Do species’ traits predict recent shifts at expanding range edges?

摘要: Although some organisms have moved to higher elevations and latitudes in response recent climate change, there is little consensus regarding the capacity of different species track rapid change via range shifts. Understanding species' abilities shift ranges has important implications for assessing extinction risk predicting future community structure. At an expanding front, colonization rates are determined jointly by reproduction dispersal. In addition, establishment viable populations requires that individuals find suitable resources novel habitats. Thus, with greater dispersal ability, reproductive rate ecological generalization should be more likely expand into new regions under change. Here, we assess current evidence relationship between leading-edge shifts traits. We found expected relationships several datasets, including diet breadth North American Passeriformes egg-laying habitat British Odonata. However, models generally had low explanatory power. even statistically biologically meaningful unlikely predictive utility conservation management. Trait-based forecasts face challenges, quantifying relevant natural history variation across large numbers coupling these data extrinsic factors such as fragmentation availability.