Speciesthrough

Speciesthrough is a conceptual framework in biology and ecology for tracing the history and movement of species through time and space by integrating multiple sources of data. The core idea is to map a species’ lineage across phylogenetic trees, fossil records, population genetics, and contemporary distributions to reveal how lineages persist, shift, or turnover under changing environments. The term emerged in biodiversity informatics discussions in the early 2020s to describe a holistic approach that connects evolutionary history with present-day ecology.

Approaches in speciesthrough include constructing through-lines that link ancestral nodes to modern populations, modeling lineage persistence in refugia, and identifying points of turnover where species are replaced by closely related lineages or ecologically similar taxa. Data and tools commonly used encompass genetic data (mitochondrial and nuclear sequences), fossil and paleontological records, species distribution data, trait information, and ecological interaction networks. Computational methods involve time-calibrated phylogenies, phylogeographic analyses, Bayesian inference, network analysis, and geographic information systems.

Applications of speciesthrough span climate change research, invasion biology, and conservation planning. It can help identify historical and potential refugia, reconstruct migration routes, assess long-term persistence of lineages, and inform strategies aimed at maintaining evolutionary and ecological diversity. Limitations include data gaps, taxonomic resolution issues, and substantial computational complexity, which can introduce uncertainty in inferences. Related fields include phylogeography, paleobiogeography, and biodiversity informatics.