Mapping absences within the BAM concept: Towards a new generation of ecological and environmental indicators

The BAM concept, which incorporates Biotic, Abiotic and Mobility factors as subsets of the niche has successfully been implemented on presence data modeled by Ecological Niche Modelling. However, absence data have been largely neglected, mainly due to accessibility and accuracy issues. Here, we propose a framework that exploits absence data within a presence-only modelling scheme under the BAM concept. Application of the suggested methodology in a complex hybridizing system provided insights not easily inferred through the established presence-based niche analysis techniques. Due to straightforward integration, the visualization provided can be used in practice for both research and management targets, and could pave the way for the development of novel ecological and environmental indicators and indices.