A new spin on a compositionalist predictive modelling framework for conservation planning: a tropical case study in Ecuador

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_DDE54646F3FD
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
A new spin on a compositionalist predictive modelling framework for conservation planning: a tropical case study in Ecuador
Journal
Biological Conservation
Author(s)
Mateo R.G., de la Estrella M., Felicisimo A.M., Munoz J., Guisan A.
ISSN
0006-3207
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2013
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
160
Pages
150-161
Language
english
Abstract
Knowledge about spatial biodiversity patterns is a basic criterion for reserve network design. Although herbarium collections hold large quantities of information, the data are often scattered and cannot supply complete spatial coverage. Alternatively, herbarium data can be used to fit species distribution models and their predictions can be used to provide complete spatial coverage and derive species richness maps. Here, we build on previous effort to propose an improved compositionalist framework for using species distribution models to better inform conservation management. We illustrate the approach with models fitted with six different methods and combined using an ensemble approach for 408 plant species in a tropical and megadiverse country (Ecuador). As a complementary view to the traditional richness hotspots methodology, consisting of a simple stacking of species distribution maps, the compositionalist modelling approach used here combines separate predictions for different pools of species to identify areas of alternative suitability for conservation. Our results show that the compositionalist approach better captures the established protected areas than the traditional richness hotspots strategies and allows the identification of areas in Ecuador that would optimally complement the current protection network. Further studies should aim at refining the approach with more groups and additional species information.
Keywords
Community-level modeling, Richness hotspots strategy, Natural history collections, Reserve network design, Species richness patterns, Tropical areas
Web of science
Create date
06/02/2013 21:46
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:02
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