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Why not WhyWhere: The need for more complex models of simpler environmental spaces

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  • Townsend Peterson, A.

Abstract

WhyWhere has recently been introduced by Stockwell as a new tool for ecological niche modeling or species distribution modeling. I address two features of WhyWhere and its presentation: (1) the assertion that hundreds of environmental data layers are necessary to summarize ecological variation across environments, and (2) the idea that species’ ecological needs can be summarized in just 2 or 3 dimensions. I present evidence that neither idea is valid, effectively arguing that environmental spaces are simpler than Stockwell envisages, but that more complex and dimensional models are necessary to describe species’ ecological niches. Beyond these conceptual problems, WhyWhere suffers from several more practical problems, which render it little useful for any practical application.

Suggested Citation

  • Townsend Peterson, A., 2007. "Why not WhyWhere: The need for more complex models of simpler environmental spaces," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 203(3), pages 527-530.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:203:y:2007:i:3:p:527-530
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.12.023
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    1. Chris D. Thomas & Alison Cameron & Rhys E. Green & Michel Bakkenes & Linda J. Beaumont & Yvonne C. Collingham & Barend F. N. Erasmus & Marinez Ferreira de Siqueira & Alan Grainger & Lee Hannah & Lesle, 2004. "Extinction risk from climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 427(6970), pages 145-148, January.
    2. John Harte & Annette Ostling & Jessica L. Green & Ann Kinzig, 2004. "Climate change and extinction risk," Nature, Nature, vol. 430(6995), pages 34-34, July.
    3. Y.C. Ho & D.L. Pepyne, 2002. "Simple Explanation of the No-Free-Lunch Theorem and Its Implications," Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 549-570, December.
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    1. Suárez-Seoane, Susana & García de la Morena, Eladio L. & Morales Prieto, Manuel B. & Osborne, Patrick E. & de Juana, Eduardo, 2008. "Maximum entropy niche-based modelling of seasonal changes in little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) distribution," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 219(1), pages 17-29.

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