Calculating autoecological data (optima and tolerance range) for multiple species with the ‘optimos.prime’ R package

Abstract

The calculation of autoecological data, such as optima and tolerance ranges to environmental variables, can be useful to establish the distribution and abundance of the species. These calculations, although mathematically not complex, can be prone to error when using a large database. We show how to calculate the optimum value and tolerance ranges of multiple species to multiple environmental factors in a single run, by weighted average using a specific R package (?optimos.prime?). Using sample data from a phytoplankton database, we exemplify the use of the R package and its functions. A stand‐alone version for Windows is also provided, and source code and documents are freely available on GitHub to encourage collaborative work.