Rapid niche shifts in introduced species can be a million times faster than changes among native species and ten times faster than climate change

• DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13649
• Publication Date: 2019-07-06T11:38:08Z
• Authors: John J. Wiens; Yuriy Litvinenko; Lauren Harris; Tereza Jezkova
• Keywords: Extinction (optical mineralogy); Niche segregation; Global Change; Macroecology; Species distribution

Abstract Aims As global temperatures rise, the survival of many species may hinge on whether they can shift their climatic niches quickly enough to avoid extinction. Previous analyses among and populations suggest that species’ change far slower than rates projected climate change. However, it is unclear how over timeframe most relevant warming (decades instead thousands or millions years). Here, we use data from introduced assess decadal timescales. Location Global. Methods We analyse 76 reptile amphibian into USA. test for a relationship between climatic‐niche values in native ranges. also quantify niche shifts relative ranges rate associated with these shifts. then compare estimates those estimated future Results Remarkably, are roughly million times faster 10 Main conclusions Our results demonstrate dramatic rapid possible, although be limited by biotic interactions other factors.