Models of upland species' distributions are improved by accounting for geodiversity.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Recent research suggests that novel geodiversity data on landforms, hydrology and surface materials can improve biodiversity models at the landscape scale by quantifying abiotic variability more effectively than commonly used measures of spatial heterogeneity. However, few studies consider whether these variables can account for, and improve our understanding of, species' distributions.

Objectives

Assess the role of geodiversity components as macro-scale controls of plant species' distributions in a montane landscape.

Methods

We used an innovative approach to quantifying a landscape, creating an ecologically meaningful geodiversity dataset that accounted for hydrology, morphometry (landforms derived from geomorphometric techniques), and soil parent material (d

SUBMITTER: Bailey JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6404796 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature