Diversity and Distributions

Journal: Diversity and Distributions

Abbreviation

Divers. Distrib.

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

ISSN

1366-9516
1472-4642

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Publications 1 - 10 of 24

Fewer non-native insects in freshwater than in terrestrial habitats across continents
Sendek, Agnieszka; Baity-Jesi, Marco; Altermatt, Florian; et al. (2022)
Diversity and Distributions
Aim Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Insects represent an important group of species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats, and they constitute a large proportion of non-native species. However, while many non-native insects are known from terrestrial ecosystems, they appear to be less represented in freshwater habitats. Comparisons between freshwater and terrestrial habitats of invader richness relative to native species richness are scarce, which hinders syntheses of invasion processes. Here, we used data from three regions on different continents to determine whether non-native insects are indeed under-represented in freshwater compared with terrestrial assemblages. Location Europe, North America, New Zealand. Methods We compiled a comprehensive inventory of native and non-native insect species established in freshwater and terrestrial habitats of the three study regions. We then contrasted the richness of non-native and native species among freshwater and terrestrial insects for all insect orders in each region. Using binomial regression, we analysed the proportions of non-native species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Marine insect species were excluded from our analysis, and insects in low-salinity brackish water were considered as freshwater insects. Results In most insect orders living in freshwater, non-native species were under-represented, while they were over-represented in a number of terrestrial orders. This pattern occurred in purely aquatic orders and in orders with both freshwater and terrestrial species. Overall, the proportion of non-native species was significantly lower in freshwater than in terrestrial species. Main conclusions Despite the numerical and ecological importance of insects among all non-native species, non-native insect species are surprisingly rare in freshwater habitats. This is consistent across the three investigated regions. We review hypotheses concerning species traits and invasion pathways that are most likely to explain these patterns. Our findings contribute to a growing appreciation of drivers and impacts of biological invasions.
From Hot to Cold Spots: Climate Change is Projected to Modify Diversity Patterns of Small Mammals in a Biodiversity Hotspot
Alves-Ferreira, Gabriela; Vancine, Maurício Humberto; Mota, Flávio Mariano Machado; et al. (2025)
Diversity and Distributions
Aim: Climate change represents one of the main threats to global biodiversity, and such alterations are expected to induce shifts in distribution ranges and diversity patterns. We evaluate if protected areas and forest remnants in the Atlantic Forest in South America (AF) are projected to ensure the taxonomic diversity (TD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) of non-volant small mammals under scenarios of future climate change. Location: Atlantic Forest (AF), South America. Methods: We used Species Distribution Modelling (SDMs) through an ensemble approach to assess the potential distribution of 101 species of small mammals using present (1979–2013) and future (2050 and 2070) climate scenarios. We consider optimistic and pessimistic greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (SSP370 and SSP585). We accessed TD through the sum of the suitable areas vs. areas of low or unknown suitability distribution maps for each species and PD using the sum of the branch lengths of a phylogenetic tree spatialised. Results: Our models suggest that climate change is likely to reduce the suitable climatic areas for small mammals in the AF. The shrinkage in the potential distribution is projected to lead to high loss of TD and PD. The southeastern region of the Atlantic Forest is likely to experience the most pronounced decline in PD, while some small areas in the southern Atlantic Forest are projected to increase PD in the future. Main Conclusions: Our models suggest a strong decline in TD and in PD from biodiversity hotspot regions in the AF under climate change scenarios. Since small mammals have low dispersal ability, and because most of the AF is highly fragmented, it is unlikely that this biome will sustain small mammal biodiversity in the future.
Integrating Environmental DNA Metabarcoding and Remote Sensing Reveals Known and Novel Fish Diversity Hotspots in a World Heritage Area
Bizzozzero, Manuela R.; Marfurt, Svenja M.; Altermatt, Florian; et al. (2025)
Diversity and Distributions
Aim: Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Western Australia, is highly vulnerable to climate change, yet its fish biodiversity remains poorly understood at fine spatial scales. We integrated environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with high-resolution remote sensing to assess and extrapolate fish diversity patterns, providing a scalable framework for biodiversity monitoring in dynamic coastal ecosystems. Location: Shark Bay, Western Australia. Methods: We analysed 270 water samples across 560 km² using fish-specific 16S and 12S rRNA metabarcoding, comparing our results to earlier studies using conventional methods including seining, trawling, fisheries reports, and fish traps. We linked biodiversity patterns to key environmental variables, including depth, salinity, sea surface temperature, and habitat characteristics derived from high-resolution satellite imagery. To predict fish biodiversity across unsampled areas, we employed machine-learning models, enabling spatial extrapolation of eDNA data across the seascape. Results: eDNA metabarcoding identified 106 fish species across 132 genera and 71 families, with substantial overlap with conventional monitoring but broader coverage at higher taxonomic levels. Fish richness increased with decreasing salinity, high channel habitat coverage, and moderate depths with high seagrass coverage. We delineated five distinct fish communities (A–E): two shallow seagrass communities—one in sparse seagrass (A) and another in dense seagrass (B), one in channel habitats (C) with the greatest fish diversity; one in deep sandy waters (D) and one in medium-depth, seagrass-free areas (E). Additionally, we detected several tropical species, suggesting poleward shifts due to rising water temperatures. Main Conclusions: This study highlights the utility of combining marine eDNA metabarcoding with remote sensing to detect fine-scale biodiversity. The integration of machine learning enables spatial upscaling and timely responses to habitat changes, enhancing marine conservation and management. By identifying key environmental drivers of fish diversity, this approach supports proactive conservation strategies, providing a scalable model for biodiversity monitoring under climate change.
Range reshuffling: Climate change, invasive species, and the case of Nothofagus forests in Aotearoa New Zealand
Mathias, Shar; van Galen, Laura G.; Jarvie, Scott; et al. (2023)
Diversity and Distributions
Aim: The impact of climate change on forest biodiversity and ecosystem services will be partly determined by the relative fortunes of invasive and native forest trees under future conditions. Aotearoa New Zealand has high conservation value native forests and one of the world's worst invasive tree problems. We assess the relative effects of habitat redistribution on native Nothofagus and invasive conifer (Pinaceae) species in New Zealand as a case study on the compounding impacts of climate change and tree invasions. Location: Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods: We use species distribution models (SDMs) to predict the current and future distribution of habitat for five native Nothofagus species and 13 invasive conifer species under two 2070 climate scenarios. We calculate habitat loss/gain for all species and examine overlap between the invasive and native species now and in future. Results: Most species will lose habitat overall. The native species saw large changes in the distribution of habitat with extensive losses in North Island and gains mostly in South Island. Concerningly, we found that most new habitat for Nothofagus was also suitable for at least one invasive species. However, there were refugia for the native species in the wetter parts of the climate space. Main Conclusion: If the predicted changes in habitat distribution translate to shifts in forest distribution, it would cause widespread ecological disruption. We discuss how acclimation, adaptation and biotic interactions may prevent/delay some changes. But we also highlight that the poor establishment capacity of Nothofagus, and the contrasting ability of the conifers to invade, will present persistent conservation challenges in areas of both new habitat and forest retreat. Pinaceae are problematic invaders globally, and our results highlight that control of invasions and active native forest restoration will likely be key to managing forest biodiversity under future climates.
Seedling establishment of Asteraceae forbs along altitudinal gradients
Poll, Myriam; Naylor, Bridgett J.; Alexander, Jake; et al. (2009)
Diversity and Distributions
Importance of demography and dispersal for the resilience and restoration of a critically endangered tropical conifer Araucaria nemorosa
Kettle, Chris J.; Ennos, Richard A.; Jaffré, Tanguy; et al. (2012)
Diversity and Distributions
Climate change-driven extinctions of tree species affect forest functioning more than random extinctions
García- Valdés, Raúl; Bugmann, Harald; Morin, Xavier (2018)
Diversity and Distributions
Using connectivity metrics in conservation planning
Visconti, Piero; Elkin, Ché (2009)
Diversity and Distributions
An elevational shift of cryophilous bryophytes in the last century - an effect of climate warming?
Bergamini, Ariel; Ungricht, Stefan; Hofmann, Heike (2009)
Diversity and Distributions
Multifaceted biodiversity hotspots of marine mammals for conservation priorities
Albouy, Camille; Delattre, Valentine L.; Mérigot, Bastien; et al. (2017)
Diversity and Distributions

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