Rethinking the native range concept

Abstract

A species is not native outside its native range, but native range is not precisely defined. The invasion literature contains wide discussion of the core concepts such as naturalization, invasiveness, and ecological impact, but the concept of native range has received so little attention that a formal definition does not exist. I considered, among other impediments to a formal definition of native range, the sometimes arbitrariness of the spatial and temporal limits assigned to native range. Broad questions that remain include whether invasion theory can be used to define the native range for species without non‐native ranges.

Adjusting the lens of invasion biology to focus on the impacts of climate-driven range shifts

“…Important knowledge gaps related to range-shifting species must be addressed to better understand the impacts that these species might have while also promoting persistence of species as their climate zones move. While range shifts have been documented for hundreds of species across taxa and ecosystems [3][4][5] , they can be difficult to detect, as the historical ranges for many species are unknown or imprecise and our understanding of a 'native range' is not well-defined 100 . This is especially true for systems that are not as well-studied, such as deep-water marine systems that are difficult to access, and incorporating different spatial or temporal scales could further alter our definition of what constitutes a range-shifting species.…”

Invasion biology and uncertainty in native range definitions: response to Pereyra 2019

“…In any case, most of the comments in Pereyra (2019) are about human fallacy (inability to define a native species’ range), rather than the veracity of whether a native (or non‐native) species’ range exists (which it does). That may mean that due to human limitations, every non‐native range cannot be perfectly defined (it is of course much clearer on islands), but the concept is still useful and important.…”

“…A recent case is the Barn Owl ( Tyto alba delicatula ), which is native in Australia and was recently determined to have an established population in New Zealand, where it was celebrated as its newest bird species in 2019. Similarly, Pereyra (2019) claims “[i]f a species is found outside its native range, it is usually considered non‐native, potentially invasive, and possibly troublesome,” but this is rarely the case. In general, only a minority of non‐native species are seen as economic, environmental, or social problems (Vilà et al.…”

“…Pereyra (2019) discusses several problems arising from the designation of a species’ native range, the definition of which seems straightforward but, as he demonstrates, has limitations. His interesting and thought‐provoking argument could point to conceptual or technical challenges in ecological theory and help remedy them.…”

Fact and value in invasion biology

“…Pereyra () argues that the native range of a species is a function of the role humans have played in its distribution; in the absence of human involvement, every species must be native to wherever it thrives. “Native plants are defined in terms of human activities and influences, not in terms of the plants themselves” (Head :2).…”