Mismatch between IUCN range maps and species interactions data illustrated using the Serengeti food web.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Range maps are a useful tool to describe the spatial distribution of species. However, they need to be used with caution, as they essentially represent a rough approximation of a species' suitable habitats. When stacked together, the resulting communities in each grid cell may not always be realistic, especially when species interactions are taken into account. Here we show the extent of the mismatch between range maps, provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and species interactions data. More precisely, we show that local networks built from those stacked range maps often yield unrealistic communities, where species of higher trophic levels are completely disconnected from primary producers.

Methodology

We used the well-described S

SUBMITTER: Higino GT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9924135 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature