QLS Seminar - Laura Pollock

Promise and pitfalls in predicting biodiversity

Laura Pollock, McGill University
Tuesday November 22, 12-1pm
Zoom Link: https://mcgill.zoom.us/j/86855481591

Abstract: We are increasingly recognizing the importance of being able to understand the current distribution of biodiversity, and anticipate how that biodiversity will change into the future. However, the standard methods of predicting biodiversity and biodiversity change still suffer from some fundamental flaws regarding their consideration of relevant biological processes. I will give an overview of the statistical approaches used to predict species distributions, outline the advances over the past decade, and discuss whether or not these advances are likely to address these fundamental concerns. These concerns are particularly relevant for Canada, and I will discuss some recent research demonstrating the challenges with predicting the present and future of Canadian biodiversity.