Rush, Joseph Cooper, Cecilia Larrosa, Martin Wilkes","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08413","url":null,"abstract":"Biodiversity modelling is essential for explaining and predicting ecological responses to environmental change and assessing progress towards targets in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (CBD 2022). The UK benefits from rich biodiversity time-series data and numerous open-source environmental datasets. However, integrating these into modelling workflows remains challenging – especially for those without considerable data processing expertise. Fragmented sources, spatial and temporal discrepancies and undocumented or unreproducible processing methods often create barriers and hinder coordination. We present ‘ukbioprepr', a user-friendly R package developed to address key environmental data preparation challenges in UK biodiversity modelling. It provides functions for downloading, harmonising and extracting site-level environmental variables from open-source datasets on climate, land cover and soil properties. Data products are processed to align spatially and temporarily with UK biodiversity data, allowing consistent covariate generation from 2000 onwards. Substantial data engineering – including reprojection, temporal interpolation and spatial alignment – supports model-ready outputs, whilst limitations (e.g. sparse soil data in urban areas) are transparently documented. ‘ukbioprepr'supports both point-based and grid-based survey data and includes methods for aggregating climate variables over biologically relevant time periods (e.g. seasons, custom annual windows). These features enable integration across spatial and temporal scales and support diverse biodiversity modelling approaches. We demonstrate its application in a case study modelling occupancy of the native UK wildflower <i>Hyacinthoides non-scripta</i>. Using derived environmental predictors, we show how these data products can inform ecological forecasts under future climate scenarios, predicting a 12.4% reduction in suitable habitat area under the most severe scenario (RCP8.5). By lowering technical barriers and enabling consistent environmental data integration, ‘ukbioprepr'supports scalable, reproducible biodiversity modelling across all four nations in the UK. The package exemplifies how targeted frameworks can streamline modelling workflows and improve coordination across biodiversity research and policy – principles that can be applied globally.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147439679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Werner Rammer, Eric Guérin, Patrick Marais, Adrien Peytavie, Konrad Kapp, Eric Galin, Rupert Seidl, James Gain
Simulation outputs from forest landscape models are complex, and tools for their visual analysis and effective communication are often limited. In this paper, we present EcoViz, a novel, open-source visualisation platform designed to complement existing forest models by providing advanced 3D visualisation capabilities. EcoViz facilitates the exploration of simulation results through two primary modes: symbolic rendering, designed for analytical tasks, such as pattern recognition and model evaluation, and photorealistic rendering, leveraging physically based rendering (Mitsuba 3) and a custom library of European 3D tree models for communication purposes. The platform imports spatially explicit individual tree or cohort data and employs a temporally coherent sampling technique to visualise individual trees derived from cell-based density maps. Key features include: interactive side-by-side comparison of different simulation scenarios or time points, with synchronised navigation (viewpoint, timeline, transects), a mini-map overview, timeline controls with linked ecological metric graphs, and transect analysis tools. The practical application of EcoViz is demonstrated by visualising simulations of the Berchtesgaden National Park under baseline and climate change scenarios exported from a forest landscape model. This case study showcases EcoViz's utility for comparative scenario analysis across spatial scales and how it aids model evaluation through visual inspection. While symbolic views support detailed analysis, the photorealistic output offers a compelling tool for science communication with diverse audiences, including scientific peers, forest managers, and the public.
{"title":"EcoViz: a tool for visual analysis and photorealistic rendering of forest landscape model simulations","authors":"Werner Rammer, Eric Guérin, Patrick Marais, Adrien Peytavie, Konrad Kapp, Eric Galin, Rupert Seidl, James Gain","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08198","url":null,"abstract":"Simulation outputs from forest landscape models are complex, and tools for their visual analysis and effective communication are often limited. In this paper, we present EcoViz, a novel, open-source visualisation platform designed to complement existing forest models by providing advanced 3D visualisation capabilities. EcoViz facilitates the exploration of simulation results through two primary modes: symbolic rendering, designed for analytical tasks, such as pattern recognition and model evaluation, and photorealistic rendering, leveraging physically based rendering (Mitsuba 3) and a custom library of European 3D tree models for communication purposes. The platform imports spatially explicit individual tree or cohort data and employs a temporally coherent sampling technique to visualise individual trees derived from cell-based density maps. Key features include: interactive side-by-side comparison of different simulation scenarios or time points, with synchronised navigation (viewpoint, timeline, transects), a mini-map overview, timeline controls with linked ecological metric graphs, and transect analysis tools. The practical application of EcoViz is demonstrated by visualising simulations of the Berchtesgaden National Park under baseline and climate change scenarios exported from a forest landscape model. This case study showcases EcoViz's utility for comparative scenario analysis across spatial scales and how it aids model evaluation through visual inspection. While symbolic views support detailed analysis, the photorealistic output offers a compelling tool for science communication with diverse audiences, including scientific peers, forest managers, and the public.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147439683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aino‐Maija Määttänen, Maria Hällfors, Julia Kemppinen
Conservation has shifted towards a climate change adaptation approach in which expected species range shifts are increasingly considered to mitigate effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. As part of this, ecological connectivity needs to be ensured to support gene flow and viable populations in the face of changing environmental conditions. This makes it critical to understand which landscape elements facilitate and impede species movement. Geodiversity, i.e. the diversity of abiotic nature, is strongly connected to species' distributions through underpinning geophysical settings and gradients, and by affecting the distribution of resources like water, nutrients, and light. These, in turn, contribute to landscape permeability and, ultimately, affect species movement potential. However, it is unclear to what extent geodiversity has been incorporated into connectivity assessments. We present a systematic literature review examining how measures of geodiversity and its' components, i.e. geology, soils, hydrology, and geomorphology, are used and understood in the context of connectivity. We reviewed the current understanding of geodiversity's role in facilitating species adaptation and connectivity, as well as how this information has been incorporated into connectivity modeling. Our findings highlight that a geodiverse landscape is often assumed to foster connectivity and climate resilience of biodiversity mainly through resource and niche provisioning. We also find that the quantitative measures of geodiversity used in connectivity modeling often represent simplistic metrics that may overlook important abiotic components that contribute to species persistence and movement under changing conditions. The key challenges hindering a wider use of geodiversity information in connectivity include the limited adoption of the term outside geosciences and the lack of established quantitative metrics of the geodiversity‐biodiversity relationship. Addressing these gaps could greatly enhance ecological connectivity assessments through a wider adoption of geodiversity information, especially in cases where detailed data on multiple species' local environmental requirements are poorly understood.
{"title":"Geodiversity is an inseparable but underutilized aspect of ecological connectivity assessments under climate change","authors":"Aino‐Maija Määttänen, Maria Hällfors, Julia Kemppinen","doi":"10.1002/ecog.07768","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.07768","url":null,"abstract":"Conservation has shifted towards a climate change adaptation approach in which expected species range shifts are increasingly considered to mitigate effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. As part of this, ecological connectivity needs to be ensured to support gene flow and viable populations in the face of changing environmental conditions. This makes it critical to understand which landscape elements facilitate and impede species movement. Geodiversity, i.e. the diversity of abiotic nature, is strongly connected to species' distributions through underpinning geophysical settings and gradients, and by affecting the distribution of resources like water, nutrients, and light. These, in turn, contribute to landscape permeability and, ultimately, affect species movement potential. However, it is unclear to what extent geodiversity has been incorporated into connectivity assessments. We present a systematic literature review examining how measures of geodiversity and its' components, i.e. geology, soils, hydrology, and geomorphology, are used and understood in the context of connectivity. We reviewed the current understanding of geodiversity's role in facilitating species adaptation and connectivity, as well as how this information has been incorporated into connectivity modeling. Our findings highlight that a geodiverse landscape is often assumed to foster connectivity and climate resilience of biodiversity mainly through resource and niche provisioning. We also find that the quantitative measures of geodiversity used in connectivity modeling often represent simplistic metrics that may overlook important abiotic components that contribute to species persistence and movement under changing conditions. The key challenges hindering a wider use of geodiversity information in connectivity include the limited adoption of the term outside geosciences and the lack of established quantitative metrics of the geodiversity‐biodiversity relationship. Addressing these gaps could greatly enhance ecological connectivity assessments through a wider adoption of geodiversity information, especially in cases where detailed data on multiple species' local environmental requirements are poorly understood.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"80 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147374117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ella Cathcart-van Weeren, John M. Dwyer, Brian Hawkins, Jennifer Holmes, Glenn Holmes, Glenn Leiper, William McDonald, Matthew Mo, Hugh Nicholson, Rob Price, Karen Shaw, Spencer Shaw, David Waterhouse, Lui Weber, Matthew S. Luskin
Climate change is altering plant reproductive phenology; however, a scarcity of long-term, systematic monitoring hinders our ability to quantify and predict these responses in many parts of the world. We addressed this gap by demonstrating how data integration can be used to produce a synthesised record of reproductive phenology observations (flowering and fruiting) that spans longer time periods, larger spatial scales, and includes more species than any single source alone. Using Australian subtropical rainforest trees as a case study, we integrated reproductive phenology observations from both common data sources – published datasets, herbarium specimens, and citizen science records – and previously untapped expert botanical knowledge, including private photographic collections, field notes, and seed collections. Data integration yielded 110 657 records of flowers or fruits from 915 species (representing half of all subtropical rainforest tree species) spanning 255 years (1770–2025). We found that different data sources provided unique information across temporal, spatial and taxonomic dimensions. Herbarium specimens provided the longest taxonomic coverage, while citizen science contributed the most recent observations. Critically, 197 species (21.5%) were represented from only a single source, including 154 species represented solely by herbarium specimens and 46 species in expert botanist collections. While 46.6% of species had fewer than 50 observations, for many species, these represent the only available historical phenology data. This integrated dataset may be the only available resource for establishing pre-industrial baselines for the reproductive phenology of Australian subtropical rainforest trees. This would not have been possible without the engagement and contributions of the local botanical community, which greatly expanded the research capacity beyond conventional data sources.
{"title":"Data integration advances reproductive phenology research across temporal, spatial and taxonomic scales","authors":"Ella Cathcart-van Weeren, John M. Dwyer, Brian Hawkins, Jennifer Holmes, Glenn Holmes, Glenn Leiper, William McDonald, Matthew Mo, Hugh Nicholson, Rob Price, Karen Shaw, Spencer Shaw, David Waterhouse, Lui Weber, Matthew S. Luskin","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08542","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08542","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change is altering plant reproductive phenology; however, a scarcity of long-term, systematic monitoring hinders our ability to quantify and predict these responses in many parts of the world. We addressed this gap by demonstrating how data integration can be used to produce a synthesised record of reproductive phenology observations (flowering and fruiting) that spans longer time periods, larger spatial scales, and includes more species than any single source alone. Using Australian subtropical rainforest trees as a case study, we integrated reproductive phenology observations from both common data sources – published datasets, herbarium specimens, and citizen science records – and previously untapped expert botanical knowledge, including private photographic collections, field notes, and seed collections. Data integration yielded 110 657 records of flowers or fruits from 915 species (representing half of all subtropical rainforest tree species) spanning 255 years (1770–2025). We found that different data sources provided unique information across temporal, spatial and taxonomic dimensions. Herbarium specimens provided the longest taxonomic coverage, while citizen science contributed the most recent observations. Critically, 197 species (21.5%) were represented from only a single source, including 154 species represented solely by herbarium specimens and 46 species in expert botanist collections. While 46.6% of species had fewer than 50 observations, for many species, these represent the only available historical phenology data. This integrated dataset may be the only available resource for establishing pre-industrial baselines for the reproductive phenology of Australian subtropical rainforest trees. This would not have been possible without the engagement and contributions of the local botanical community, which greatly expanded the research capacity beyond conventional data sources.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147371531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The multidimensional characteristics of plant traits and their trade-offs are central to ecology. However, there is a lack of systematic and standardized tools for analyzing these intricate relationships. To fill this gap, we developed the ‘MultiTraits' R package, which incorporates four complementary analytical modules: competitors–stress tolerators–ruderals strategy analysis, leaf–height–seed strategy analysis, niche periodic table analysis, and plant trait network analysis. This package provides standardized workflows and highly customizable visualization tools, enabling researchers to systematically explore and quantify multidimensional plant trait data. Using the Pine Forests Flora dataset as a case study, we demonstrated the package's effectiveness in identifying plant community trait patterns and ecological strategies. We anticipate that the ‘MultiTraits' package will become an essential tool for functional ecology research, facilitating systematic exploration of multidimensional plant trait data and driving new insights in the field.
{"title":"‘MultiTraits': an integrated R package for analysis and visualization of multidimensional plant traits","authors":"Yan He, Zhaogang Liu, Jiangshan Lai, Lingfeng Mao","doi":"10.1002/ecog.08026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ecog.08026","url":null,"abstract":"The multidimensional characteristics of plant traits and their trade-offs are central to ecology. However, there is a lack of systematic and standardized tools for analyzing these intricate relationships. To fill this gap, we developed the ‘MultiTraits' R package, which incorporates four complementary analytical modules: competitors–stress tolerators–ruderals strategy analysis, leaf–height–seed strategy analysis, niche periodic table analysis, and plant trait network analysis. This package provides standardized workflows and highly customizable visualization tools, enabling researchers to systematically explore and quantify multidimensional plant trait data. Using the Pine Forests Flora dataset as a case study, we demonstrated the package's effectiveness in identifying plant community trait patterns and ecological strategies. We anticipate that the ‘MultiTraits' package will become an essential tool for functional ecology research, facilitating systematic exploration of multidimensional plant trait data and driving new insights in the field.","PeriodicalId":51026,"journal":{"name":"Ecography","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147371315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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