A. Townsend Peterson

Bio: A. Townsend Peterson is an academic researcher from University of Kansas. The author has contributed to research in topics: Environmental niche modelling & Ecological niche. The author has an hindex of 91, co-authored 521 publications receiving 51524 citations. Previous affiliations of A. Townsend Peterson include California Academy of Sciences & University of Chicago.

Galictis cuja (Mammalia): an update of current knowledge and geographic distribution

Abstract: The lesser grison (Galictis cuja) is one of the least-known mustelids in the Neotropics, despite its broad range across South America. This study aimed to explore current knowledge of the distribution of the species to identify gaps in knowledge and anticipate its full geographic distribution. Eighty-nine articles have mentioned G. cuja since 1969, but only 13 focused on the species. We generated a detailed model of the species' potential distribution that validated previous maps, but with improved detail, supporting previous southernmost records, and providing a means of identifying priority sites for conservation and management of the species.

Disease Ecology: Community Structure and Pathogen Dynamics

Abstract: The disciplines of community ecology and epidemiology treat complex interactions among species, so a synthesis and integration of the 2 fields are long overdue. Because each field has insights and inferences to offer to the other, such an integration could be mutually beneficial and yield important steps toward a predictive and profound understanding. This book links an interesting framework for analyzing species’ interactions (chapter by R. Holt and A.P. Dobson) with a series of case studies regarding many host-pathogen systems, including both well-known and more novel examples. As such, this volume is a ripe field for taking the first steps toward a synthesis. Several of the case studies are nothing short of fascinating. For example, the studies of microbial communities in ticks (chapter by K. Clay et al.) and mosquito blood meal sources as indicators of arbovirus hosts (chapter by R.S. Unnasch et al.) are impressive demonstrations of the power of melding new molecular tools with more classical epidemiologic studies. Likewise, the studies of Nipah and Hendra viruses (chapter by P. Daszak et al.) and plague (chapter by C. Ray and S.K. Collinge) offer interesting views into complex disease transmission systems. Although a parallel chapter summarizing the complex community and environmental interactions underlying hantavirus transmission would have been a nice complement, the biggest shortfall is that few of the chapters manage to link strongly to the theoretical ecologic framework offered in the chapter by R. Holt and A.P. Dobson. More generally, the book is attractively composed and appears to be bound well and printed on quality paper. For the size and content, though, the price is quite high—I suspect that this volume will be a valued addition to any library but is perhaps unlikely to be purchased by many people. This book will, I hope, be a first step toward a new synthesis of 2 seemingly distant but intimately related fields of inquiry, and at the very least represents an intriguing compendium of well-developed case studies of the complexities of disease systems.

What is the shape of the fundamental Grinnellian niche

Abstract: Since it was defined by Hutchinson, in 1957, the fundamental niche has been assumed, implicitly or explicitly, to have some convex shape. This assumption requires some critical analysis. In this work, we examine the special case of Grinnellian niches (those composed by sets of points of non-interactive variables in multidimensional spaces). We show that annual species in seasonal environments are likely to have very non-convex shapes, and be composed not of sets of points, but of sets of trajectories. We also examine under what circumstances trajectories may be approximated using sets of points. It appears to be the case that the breadth of requirements at each stage in the life history is a key parameter. We conclude by comparing the situation with perennial species.

Aquatic bird distributions in Mexico: designing conservation approaches quantitatively

Abstract: The aquatic birds of Mexico include both a rich fauna of residents and a significant proportion of migratory species that breed in Canada and the United States, yet their distribution and richness patterns remain poorly known. We developed a detailed database of occurrences, and estimated distributions using niche modeling interpolations for 134 species associated with wetlands. Validations of the resulting maps indicated that the niche-modeling approach yields a useful picture of aquatic bird species distributions in the country. Richness patterns among aquatic birds differ from those for landbirds: species richness is concentrated in coastal areas, but endemism is focused in the Transvolcanic Belt and the Altiplano. Place prioritization exercises identified sets of areas that would maximize the protection of this diversity.

Integrating morphology, phylogeography, and ecological niche modeling to explore population differentiation in North African Common Chaffinches

Abstract: Diagnosing distinct evolutionary taxa requires careful assessment of genetic, morphological, ecological, and behavioral variation within and among populations. In this study, data on phenotype (mensural and plumage coloration), genotype (mitochondrial DNA control-region sequences), and distributional projections derived from ecological niche models, were used to investigate population differentiation of North African Common Chaffinches. Results showed substantial genetic variation among populations, mostly (~56 %) distributed between Libyan populations and other North African populations, rather than within populations. Isolation-by-distance analysis indicated severely restricted gene flow between populations. Historical demographic analyses indicate that population expansion began before the Last Glacial Maximum, which is consistent with ecological niche model paleoprojections; interestingly, differentiation of the Libyan population (Fringilla coelebs harterti) apparently did not take place under the last glacial conditions. Hence, although its taxonomic status must await robust testing using multilocus DNA data, this population is an important element in the conservation of bird diversity in North Africa.

The Theory of Island Biogeography

Abstract: Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols Used xiii 1. The Importance of Islands 3 2. Area and Number of Speicies 8 3. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern 19 4. The Strategy of Colonization 68 5. Invasibility and the Variable Niche 94 6. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange 123 7. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization 145 8. Prospect 181 Glossary 185 References 193 Index 201

Bayesian Phylogenetics with BEAUti and the BEAST 1.7

Abstract: Computational evolutionary biology, statistical phylogenetics and coalescent-based population genetics are becoming increasingly central to the analysis and understanding of molecular sequence data. We present the Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis by Sampling Trees (BEAST) software package version 1.7, which implements a family of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms for Bayesian phylogenetic inference, divergence time dating, coalescent analysis, phylogeography and related molecular evolutionary analyses. This package includes an enhanced graphical user interface program called Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Utility (BEAUti) that enables access to advanced models for molecular sequence and phenotypic trait evolution that were previously available to developers only. The package also provides new tools for visualizing and summarizing multispecies coalescent and phylogeographic analyses. BEAUti and BEAST 1.7 are open source under the GNU lesser general public license and available at http://beast-mcmc.googlecode.com and http://beast.bio.ed.ac.uk

Ecological and Evolutionary Responses to Recent Climate Change

Abstract: Ecological changes in the phenology and distribution of plants and animals are occurring in all well-studied marine, freshwater, and terrestrial groups These observed changes are heavily biased in the directions predicted from global warming and have been linked to local or regional climate change through correlations between climate and biological variation, field and laboratory experiments, and physiological research Range-restricted species, particularly polar and mountaintop species, show severe range contractions and have been the first groups in which entire species have gone extinct due to recent climate change Tropical coral reefs and amphibians have been most negatively affected Predator-prey and plant-insect interactions have been disrupted when interacting species have responded differently to warming Evolutionary adaptations to warmer conditions have occurred in the interiors of species’ ranges, and resource use and dispersal have evolved rapidly at expanding range margins Observed genetic shifts modulate local effects of climate change, but there is little evidence that they will mitigate negative effects at the species level