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Laura J. Pollock

Associate Academic Member
Assistant Professor, McGill University, Department of Biology
Research Topics
Computational Biology
Probabilistic Models

Biography

I am an assistant professor of conservation, ecology, evolution and behaviour in the Biology Department at McGill University.

As a quantitative ecologist, I am interested in large-scale patterns of biodiversity at regional, continental or global scales. My research focuses on the effects of climate change on biodiversity, which combines many biodiversity data inputs with predictive models. The second part of my research is focused on optimizations for identifying key biodiversity areas and efficient conservation solutions.

Publications

Bridging biodiversity and ecosystem services through useful plant species
Nina Obiar
Isaac Eckert
Janelle Baker
Daniel Moerman
Laura J. Pollock
2025-03-28
PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET (published)
doi.org
Harnessing artificial intelligence to fill global shortfalls in biodiversity knowledge
Laura J. Pollock
Justin Kitzes
Sara Beery
Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
Marta A. Jarzyna
Oisin Mac Aodha
Bernd Meyer
David Rolnick
Graham W. Taylor
Devis Tuia
Tanya Berger-Wolf
2025-02-20
Nature Reviews Biodiversity (published)
doi.org
Integrating food webs in species distribution models can improve ecological niche estimation and predictions
Giovanni Poggiato
Jérémy Andréoletti
Laura J. Pollock
Wilfried Thuiller
Biotic interactions play a fundamental role in shaping multitrophic species communities, yet incorporating these interactions into species d… (see more)istribution models (SDMs) remains challenging. With the growing availability of species interaction networks, it is now feasible to integrate these interactions into SDMs for more comprehensive predictions. Here, we propose a novel framework that combines trophic interaction networks with Bayesian structural equation models, enabling each species to be modeled based on its interactions with predators or prey alongside environmental factors. This framework addresses issues of multicollinearity and error propagation, making it possible to predict species distributions in unobserved locations or under future environmental conditions, even when prey or predator distributions are unknown. We tested and validated our framework on realistic simulated communities spanning different theoretical models and ecological setups. scenarios. Our approach significantly improved the estimation of both potential and realized niches compared to single SDMs, with mean performance gains of 8% and 6%, respectively. These improvements were especially notable for species strongly regulated by biotic factors, thereby enhancing model predictive accuracy. Our framework supports integration with various SDM extensions, such as occupancy and integrated models, offering flexibility and adaptability for future developments. While not a universal solution that consistently outperforms single SDMs, our approach provides a valuable new tool for modeling multitrophic community distributions when biotic interactions are known or assumed.
2025-01-14
Ecography (published)
doi.org
Integrating food webs in species distribution models can improve ecological niche estimation and predictions
Giovanni Poggiato
Jérémy Andréoletti
Laura J. Pollock
Wilfried Thuiller
2025-01-14
Ecography (published)
doi.org
Advancing EDGE Zones to identify spatial conservation priorities of tetrapod evolutionary history
Sebastian Pipins
Jonathan E. M. Baillie
Alex Bowmer
Laura J. Pollock
Nisha Owen
Rikki Gumbs
2024-09-03
Nature Communications (published)
doi.org
Advancing EDGE Zones to identify spatial conservation priorities of tetrapod evolutionary history
Sebastian Pipins
Jonathan E. M. Baillie
Alex Bowmer
Laura J. Pollock
Nisha Owen
Rikki Gumbs
2024-09-03
Nature Communications (published)
doi.org
Herbarium collections remain essential in the age of community science
Isaac Eckert
Anne Bruneau
D. Metsger
Simon Joly
T. Dickinson
Laura J. Pollock
2024-08-31
Nature Communications (published)
doi.org
Herbarium collections remain essential in the age of community science
Isaac Eckert
Anne Bruneau
D. Metsger
Simon Joly
T. Dickinson
Laura J. Pollock
2024-08-31
Nature Communications (published)
doi.org
Vulnerability of terrestrial vertebrate food webs to anthropogenic threats in Europe
Louise M. J. O'Connor
Francesca Cosentino
Michael B. J. Harfoot
Luigi Maiorano
Chiara Mancino
Laura J. Pollock
Wilfried Thuiller
2024-03-22
Global Change Biology (published)
doi.org
Plant invasion in Mediterranean Europe: current hotspots and future scenarios
Luigi Cao Pinna
Laure Gallien
Laura J. Pollock
Irena Axmanová
Milan Chytrý
Marco Malavasi
Alicia T. R. Acosta
Juan Antonio Campos
Marta Carboni
The Mediterranean Basin has historically been subject to alien plant invasions that threaten its unique biodiversity. This seasonally dry an… (see more)d densely populated region is undergoing severe climatic and socioeconomic changes, and it is unclear whether these changes will worsen or mitigate plant invasions. Predictions are often biased, as species may not be in equilibrium in the invaded environment, depending on their invasion stage and ecological characteristics. To address future predictions uncertainty, we identified invasion hotspots across multiple biased modelling scenarios and ecological characteristics of successful invaders. We selected 92 alien plant species widespread in Mediterranean Europe and compiled data on their distribution in the Mediterranean and worldwide. We combined these data with environmental and propagule pressure variables to model global and regional species niches, and map their current and future habitat suitability. We identified invasion hotspots, examined their potential future shifts, and compared the results of different modelling strategies. Finally, we generalised our findings by using linear models to determine the traits and biogeographic features of invaders most likely to benefit from global change. Currently, invasion hotspots are found near ports and coastlines throughout Mediterranean Europe. However, many species occupy only a small portion of the environmental conditions to which they are preadapted, suggesting that their invasion is still an ongoing process. Future conditions will lead to declines in many currently widespread aliens, which will tend to move to higher elevations and latitudes. Our trait models indicate that future climates will generally favour species with conservative ecological strategies that can cope with reduced water availability, such as those with short stature and low specific leaf area. Taken together, our results suggest that in future environments, these conservative aliens will move farther from the introduction areas and upslope, threatening mountain ecosystems that have been spared from invasions so far.
2024-03-05
Ecography (published)
doi.org
Plant invasion in Mediterranean Europe: current hotspots and future scenarios
Luigi Cao Pinna
Laure Gallien
Laura J. Pollock
Irena Axmanová
Milan Chytrý
Marco Malavasi
Alicia T. R. Acosta
Juan Antonio Campos
Marta Carboni
The Mediterranean Basin has historically been subject to alien plant invasions that threaten its unique biodiversity. This seasonally dry an… (see more)d densely populated region is undergoing severe climatic and socioeconomic changes, and it is unclear whether these changes will worsen or mitigate plant invasions. Predictions are often biased, as species may not be in equilibrium in the invaded environment, depending on their invasion stage and ecological characteristics. To address future predictions uncertainty, we identified invasion hotspots across multiple biased modelling scenarios and ecological characteristics of successful invaders. We selected 92 alien plant species widespread in Mediterranean Europe and compiled data on their distribution in the Mediterranean and worldwide. We combined these data with environmental and propagule pressure variables to model global and regional species niches, and map their current and future habitat suitability. We identified invasion hotspots, examined their potential future shifts, and compared the results of different modelling strategies. Finally, we generalised our findings by using linear models to determine the traits and biogeographic features of invaders most likely to benefit from global change. Currently, invasion hotspots are found near ports and coastlines throughout Mediterranean Europe. However, many species occupy only a small portion of the environmental conditions to which they are preadapted, suggesting that their invasion is still an ongoing process. Future conditions will lead to declines in many currently widespread aliens, which will tend to move to higher elevations and latitudes. Our trait models indicate that future climates will generally favour species with conservative ecological strategies that can cope with reduced water availability, such as those with short stature and low specific leaf area. Taken together, our results suggest that in future environments, these conservative aliens will move farther from the introduction areas and upslope, threatening mountain ecosystems that have been spared from invasions so far.
2024-03-05
Ecography (published)
doi.org
Plant invasion in Mediterranean Europe: current hotspots and future scenarios
Luigi Cao Pinna
Laure Gallien
Laura J. Pollock
Irena Axmanová
Milan Chytrý
Marco Malavasi
Alicia T. R. Acosta
Juan Antonio Campos
Marta Carboni
The Mediterranean Basin has historically been subject to alien plant invasions that threaten its unique biodiversity. This seasonally dry an… (see more)d densely populated region is undergoing severe climatic and socioeconomic changes, and it is unclear whether these changes will worsen or mitigate plant invasions. Predictions are often biased, as species may not be in equilibrium in the invaded environment, depending on their invasion stage and ecological characteristics. To address future predictions uncertainty, we identified invasion hotspots across multiple biased modelling scenarios and ecological characteristics of successful invaders. We selected 92 alien plant species widespread in Mediterranean Europe and compiled data on their distribution in the Mediterranean and worldwide. We combined these data with environmental and propagule pressure variables to model global and regional species niches, and map their current and future habitat suitability. We identified invasion hotspots, examined their potential future shifts, and compared the results of different modelling strategies. Finally, we generalised our findings by using linear models to determine the traits and biogeographic features of invaders most likely to benefit from global change. Currently, invasion hotspots are found near ports and coastlines throughout Mediterranean Europe. However, many species occupy only a small portion of the environmental conditions to which they are preadapted, suggesting that their invasion is still an ongoing process. Future conditions will lead to declines in many currently widespread aliens, which will tend to move to higher elevations and latitudes. Our trait models indicate that future climates will generally favour species with conservative ecological strategies that can cope with reduced water availability, such as those with short stature and low specific leaf area. Taken together, our results suggest that in future environments, these conservative aliens will move farther from the introduction areas and upslope, threatening mountain ecosystems that have been spared from invasions so far.
2024-03-05
Ecography (published)
doi.org