Including Environmental Data Improves Effectiveness Of Invasive Species Range Predictions

ScienceDaily (2009-03-19) -- Predicting the future spread of invasive species presents a challenge to ecologists that has until recently only been addressed by comparing species climate tolerance with established climate maps to predict susceptible areas. A new study finds, however, that when land-use and habitat data are incorporated, models predict that species may also be likely to colonize areas with unfavorable climates.