Evaluating species distribution model predictions through time against paleozoological records.

ABSTRACT: Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used to project how species distributions may vary over time, particularly in response climate change. Although the fit of such models to current distributions is regularly enumerated, SDMs are rarely tested across longer time spans to gauge their actual performance under environmental change. Here, we utilise paleozoological presence/absence records to independently assess the predictive accuracy of SDMs through time. To illustrate the approach, we focused on modelling the Holocene distribution of the hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus, a widespread savannah-adapted African antelope. We applied various modelling algorithms to three occurrence datasets, including a point dataset from online repositories and two range maps representing cur

SUBMITTER: Lazagabaster IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496045 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature