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This function adds a constrain to a BiodiversityScenario object to constrain (future) projections. These constrains can for instance be constraints on a possible dispersal distance, connectivity between identified patches or limitations on species adaptability.

Most constrains require pre-calculated thresholds to present in the BiodiversityScenario object!

Usage

add_constraint(mod, method, ...)

# S4 method for BiodiversityScenario
add_constraint(mod, method, ...)

Arguments

mod

A BiodiversityScenario object with specified predictors.

method

A character indicating the type of constraints to be added to the scenario. See details for more information.

...

passed on parameters. See also the specific methods for adding constraints.

Value

Adds constraints data to a BiodiversityScenario object.

Details

Constraints can be added to scenario objects to increase or decrease the suitability of a given area for the target feature. This function acts as a wrapper to add these constraints. Currently supported are the following options:

Dispersal:

  • sdd_fixed - Applies a fixed uniform dispersal distance per modelling timestep.

  • sdd_nexpkernel - Applies a dispersal distance using a negative exponential kernel from its origin.

  • kissmig - Applies the kissmig stochastic dispersal model. Requires `kissmig` package. Applied at each modelling time step.

  • migclim - Applies the dispersal algorithm MigClim to the modelled objects. Requires "MigClim" package.

A comprehensive overview of the benefits of including dispersal constrains in species distribution models can be found in Bateman et al. (2013).

Connectivity:

  • hardbarrier - Defines a hard barrier to any dispersal events. By definition this sets all values larger than 0 in the barrier layer to 0 in the projection. Barrier has to be provided through the "resistance" parameter.

  • resistance - Allows the provision of a static or dynamic layer that is multiplied with the projection at each time step. Can for example be used to reduce the suitability of any given area (using pressures not included in the model). The respective layer(s) have to be provided through the "resistance" parameter. Provided layers are incorporated as abs(resistance - 1) and multiplied with the prediction.

Adaptability:

  • nichelimit - Specifies a limit on the environmental niche to only allow a modest amount of extrapolation beyond the known occurrences. This can be particular useful to limit the influence of increasing marginal responses and avoid biologically unrealistic projections.

Boundary and size:

  • boundary - Applies a hard boundary constraint on the projection, thus disallowing an expansion of a range outside the provide layer. Similar as specifying projection limits (see distribution), but can be used to specifically constrain a projection within a certain area (e.g. a species range or an island).

  • minsize - Allows to specify a certain size that must be satisfied in order for a thresholded patch to be occupied. Can be thought of as a minimum size requirement. See add_constraint_minsize() for the required parameters.

References

  • Bateman, B. L., Murphy, H. T., Reside, A. E., Mokany, K., & VanDerWal, J. (2013). Appropriateness of full‐, partial‐and no‐dispersal scenarios in climate change impact modelling. Diversity and Distributions, 19(10), 1224-1234.

  • Nobis MP and Normand S (2014) KISSMig - a simple model for R to account for limited migration in analyses of species distributions. Ecography 37: 1282-1287.

  • Mendes, P., Velazco, S. J. E., de Andrade, A. F. A., & Júnior, P. D. M. (2020). Dealing with overprediction in species distribution models: How adding distance constraints can improve model accuracy. Ecological Modelling, 431, 109180.

Examples

if (FALSE) {
# Assumes that a trained 'model' object exists
 mod <- scenario(model) |>
  add_predictors(env = predictors, transform = 'scale', derivates = "none") |>
  add_constraint_dispersal(method = "kissmig", value = 2, pext = 0.1) |>
  project()
}