ABS 2023
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Behavior’s role in the evolution of species ranges
Karin Pfennig, Bryson Loflin. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Explaining the evolution of species ranges is fundamental to understanding the distribution and maintenance of biodiversity.� Yet, we still do not fully know how species ranges expand evolutionarily or the role of behavior in this process. �Generally, species range expansion is limited by failure to disperse or adapt to novel habitats. Behavior might enable a species to overcome these constraints and consequently facilitate range expansion if behaviors that contribute to dispersal are linked to behaviors that promote success in novel habitats. We used spadefoot toads to evaluate the role of behavior in the expansion of a grassland-adapted species into an entirely different biome, the desert southwestern USA. We examined if potential dispersal-promoting behaviors vary across the species range as expected if they fueled range expansion. We also examined if such behaviors were associated with a mating behavior��––adaptive hybridization with the desert-adapted resident species––that enhances success in the desert environment. Our results provide needed insights into behavior’s role in the distribution of species.