Dinámica de la distribución y hospederos de Molothrus bonaríensis (Passeriformes: Icteridae) en Ecuador

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

RESUMEN Varias especies alrededor del mundo están ampliando su distribución principalmente por la perturbación antropogénica. En Ecuador, el Vaquero Brilloso, Molothrus bonariensis, se registra cada vez con más frecuencia fuera de su ámbito conocido, por ello, analizamos cronológicamente sus registros evidenciando una expansión altitudinal de 580 m en los últimos 44 años. También ejecutamos modelamientos de máxima entropía que mostraron que las áreas de idoneidad de hábitat para M. bonariensis se incrementarían bajo condiciones de cambio climático. Finalmente, como M. bonariensis es un parásito obligado y generalista de nidos, presentamos información inédita sumando con lo ya publicado 21 especies parasitadas en Ecuador. Por las implicaciones en la conservación de especies vulnerables, es importante continuar documentando la ampliación de ámbito de M. bonariensis y sus especies parasitadas.

Translated abstract

ABSTRACT Several species around the world are expanding their distribution principally by anthropogenic disturbance. In Ecuador, the Shining Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis has been recorded more frequently outside its known range; therefore, we analyzed its chronological records, finding evidence of an altitude expansion of 580 m in the last 44 years. Additionally, we performed maximum entropy models that showed that areas of habitat suitability for M. bonariensis would increase under conditions of climate change. Finally, as M. bonariensis is an obligate and generalist parasite of nests; we present unpublished information, which together with published data, constitute a total of 21 parasitized species in Ecuador. Due to the implications for the conservation of vulnerable species, it is important to continue documenting the extension of the range of M. bonariensis and its parasitized species.

Related collections

Most cited references 38

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

Can species distribution models really predict the expansion of invasive species?

Morgane Barbet-Massin, Quentin Rome, Claire Villemant … (2018)

Predictive studies are of paramount importance for biological invasions, one of the biggest threats for biodiversity. To help and better prioritize management strategies, species distribution models (SDMs) are often used to predict the potential invasive range of introduced species. Yet, SDMs have been regularly criticized, due to several strong limitations, such as violating the equilibrium assumption during the invasion process. Unfortunately, validation studies–with independent data–are too scarce to assess the predictive accuracy of SDMs in invasion biology. Yet, biological invasions allow to test SDMs usefulness, by retrospectively assessing whether they would have accurately predicted the latest ranges of invasion. Here, we assess the predictive accuracy of SDMs in predicting the expansion of invasive species. We used temporal occurrence data for the Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax, a species native to China that is invading Europe with a very fast rate. Specifically, we compared occurrence data from the last stage of invasion (independent validation points) to the climate suitability distribution predicted from models calibrated with data from the early stage of invasion. Despite the invasive species not being at equilibrium yet, the predicted climate suitability of validation points was high. SDMs can thus adequately predict the spread of V. v. nigrithorax, which appears to be—at least partially–climatically driven. In the case of V. v. nigrithorax, SDMs predictive accuracy was slightly but significantly better when models were calibrated with invasive data only, excluding native data. Although more validation studies for other invasion cases are needed to generalize our results, our findings are an important step towards validating the use of SDMs in invasion biology.