Salit Kark The Biodiversity Research Group Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Conservation Biology (Ecology) Lecture 5 November 2009 Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Species ranges - concepts: periphery vs. core - geographical margin vs. center - ecological edge vs. interior - geographical sink vs. source - metapopulation dynamics outland vs. homeland - metapopulation dynamics island vs. mainland - geographical or ecological Conservation of peripheral populations: Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A B C Periphery? Peripheral populations - spatial scale: Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Conservation of peripheral populations: Predictions (truisms?): Small Fragmented Isolated Higher disturbance More variable Higher stress Genetic diversity and demography patterns Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Carson hypothesis - core populations maintain higher genetic diversity, undergoing balancing selection, while peripheral populations - small, fragmented and isolated have low diversity. Marginal conditions permit survival of a limited number of genotypes only (Carson ‘59, Lewontin ‘74) Genetic diversity Distance from range periphery Fisher hypothesis - peripheral populations sustain higher levels of genetic diversity, undergoing fluctuating selection in spatially heterogeneous and unpredictable environments while core populations experience stabilizing selection (Fisher ’30) Decrease Genetic diversity Distance from range periphery Increase Trends from periphery to core across a species range Mayr hypothesis Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Diversity in chukar partridges across the distribution gradient in Israel Photo: Mosaic from Madaba Jordan, 6th century (Byzantine period) Salit Kark Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Mean annual rainfall in study region Ecotone Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Genetic diversity in chukar partridges across the range Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

South North Percentage of plant species belonging to major chorotypes across chukar sampling sites in Israel from south to north* *Data from A. Danin Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Natural vs. agri Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

From: Rob Channell web page ( Range contraction Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Range contraction Channell and Lomolino 2000 Mapped 245 species from various groups Divided range to two parts: core and periphery Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Locating the historical range core using GIS core Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A dichotomous approach: Equal area Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A dichotomous approach: Equal distance Equal area Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Giant Panda historical and current range (from web page of AMNH, map by Joyce Penola) Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

From: IRF web page Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Fisher historical and current range Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Range contraction Channell and Lomolino 2000 Found that 98% maintained populations in part of the periphery 68% maintained higher than expected in periphery 91 species occurred only in periphery (5 only in core) Relate their findings to human activity Different patterns in Africa Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Adding an intermediate area Equal area Equal distance Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

From a dichotomous to a more continuous approach (equal area) 2 belts 3 belts 10 belts Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Studied 43 North American carnivores and ungulates 17 contracted over 20% of original range Related to human influence and history, as predicted Differs among regions Rapid change in distributions over a century BioScience : Dr. Salit Kark. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem