Does scale matter? A systematic review of incorporating biological realism when predicting changes in species distributions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is ample evidence that biotic factors, such as biotic interactions and dispersal capacity, can affect species distributions and influence species' responses to climate change. However, little is known about how these factors affect predictions from species distribution models (SDMs) with respect to spatial grain and extent of the models.

Objectives

Understanding how spatial scale influences the effects of biological processes in SDMs is important because SDMs are one of the primary tools used by conservation biologists to assess biodiversity impacts of climate change.

Data sources and study eligibility criteria

We systematically reviewed SDM studies published from 2003-2015 using ISI Web of Science searches to: (1) determine the current state and key

SUBMITTER: Record S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5898710 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature