Faster movement in non-habitat matrix promotes range shifts in heterogeneous landscapes



Crone, Elizabeth, Brown, Leone, Hodgson, J ORCID: 0000-0003-2297-3631, Lutscher, Frithjof and Schultz, Cheryl
(2019) Faster movement in non-habitat matrix promotes range shifts in heterogeneous landscapes. Ecology, 100 (7). e02701-.

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Abstract

Ecologists often assume that range expansion will be fastest in landscapes composed entirely of the highest‐quality habitat. Theoretical models, however, show that range expansion depends on both habitat quality and habitat‐specific movement rates. Using data from 78 species in 70 studies, we find that animals typically have faster movement through lower‐quality environments (73% of published cases). Therefore, if we want to manage landscapes for range expansion, there is a trade‐off between promoting movement with nonhostile matrix, and promoting population growth with high‐quality habitat. We illustrate how this trade‐off plays out with the use of an exemplar species, the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly. For this species, we calculate that the expected rate of range expansion is fastest in landscapes with ~15% high‐quality habitat. Behavioral responses to nonhabitat matrix have often been documented in animal populations, but rarely included in empirical predictions of range expansion. Considering movement behavior could change land‐planning priorities from focus on high‐quality habitat only to integrating high‐ and low‐quality land cover types, and evaluating the costs and benefits of different matrix land covers for range expansion.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: area restricted search, Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, climate change, edge behavior, integrodifference equation, invasions, range expansion
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2019 13:32
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 01:06
DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2701
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3031709