Species Distribution Dynamics and Biodiversity Hotspot Assessment in the Context of Climate Change

Professor Introduction

X. Y | Ph.D. in Ecology

Home Institute：ETH Zurich University

[ Research Interests ] Macroecology, Biogeography, Biodiversity, Population Ecology
[ Publications ] Published over 10 SCI papers, including first-author publications in top journals like Ecology Letters

Project Description

This project aims to study the impact of climate change on the distribution of plant and animal species. By collecting and analyzing species distribution data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and extracting relevant climate data from WorldClim, the project will utilize R programming to construct species distribution models. These models will evaluate the influence of major environmental factors on species distribution and explore the dynamic changes in the distribution of different functional species under various future carbon emission scenarios. The ultimate goal is to assess key areas for biodiversity conservation.

Project Keywords

Project Outline

Part 1 : Introduction to Climate Change and Species Distribution
• Overview of Climate Change and Its Impact on Ecosystems and Species Distribution
• Introduction to Species Distribution Models (SDMs) and Their Applications in Ecology

Part 2 : Research Objectives and Hypotheses
• Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Plant and Animal Species
• Assessing the Dynamic Changes in Species Distribution Under Different Future Carbon Emission Scenarios

Part 3 :  Data Collection and Preparation
• Collecting Species Distribution Data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Extracting Climate Data from WorldClim and Preparing Data for Analysis

Part 4:  Building and Validating Species Distribution Models
• Using R Programming to Construct Species Distribution Models (SDMs)
• Evaluating the Influence of Major Environmental Factors on Species Distribution
• Validating Models Using Current Distribution Data and Predicting Future Distributions

Part 5 :  Analyzing Species Distribution Dynamics
• Exploring Dynamic Changes in the Distribution of Different Functional Species Under Various Future Carbon Emission Scenarios
• Identifying Key Areas for Biodiversity Conservation Based on Model Predictions

Part 6 :  Results and Discussion
• Graphical Representation of Species Distribution Changes and Key Conservation Areas
• Interpreting Model Results and Discussing the Implications for Biodiversity Conservation
• Exploring the Ecological and Conservation Significance of the Findings

Part 7 :  Conclusion and Future Directions
• Summary of Key Findings and Their Ecological Significance
• Identification of Research Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research
• Recommendations for Biodiversity Conservation Policies and Practices

Part 8 :  Reporting and Presentation
• Writing a Detailed Research Report with Clear Structure, Concise Language, and Accurate Data Presentation
• Preparing and Delivering a Clear and Engaging Oral Presentation of Research Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions

Suitable for

High School Students:  
• Interest in Environmental Science and Biology : Students with a strong interest in environmental science and biology.
• Basic Knowledge : Students with a basic understanding of biology and environmental science.

University students :  
• Relevant Major : Students majoring in environmental science, ecology, biology, or related fields.
• Proficiency in Data Analysis : Students with basic data analysis skills and familiarity with software tools like R or Python.

Researchers and educators:
• Advanced Knowledge : Professionals with a deep understanding of ecological principles, climate science, and species distribution modeling.
• Teaching Integration : Educators who can integrate research findings and methods into their courses and teaching practices.