Introduced ant species occupy empty climatic niches in Europe.

ABSTRACT: Exploring shifts in the climatic niches of introduced species can provide significant insight into the mechanisms underlying the invasion process and the associated impacts on biodiversity. We aim to test the phylogenetic signal hypothesis in native and introduced species in Europe by examining climatic niche similarity. We examined data from 134 ant species commonly found in western Europe; 130 were native species, and 4 were introduced species. We characterized their distribution patterns using species records from different databases, determined their phylogenetic relatedness, and tested for a phylogenetic signal in their optimal climatic niches. We then compared the introduced species' climatic niches in Europe with their climatic niches in their native ranges and with the climatic nic

SUBMITTER: Arnan X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7870827 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature