Climatic Niche Conservatism and Biogeographical Non-Equilibrium in Eschscholzia californica (Papaveraceae), an Invasive Plant in the Chilean Mediterranean Region

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105025
• Publication Date: 2014-08-19T17:59:21Z
• Authors: Francisco T. Peña...; Pablo C. Guerrero; Gustavo Bizama; Milén Duarte; Ramiro O. Bustamante
• Keywords: Species distribution; Environmental niche modelling

Species climate requirements are useful for predicting their geographic distribution. It is often assumed that the niche invasive plants conserved during invasion, especially when invaded regions share similar conditions. California and central Chile have a remarkable degree of convergence in vegetation structure, Mediterranean climate. Such similarities make these areas an interesting natural experiment testing climatic dynamics equilibrium species new environment. We tested to see if Eschscholzia californica range (central Chile), we assessed whether invasion process has reached biogeographical equilibrium, i.e., occupy all suitable locations conditions under native requirements. compared ranges as well projected potential distribution range. In order compare niches, conducted Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Distribution Models (SDMs), estimate E. californica's also used SDMs predict altitudinal limits Chile. Our results indicated occupied by firmly conserved, occupying subset but leaving substantial fraction it unfilled. Comparisons indicate similarity, yet projection from predicted larger prediction model constructed The occupancy profile higher mean elevation than concluded consistent with conservatism there further expansion