The search for a yardstick to gauge geographic variation in a taxonomic context yielded answers to broader biogeographical questions Above: Geographic variants in the Allen’s common moustached (Pteronotus fuscus). Left, cranium and mandible of a specimen from Paraguaná Peninsula (CVULA 8197). Center, cranium and mandible of a specimen from Venezuela south of the Orinoco RiverContinue reading “Do bats follow the ‘island rule’?”
Author Archives: jbiogeography
A glimpse into the past: complementary evidence for deciphering the history of an emblematic tree species
Long-term demographic processes of species leave behind traces in various forms, such as spatial genetic structure in extant populations and fossil remains in the ground. Combining these complementary sources of evidence from a dense sampling across the entire natural range of Swiss stone pine helped us to unravel the glacial history of this timberline species.Continue reading “A glimpse into the past: complementary evidence for deciphering the history of an emblematic tree species”
ECR feature: Sandra Hernández Arenas
Sandra H. Arenas is a PhD student at Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain. She is a marine biologist with a special focus on seaweeds ecophysiology and distribution. Here, Sandra shares her recent work on adaptation of seaweeds to climate change. The marine biologist Sandra Hernández Arenas Personal links. ResearchGate | University Homepage Institute. Rey JuanContinue reading “ECR feature: Sandra Hernández Arenas”
ECR feature: Victoria Glynn
Victoria Glynn is a PhD candidate at McGill University, Canada. She is an ecologist & science educator with a special focus on coral adaptation to environmental stressors. Here, Victoria shares her recent work on the factors structuring coral-algal symbioses. The PhD candidate Victoria Glynn Personal links. Personal Site | Instagram Institute. McGill University, Montréal, CanadaContinue reading “ECR feature: Victoria Glynn”
ECR feature: Ella Martin and studying global biodiversity patterns during pandemics
Ella is a PhD student at the University of Toronto, Canada. She is broadly interested in species interactions and plant ecology and evolution, and is currently studying urban eco-evolutionary dynamics. Here, Ella shares her perspective about the study of global patterns while living a global pandemic. Ella, at her desk at home in April 2020.Continue reading “ECR feature: Ella Martin and studying global biodiversity patterns during pandemics”
Why species are common or rare depends on spatial scale
A species that is locally common can be globally rare and vice versa. But why? Turns out that tolerance of climatic conditions drives plant species commonness towards global spatial scales, while at finer local scales, competitive ability is relatively more decisive. Accounting for this scale dependence in species occupancy is important when anticipating the effectsContinue reading “Why species are common or rare depends on spatial scale”
ECR feature: Daubian Santos
Daubian Santos is a postdoc at the Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil. He is a evolutionary biologist with special focus on biogeography of craneflies. Here, Daubian presents SAMBA, a method for revealing shared patterns of biotic distribution. Dr. Daubian Santos, postdoc at Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil Personal links. Twitter | Instagram | Personal SiteContinue reading “ECR feature: Daubian Santos”
A Tale of Two Types of Landscape Heterogeneity
The geographic ranges of mammals in Africa are limited in size by the variation in habitats across space (habitat heterogeneity), but surprisingly not by the variation in elevations (topographic heterogeneity). Mammalian ranges will be sensitive to future habitat destruction and alteration, as climate change and human impacts continue to intensify. Above: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)Continue reading “A Tale of Two Types of Landscape Heterogeneity”
ECR feature: Julia de Aledo
Julian G. de Aledo is a PhD candidate at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. She is a ecologist with special focus on biodiversity of tropical plants. Here, Julia shares her recent work on plant diversity and distribution in the western Amazonia. PhD candidate Julia G. de Aledo Personal links. Twitter | GitHub Institute. UniversidadContinue reading “ECR feature: Julia de Aledo”
Plant reproductive mode: inherited or influenced by environments?
Plants can reproduce clonally or by seeds. What are the circumstances that clonal reproduction is favoured, and which type of species are most likely to be clonal? Above: Plants reproduce asexually via rhizomes. Sexual reproduction from seeds is common in the plant kingdom. However, many plants reproduce through vegetative propagation or clonal growth such asContinue reading “Plant reproductive mode: inherited or influenced by environments?”