Spatial variation in bioclimatic relationships for a snow-adapted species along a discontinuous southern range boundary

Authors: SULTAIRE, SEAN M - Michigan State University; Humphreys Jr, John; ZUCKERBERG, BENJAMIN - University Of Wisconsin; PAULI, JOHNATHAN - University Of Wisconsin; ROLOFF, GARY - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Journal of Biogeography
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2021
Publication Date: 11/18/2021
Citation: Sultaire, S.M., Humphreys Jr., J.M., Zuckerberg, B., Pauli, J.N., Roloff, G.J. 2021. Spatial variation in bioclimatic relationships for a snow-adapted species along a discontinuous southern range boundary. Journal of Biogeography. 49(1):66-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14279.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14279

Interpretive Summary: This research proposes new statistical techniques to estimate correlations between observed species occurrences and environmental factors without assuming that correlation strength is constant or uniform across the entire species range. Using hare populations (Lepus americanus) as an example, the authors apply the new statistical technique to demonstrate that increasing temperature has a positive influence on hare occurrence in northern portions of the study area, but a negative effect on more southerly hare populations.

Technical Abstract: Aim: Spatial non-stationarity is common in ecological data but species distribution models typically assume stationarity in species-environment relationships across space. Non-stationarity may be particularly apparent in populations along range boundaries where species are actively adapting to local changes in climate, as well as geographically isolated areas because isolation can facilitate adaptation. We used data collected from the southern range boundary of snowshoe hares to evaluate spatially varying occurrence – environment relationships in a region with a geographically isolated population. Taxon: Lepus americanus,