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humboldt

Welcome to the offical webpage for the R-package ‘humboldt’

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Installing ‘humboldt’ in R

Skip first line if 'devtools' is already installed.

Open R (or R studio) and type or paste:

install.packages("devtools")
library(devtools)
install_github("jasonleebrown/humboldt")

If you are having issues with using a newer version of R and cannot install ‘rgeos’ and ‘rgdal’, use the following script (this script assumes ‘devtools’ is installed):

​Open R (or R studio) and type or paste:

packageurl2 <- "https://cran.r-project.org/src/contrib/Archive/rgeos/rgeos_0.6-4.tar.gz"
packageurl <- "https://cran.r-project.org/src/contrib/Archive/rgdal/rgdal_1.6-7.tar.gz"
install.packages(packageurl, repos=NULL, type="source")
install.packages(packageurl2, repos=NULL, type="source")
devtools::install_github("jasonleebrown/humboldt")

Note the software will be updated in the future so this workaround is no longer necessary

Supporting Visual Guides

Having troubles or confused? Check out our visual guide to parameter input and visual guide to interpreting outputs.

Contact

We can help you sort out issues, maybe

Software citation and associated manuscript:

Brown, J.L. & Carnaval, A.C. (2019) A tale of two niches: methods, concepts and evolution. Frontiers of Biogeography, 11, e44158. doi:10.21425/F5FBG44158

Input Data formats

To explore data format for input data, see:

library(humboldt)

##for environment data
data(env1)

##for species data
data(sp1)

If needed, see guide below to convert raster GIS data for use as environment data in ‘humboldt’

Analyses in ‘humboldt’

The new methods introduced in ‘humboldt’ translate several important theoretical advances into tests of niche divergence that allow researchers to more accurately estimate whether species have actually evolved different niches, or if they occupy different environmental spaces as the result of differences in life history, their biological interactors, or in the variety and configuration of accessible environments. The foundation of these improvements is based on the underlying assumption that most species contemporary distributions are in non-equilibrium states and, because of this, the geographic manifestations of their niches (occupied, potential, and available fundamental) are dynamic through time. The new methods provide several quantitative advances that characterize the accessible climates in both species’ distributions and the corresponding relationship between non-analogous and analogous climates. Overall, the new methods improve the accuracy of niche similarity quantifications and corresponding statistical tests, consistently outperforming similar tests in correctly quantifying niche equivalence and divergence in simulated data with known truths.

The r package ‘humboldt’ provides the following analyses:

Potential Niche Truncation Index

Inferring the fundamental niche from a species’ occupied niche remains a great challenge; most studies of niche divergence overlook how well (or how badly) the occupied niches characterized from contemporary distributions potentially characterize a species’ fundamental niche. To provide a first step towards understanding this relationship, ‘humboldt’ provides a way to quantify the potential for a species’ occupied E-space to be truncated by the available E-space in its environment (see Brown & Carnaval 2019, Fig. 5). The larger the proportion of the occupied niche that is truncated in E-space, the higher the risk that the occupied niche may poorly reflect the fundamental niche. Based on the relationship between the species’ E-space and that available in adjacent habitats, we can assess the risk that the observed E-space is truncated, and how likely we are underestimating the species’ fundamental niches (see Brown & Carnaval 2019, Fig. 5). Here we introduce a new quantitative method to measure this: the Potential Niche Truncation Index (PNTI). It describes the amount of observed E-space of the species that is truncated by the available E-space. Specifically, it is a measurement of the overlap between the 5% kernel density isopleth of the species’ E-space and the 10% kernel density isopleth of accessible environment E-space. The PNTI is the portion of the species’ isopleth that falls outside of the environmental isopleth. This value physically measures how much of the perimeter of the species’ E-space abuts, overlaps, or is outside the margins of the environment’s E-space. If the value is large, there is moderate risk (PNTI= 0.15-0.3) or high risk (PNTI>0.3) that the measured occupied niche does not reflect the species’ fundamental niche due to niche truncation driven by limited available E-space.

Example

library(humboldt)

##load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 1 (env1). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
data(env1)

## load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 2 (env2). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
data(env2)

## remove NAs and make sure all variables are imported as numbers
env1<-humboldt.scrub.env(env1)
env2<-humboldt.scrub.env(env2)

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 1 (env1). Column names should be sp,x,y
data(sp1)

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 2 (env2). Column names should be sp,x,y
data(sp2)

##its highly recommended that you using the function "humboldt.top.env" to select only the important environmental variables in humboldt.doitall. This step can be skipped. If you downloaded tons of environmental data, you should use this step.  

reduc.vars<- humboldt.top.env(env1=env1,env2=env2,sp1=sp1,sp2=sp2,rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669,learning.rt1=0.01,learning.rt2=0.01,e.var=(3:21),pa.ratio=4,steps1=50,steps2=50,method="contrib",contrib.greater=5)

##Adjust the number of variables input for e.vars after reduction to only important variables
num.var.e<-ncol(reduc.vars$env1)

##convert geographic space to espace for measuring pnt.index
zz<-humboldt.g2e(env1=reduc.vars$env1, env2=reduc.vars$env2, sp1=sp1, sp2=sp2, reduce.env = 0, reductype = "PCA", non.analogous.environments = "YES", env.trim= T, e.var=c(3:num.var.e),  col.env = e.var, trim.buffer.sp1 = 200, trim.buffer.sp2 = 200, rarefy.dist = 50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.41666669, kern.smooth = 1, R = 100, run.silent = F)

##store espace scores for sp1 and environments 1,2 and both environments combined output from humboldt.g2e
scores.env1<-zz$scores.env1[1:2]
scores.env2<-zz$scores.env2[1:2]
scores.env12<- rbind(zz$scores.env1[1:2],zz$scores.env2[1:2])
scores.sp1<-zz$scores.sp1[1:2]
scores.sp2<-zz$scores.sp2[1:2]

##estimate the Potential Niche Truncation Index
pnt1<- humboldt.pnt.index(scores.env12,scores.env1,scores.sp1,kern.smooth=1,R=100)
pnt2<- humboldt.pnt.index(scores.env12,scores.env2,scores.sp2,kern.smooth=1,R=100)

Niche Overlap and Niche Divergence Tests

In our recent paper (Brown & Carnaval 2009), we then proposed a Niche Divergence Test and a Niche Overlap Test, which allows assessment of whether differences between species emerge from true niche divergences. The new methods improve accuracy of niche similarity and associated tests – consistently outperforming other tests. Our methods characterize the relationships between non-analogous and analogous climates in the species’ distributions, something not available previously. These improvements allow assessment of whether the different environmental spaces occupied by two taxa emerge from true niche evolution, as opposed to differences in life history and biological interactors, or differences in the variety and configuration of environments accessible to them.

Example 1 - using provided datasets

library(humboldt)

##load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 1 (env1). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
data(env1)

##load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 2 (env2). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
data(env2)

##remove NAs and make sure all variables are imported as numbers
env1<-humboldt.scrub.env(env1)
env2<-humboldt.scrub.env(env2)

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 1 (env1). Column names should be sp,x,y
data(sp1)

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 2 (env2). Column names should be sp,x,y
data(sp2)

##its highly recommended that you using the function "humboldt.top.env" to select only the important environmental variables in humboldt.doitall. 
##This step can be skipped. If you downloaded tons of environmental data, you should use this step.  If you skip this step, input env1/env2 in place of reduc.vars$env1/reduc.vars$env2 
reduc.vars<- humboldt.top.env(env1=env1,env2=env2,sp1=sp1,sp2=sp2,rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669,learning.rt1=0.01,learning.rt2=0.01,e.var=(3:21),pa.ratio=4,steps1=50,steps2=50,method="contrib",contrib.greater=5)

##Adjust the number of variables input for e.vars after reduction to only important variables
num.var.e<-ncol(reduc.vars$env1)

##run it first with full environmental for background tests and equivalence statistic (total equivalence or divergence in current distributions)
full<-humboldt.doitall(inname="full_extent", env1=reduc.vars$env1, env2=reduc.vars$env2, sp1=sp1, sp2=sp2, rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669, reduce.env=0, reductype="PCA", non.analogous.environments="YES", correct.env=T, env.trim=T,  env.trim.type="RADIUS", trim.buffer.sp1=500, trim.buffer.sp2=500, pcx=1, pcy=2, col.env=e.var, e.var=c(3:num.var.e), R=100, kern.smooth=1, e.reps=100, b.reps=100, nae="YES",thresh.espace.z=0.0001, p.overlap=T, p.boxplot=F, p.scatter=F, run.silent=F, ncores=2)

##run it a second time with a trimmed, shared-espace. Here the equivalence statistic tests for niche evolution or niche divergence. For comparing results, change only the following model parameters: reduce.env, non.analogous.environmental, env.trim, nae
shared_ae<-humboldt.doitall(inname="shared_espace_ae", env1=reduc.vars$env1, env2=reduc.vars$env2, sp1=sp1, sp2=sp2, rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669, reduce.env=2, reductype="PCA", non.analogous.environments="NO", correct.env=T, env.trim=T, env.trim.type="RADIUS", trim.buffer.sp1=500, trim.buffer.sp2=500, pcx=1,pcy=2, col.env=e.var, e.var=c(3:num.var.e), R=100, kern.smooth=1, e.reps=100, b.reps=100, nae="NO",thresh.espace.z=0.0001, p.overlap=T, p.boxplot=F, p.scatter=T,run.silent=F, ncores=2)

Example 2 - typical workflow

see below for help formating raster/environment data.

library(humboldt)
##load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 1 (env1). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
##in this example all input datasets are tab-delimited text files, if using '.csv' files change the parameters below for import steps from 'sep="\t"' to 'sep=","' 
env1<-read.delim("env1.txt",h=T,sep="\t")

## load environmental variables for all sites of the study area 2 (env2). Column names should be x,y,X1,X2,...,Xn)
env2<-read.delim("env2.txt",h=T,sep="\t") 

## remove NAs and make sure all variables are imported as numbers
env1<-humboldt.scrub.env(env1)
env2<-humboldt.scrub.env(env2)

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 1 (env1). Column names should be sp,x,y
sp1<-na.exclude(read.delim("sp1.txt",h=T,sep="\t"))

##load occurrence sites for the species at study area 2 (env2). Column names should be sp,x,y 
sp2<-na.exclude(read.delim("sp2.txt",h=T,sep="\t"))

##its highly recommended that you using the function "humboldt.top.env" to select only the important environmental variables in humboldt.doitall. 
##This step can be skipped. If you downloaded tons of environmental data, you should use this step.  If you skip this step, input env1/env2 in place of reduc.vars$env1/reduc.vars$env2 
reduc.vars<- humboldt.top.env(env1=env1,env2=env2,sp1=sp1,sp2=sp2,rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669,learning.rt1=0.01,learning.rt2=0.01,e.var=(3:21),pa.ratio=4,steps1=50,steps2=50,method="contrib",contrib.greater=5)

##Adjust the number of variables input for e.vars after reduction to only important variables
num.var.e<-ncol(reduc.vars$env1)

##run it first with full environmental for background tests and equivalence statistic (total equivalence or divergence in current distributions)
full<-humboldt.doitall(inname="full_extent", env1=reduc.vars$env1, env2=reduc.vars$env2, sp1=sp1, sp2=sp2, rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669, reduce.env=0, reductype="PCA", non.analogous.environments="YES", correct.env=T, env.trim=T,  env.trim.type="RADIUS", trim.buffer.sp1=500, trim.buffer.sp2=500, pcx=1, pcy=2, col.env=e.var, e.var=c(3:num.var.e), R=100, kern.smooth=1, e.reps=100, b.reps=100, nae="YES",thresh.espace.z=0.0001, p.overlap=T, p.boxplot=F, p.scatter=F, run.silent=F, ncores=2)

##run it a second time with a trimmed, shared-espace. Here the equivalence statistic tests for niche evolution or niche divergence. For comparing results, change only the following model parameters: reduce.env, non.analogous.environmental, env.trim, nae
shared_ae<-humboldt.doitall(inname="shared_espace_ae", env1=reduc.vars$env1, env2=reduc.vars$env2, sp1=sp1, sp2=sp2, rarefy.dist=50, rarefy.units="km", env.reso=0.416669, reduce.env=2, reductype="PCA", non.analogous.environments="NO", correct.env=T, env.trim=T, env.trim.type="RADIUS", trim.buffer.sp1=500, trim.buffer.sp2=500, pcx=1,pcy=2, col.env=e.var, e.var=c(3:num.var.e), R=100, kern.smooth=1, e.reps=100, b.reps=100, nae="NO",thresh.espace.z=0.0001, p.overlap=T, p.boxplot=F, p.scatter=T,run.silent=F, ncores=2)

Getting environmental data formatted for ‘humboldt’

The best practice is to start with climate data that is similar or matches to the desired analyses resolution (for most taxa we recommend 5 to 20km pixel resolution).

To format the climate/environment raster data so that it can be used in Humbolt, follow these steps:

  1. Importing raster data into R
  2. Clip extent down to area of analysis
  3. Convert input rasters to ‘humboldt’ format

Importing rasters into R

library(raster)

##load rasters to sample, here Tiff rasters are in base working directory
BIO1 = raster("bio1.tif")
BIO2 = raster("bio2.tif")
BIO12 = raster("bio12.tif")
BIO15= raster("bio15.tif")

Clipping the extent of rasters in R

##create raster stack to speed process up 
raster_stack_full<-stack(BIO1, BIO2, BIO12, BIO15)

##define extent for which you will clip data to.  
##I highly recommend determining these values from a GIS (ArcGIS or Google Earth).
##extent order input below is: xmin, xmax, ymin, yma
e.in <- extent(-160, 10, 30, 60)

##perform crop function to clip to input extent
raster_stack <- crop(raster_stack_full, e.in)	

Convert input rasters to ‘humboldt’ format for use as an environment file

##convert one of the rasters to a point dataframe to sample.  Use any raster input.
env.points<-rasterToPoints(BIO1, fun=NULL, spatial=FALSE)

##rarefy points to appropriate analysis resolution.  Note it is best to start with climate data that is similar to the desired resolution.  Else this process can take a lot of time.  If climate is exactly the resolution desired (we recommend 10-40km2 for most studies), this step can be skipped.
env.sampling.res<-humboldt.occ.rarefy(env.points, colxy = 1:2, rarefy.dist = 40,  rarefy.units = "km", run.silent.rar = F)

##subset only the x and y data
env.sampling.res<- env.sampling.res[,1:2]

##Extract values to points from rasters
RAST_VAL<-data.frame(extract(raster_stack, env.sampling.res))

##merge sampled data to input
Env1<-cbind(env.sampling.res,RAST_VAL)

##save the file as '.csv' for future analyses 
write.csv(Env1, file = "Env1.csv")

##if necessary, repeat for  environment 2

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