Species range expansion constrains the ecological niches of resident butterflies
Audusseau, H., Le Vaillant M., Janz, N., Nylin, S., Karlsson, B., & Schmucki, R. (2017). Species range expansion constrains the ecological niches of resident butterflies. Journal of Biogeography, 44, 28-38. PDF.
Summary
Environmental changes can modify how species interact, and this can affect the distribution and density of local populations. Environmental niche models can be used to predict species distributions as the climate changes, but these models can be imprecise as they often do not incorporate these biologic interactions. Therefore, examining how species vary in space and time in the context of environmental change can help elucidate the role of altered species interactions. Audusseau et al. (2017) used citizen science data to compare the occurrence of three butterfly species in Sweden, two of which are resident (Aglais urticae and Aglais io) and one that is undergoing a range expansion into the area (Araschnia levana). Occurrence was compared across two time periods during the establishment of A. levana, which showed that as A. levana distributions stabilized, the distributions of the two resident species shifted to avoid overlap. The observed shifts could be due to differences in life histories and small variations in habitat; however, indirect interactions between the three species and their parasitoids are likely to also play an important role. In addition to emphasizing how climate change and range expansions could drive shifts in species interactions, Audusseau et al. also showed that citizen science efforts can be a useful tool for tracking range shifts and impacts.
Take home points
Range shifts can lead to new biotic interactions, which can affect the distributions of native species as niche partitioning occurs.
These interactions can be due to direct competition for resources or through indirect interactions, such as increased number of shared pathogens or parasitoids.
Management implications
Incorporating biotic interactions into environmental niche models can provide a more accurate prediction of expected distribution patterns.
Citizen science records can be a useful tool for tracking range expansions and their effects on new communities.
Keywords
Range Expansion; Model; Invasive Invertebrate; Terrestrial Habitat; Araschnia levana; Map Butterfly; Risk Assessment