Understanding complex biogeographic responses to climate change

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Seabra, R (Author) Other; Wethey, DS (Author) Other; santos, am (Author) FCUP; lima, fp (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Scientific Reports

Vol. 5

Final page: 12930

ISSN: 2045-2322

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-F03

DOI: 10.1038/srep12930

Abstract (EN): Predicting the extent and direction of species' range shifts is a major priority for scientists and resource managers. Seminal studies have fostered the notion that biological systems responding to climate change-impacted variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation) should exhibit poleward range shifts but shifts contrary to that expectation have been frequently reported. Understanding whether those shifts are indeed contrary to climate change predictions involves understanding the most basic mechanisms determining the distribution of species. We assessed the patterns of ecologically relevant temperature metrics (e.g., daily range, min, max) along the European Atlantic coast. Temperature metrics have contrasting geographical patterns and latitude or the grand mean are poor predictors for many of them. Our data suggest that unless the appropriate metrics are analysed, the impact of climate change in even a single metric of a single stressor may lead to range shifts in directions that would otherwise be classified as "contrary to prediction".

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6