Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Global diversity in light of climate change: The case of ants

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Jenkins, C.
    Sanders, N.
    Andersen, A.
    Arnan, X.
    Brühl, C.
    Cerda, X.
    Ellison, A.
    Fisher, B.
    Fitzpatrick, M.
    Gotelli, N.
    Gove, Aaron
    Guenard, B.
    Lattke, J.
    Lessard, J.
    McGlynn, T.
    Menke, S.
    Parr, C.
    Philpott, S.
    Vasconcelos, H.
    Weisser, M.
    Dunn, Robert
    Date
    2011
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Jenkins, C. and Sanders, N. and Andersen, A. and Arnan, X. and Brühl, C. and Cerda, X. and Ellison, A. et al. 2011. Global diversity in light of climate change: The case of ants. Diversity and Distributions. 17 (4): pp. 652-662.
    Source Title
    Diversity and Distributions
    DOI
    10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00770.x
    ISSN
    13669516
    School
    Department of Environmental Biology
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6156
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Aim: To use a fine-grained global model of ant diversity to identify the limits of our knowledge of diversity in the context of climate change. Location: Global. Methods: We applied generalized linear modelling to a global database of local ant assemblages to predict the species density of ants globally. Predictors evaluated included simple climate variables, combined temperature × precipitation variables, biogeographic region, elevation, and interactions between select variables. Areas of the planet identified as beyond the reliable prediction ability of the model were those having climatic conditions more extreme than what was represented in the ant database. Results: Temperature was the most important single predictor of ant species density, and a mix of climatic variables, biogeographic region and interactions between climate and region yielded the best overall model. Broadly, geographic patterns of ant diversity match those of other taxa, with high species density in the wet tropics and in some, but not all, parts of the dry tropics. Uncertainty in model predictions appears to derive from the low amount of standardized sampling of ants in Asia, in Africa and in the most extreme (e.g. hottest) climates. Model residuals increase as a function of temperature. This suggests that our understanding of the drivers of ant diversity at high temperatures is incomplete, especially in hot and arid climates. In other words, our ignorance of how ant diversity relates to environment is greatest in those regions where most species occur – hot climates, both wet and dry.Main conclusions: Our results have two important implications. First, temperature is necessary, but not sufficient, to explain fully the patterns of ant diversity. Second, our ability to predict ant diversity is weakest exactly where we need to know the most, the warmest regions of a warming world. This includes significant parts of the tropics and some of the most biologically diverse areas in the world.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • The distribution pattern of algal flora in saline lakes in Kambalda and Esperance, Western Australia
      Handley, Michelle Anne (2003)
      The study has attempted to characterise the physicochemical limnology and distribution of algal flora of two salt lake systems in Western Australia, one from the coastal Esperance region and the other from the inland ...
    • Determining climate change impacts on viticulture in Western Australia
      Barnuud, Nyamdorj Namjildorj (2012)
      Global climate model simulations indicate 1.3°C to 1.8°C increase in the Earth’s average temperature by middle of this century above the 1980 to 1999 average. The magnitude and rate of change of this projected warming is ...
    • Long-term data suggest jarrah-forest establishment at restored mine sites is resistant to climate variability
      Standish, R.; Daws, M.; Gove, Aaron; Didham, R.; Grigg, A.; Koch, J.; Hobbs, R. (2015)
      Global climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of drought in dry regions due to warming temperatures and declining rainfall. Severe drought can trigger tree mortality and drive persistent ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.