Figures
Figure 1: Potential geographic distribution of tree diversity in the Amazon basin. Left panel: Previous map of interpolated tree diversity based on sample locations throughout the Amazon basin (white circles; see ter Steege et al. 2006). Circle size corresponds to magnitude of Fisher alpha, a common measure of local diversity. Right panel: Spatial predictions of tree diversity produced with the Maxent algorithm, observed sample occurrences of Fisher alpha and optical and microwave remote sensing data. The Maxent distribution provides much more spatial detail. Regions of extreme high tree diversity are largely located in the western part of the Amazon basin, whereas regions of relatively low tree diversity are mainly found in the southern margin of the Amazon basin.
Figure 2: Impact of climate change on the geographic distribution of hummingbirds in the Northern Andes. Panel A: Present potential geographic distribution of the green-fronted lancebill (Doryfera ludoviceae) based on sample locations, observed climate data, and generated through the use of the Maxent algorithm. Panel B: Change map of future minus present-day distribution. The present-day climate-species relationship was projected only on the future temperature change, obtained from a climate model (CCM3) under a double CO2 scenario. Panel C: Similar to Panel B, but in this case the present-day relationship was projected on the total climate change (including changes in precipitation). The change panels document the general tendency of a distributional shift of the hummingbird habitat towards higher elevations as a response to warming.
Figure 3: Predicting savanna snake invasion in Cameroon’s rainforest zone. Left panel: Map of ecoregions in Cameroon. Right panel: Potential geographic distribution of the night adder (Causus maculatus), produced through the Maxent algorithm, observed sample locations, and climate and remote sensing data. Predictions of invasion areas in the rainforest zone along major roadways and near urban centers (see inset) are consistent with our hypothesis that human removal of rainforest vegetation facilitates invasion through creation of savanna-like microhabitats.
Related Publications
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| 2008 | Smith, T. B., and G. Grether. The importance of conserving evolutionary processes. Pages 85-98. In S. P. Carroll and C. W. Fox (Eds.) Conservation Biology: Evolution in Action. Oxford University Press, Oxford. |
| 2008 | Gillespie, T. W., G.M. Foody, D. Rocchini, A.P. Giorgi, and S. Saatchi. Measuring and modelling biodiversity from space. Progress in Physical Geography 32: 203–221. PDF |
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| 2006 | ter Steege, H., N. C. A. Pitman, O. L. Phillips, J. Chave, D. Sabatier, A. Duque, J. Molino, M. Prevost, R. Spichiger, H. Castellanos, P. Hildebrand, and R. Vasquez. Continental-scale patterns of canopy tree composition and function across Amazonia. Nature 443: 444-447. PDF |
| 2003 | Turner, W., S. Spector, N. Gardiner, M. Fladeland, E. Sterling, and M. Steininger. Remote sensing for biodiversity science and conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18: 306-314. PDF |