Trends Ecol Evol
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Increasing temperatures are driving rapid upward range shifts of species in mountains. An altitudinal range retreat of 10 m is predicted to translate into a approximately 10-km latitudinal retreat based on the rate at which temperatures decline with increasing altitude and latitude, yet reports of latitudinal range retractions are sparse. ⋯ We argue that the lack of reported latitudinal range retractions stems more from a lack of research effort, compounded by methodological difficulties, rather than from their absence. Given the predicted negative impacts of increasing temperatures on wide areas of the latitudinal distributions of species, the investigation of range retractions should become a priority in biogeographical research.
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Parasitism and predation have long been considered analogous interactions. Yet by and large, ecologists continue to study parasite-host and predator-prey ecology separately. Here we discuss strengths and shortcomings of the parasite-as-predator analogy and its potential to provide new insights into both fields. ⋯ Concepts developed in parasite-host ecology, such as threshold host densities and phylodynamics, might provide new ideas for predator-prey ecology. Topics such as trait-mediated indirect effects and enemy-mediated facilitation provide opportunities for the two fields to work together. We suggest that greater unification of predator-prey and parasite-host ecology would foster advances in both fields.
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The most common approach to dealing with missing data is to delete cases containing missing observations. However, this approach reduces statistical power and increases estimation bias. A recent study shows how estimates of heritability and selection can be biased when the 'invisible fraction' (missing data due to mortality) is ignored, thus demonstrating the dangers of neglecting missing data in ecology and evolution. We highlight recent advances in the procedures of handling missing data and their relevance and applicability.
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Until recently, published evidence for the responses of species to climate change had revealed more examples of species expanding than retracting their distributions. However, recent papers on butterflies and frogs now show that population-level and species-level extinctions are occurring. The relative lack of previous information about range retractions and extinctions appears to stem, at least partly, from a failure to survey the distributions of species at sufficiently fine resolution to detect declines, and from a failure to attribute such declines to climate change. The new evidence suggests that climate-driven extinctions and range retractions are already widespread.