Animal-mediated plant niche tracking in a changing climate

Over half of plant species are animal-dispersed, and our understanding of how animals can help plants move in response to climate change - a process known as niche tracking - is limited, but advancing rapidly. Recent research efforts find evidence that animals are helping plants track their niches. They also identify key conditions needed for animal-mediated niche tracking to occur, including alignment of the timing of seed availability, the directionality of animal movements, and microhabitat conditions where seeds are deposited. A research framework that measures niche tracking effectiveness by considering all parts of the niche-tracking process, and links together data and models from multiple disciplines, will lead to further insight and inform actions to help ecosystems adapt to a changing world.

Automated summary

More than half of plant species rely on animals for seed dispersal, and our understanding of how animals can assist plants in responding to climate change, known as niche tracking, is limited but rapidly advancing. Recent research has provided evidence that animals play a crucial role in assisting plants to track their niches. It has identified important conditions for animal-mediated niche tracking to occur, such as synchronizing seed availability, the directionality of animal movements, and suitable microhabitat conditions for seed deposition.