TSVP Talk: "Biodiversity Modelling Under Climate Change: From Individual Species to Communities" by Miguel B. Araujo

Title: Biodiversity Modelling Under Climate Change: From Individual Species to Communities

Abstract: Studies using models to predict the impact of climate changes on biodiversity, usually begin by examining the relationship between species distributions and climate variables, based on the assumption that climate limits species survival. As a result, alterations in climate are expected to lead to shifts in species distributions. A major shortcoming of these models is their focus on individual species. Although models can be applied to thousands of species at once, they often treat each species as an independent entity, reacting in isolation to climate changes. This approach neglects complex dynamics within ecological communities, where collective species responses to climate changes are not merely the sum of individual responses. I propose that progress requires the development of models that capture the responses of entire communities to environmental change. I suggest a shift from the traditional climate-limiting niche theory, which is applicable to individual species, to a resource-limiting niche theory. This approach considers the impact of the climate on the coexistence of multiple species within communities, providing a more comprehensive understanding of ecological dynamics.

Speaker: Miguel B. Araújo

Home Institution: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) at the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN) & University of Évora

Profile: Miguel B. Araújo is a biogeographer dedicated to understanding how Life distributes in space and time, and why. He employs a wide range of modelling approaches to explore how climate influences the distributions of species and controls complex properties and dynamics of communities. He is a Research Professor of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) and Chair of Biodiversity at the University of Évora. In the past, he also held faculty or research positions at the Imperial College London, Oxford University, University of Copenhagen, French National Research Council (CNRS), and the Natural History Museum in London. Personal Website

Language: English, no interpretation.

Target audience: General audience / everyone at OIST and beyond.
Freely accessible to all OIST members and guests without registration.

This talk will also be broadcast online via Zoom:

Meeting ID: 968 2153 3401
Passcode: 842509

※ Please note that this event may be recorded and the videos uploaded. In addition, photos may be taken during the event. These are intended for publication online (the OIST website, social media, etc.)※