Using species distribution modelling to determine opportunities for trophic rewilding under future scenarios of climate change.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
; 373(1761)2018 10 22.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30348873
ABSTRACT
Trophic rewilding, the (re)introduction of species to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems, is a future-oriented approach to ecological restoration. In the twenty-first century and beyond, human-mediated climate change looms as a major threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem function. A critical aspect in planning trophic rewilding projects is the selection of suitable sites that match the needs of the focal species under both current and future climates. Species distribution models (SDMs) are currently the main tools to derive spatially explicit predictions of environmental suitability for species, but the extent of their adoption for trophic rewilding projects has been limited. Here, we provide an overview of applications of SDMs to trophic rewilding projects, outline methodological choices and issues, and provide a synthesis and outlook. We then predict the potential distribution of 17 large-bodied taxa proposed as trophic rewilding candidates and which represent different continents and habitats. We identified widespread climatic suitability for these species in the discussed (re)introduction regions under current climates. Climatic conditions generally remain suitable in the future, although some species will experience reduced suitability in parts of these regions. We conclude that climate change is not a major barrier to trophic rewilding as currently discussed in the literature.This article is part of the theme issue 'Trophic rewilding consequences for ecosystems under global change'.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Climate Change
/
Ecosystem
/
Conservation of Natural Resources
/
Animal Distribution
/
Plant Dispersal
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Language:
En
Journal:
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Denmark