Habitat‐based spatial patterns enable realistic reconstruction of plant spatial arrangements across complex landscapes

Spatially explicit individual‐based models provide a powerful way to explore spatial dynamics when direct observation is not feasible. But for many ecological applications, these models require detailed data on the initial spatial arrangement and traits of individuals – information rarely available in large, heterogeneous or novel landscapes. Habitat heterogeneity further complicates matters by shaping spatial patterns and traits differently across habitat types. Here, we quantified how individual spatial patterns and traits differ among habitat types, and used this information to reconstruct realistic, initial landscape‐scale spatial distributions suitable as initial condition for spatially explicit modeling. We mapped and recorded morphological and reproductive traits over 5000 individuals of the Mediterranean dwarf palm Chamaerops humilis across 146 ha spanning four distinct habitat types within Doñana Natural Space (SW Spain). Our results show strong small‐scale aggregation in all habitats, with significant variation in aggregation level, plant size, reproductive status and sex ratio. Using replicated spatial point pattern analyses, we fitted habitat‐specific Thomas cluster models that captured this variation and upscaled them to simulate spatial distributions across a large heterogeneous 1950‐ha landscape. Simulated individuals were assigned traits based on empirical, habitat‐specific trait frequencies, generating >59 000 individuals whose spatial and demographic structure closely matched field observations. Our results underscore the strong influence of habitat on both spatial and individual trait distributions, showing a feasible method to build realistic spatial arrangements of plant populations in heterogeneous landscapes.