Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change

@article{citeulike:351195, abstract = {The first expected symptoms of a climate change-generated biodiversity crisis are range contractions and extinctions at lower elevational and latitudinal limits to species distributions. However, whilst range expansions at high elevations and latitudes have been widely documented, there has been surprisingly little evidence for contractions at warm margins. We show that lower elevational limits for 16 butterfly species in central Spain have risen on average by 212 m (± SE 60) in 30 years, accompanying a 1.3 °C rise (equivalent to c. 225 m) in mean annual temperature. These elevational shifts signify an average reduction in habitable area by one-third, with losses of 50–80\% projected for the coming century, given maintenance of the species thermal associations. The results suggest that many species have already suffered climate-mediated habitat losses that may threaten their long-term chances of survival.}, author = {Wilson, Robert J. and Gutierrez, David and Gutierrez, Javier and Martinez, David and Agudo, Rosa and Monserrat, Victor J.}, citeulike-article-id = {351195}, doi = {10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00824.x}, issn = {1461-023X}, journal = {Ecology Letters}, keywords = {altitude, climate, climate\_response, distribution, lepiodoptera, spain}, month = {November}, number = {11}, pages = {1138--1146}, posted-at = {2005-10-18 14:20:55}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Blackwell Publishing}, title = {Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00824.x}, volume = {8}, year = {2005} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:351195 L3 - citeulike-article-id:351195 N2 - The first expected symptoms of a climate change-generated biodiversity crisis are range contractions and extinctions at lower elevational and latitudinal limits to species distributions. However, whilst range expansions at high elevations and latitudes have been widely documented, there has been surprisingly little evidence for contractions at warm margins. We show that lower elevational limits for 16 butterfly species in central Spain have risen on average by 212 m (± SE 60) in 30 years, accompanying a 1.3 °C rise (equivalent to c. 225 m) in mean annual temperature. These elevational shifts signify an average reduction in habitable area by one-third, with losses of 50–80% projected for the coming century, given maintenance of the species thermal associations. The results suggest that many species have already suffered climate-mediated habitat losses that may threaten their long-term chances of survival. IS - 11 JF - Ecology Letters SN - 1461-023X EP - 1146 TI - Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change PB - Blackwell Publishing VL - 8 SP - 1138 KW - altitude KW - climate KW - climate_response KW - distribution KW - lepiodoptera KW - spain AU - Wilson, Robert AU - Gutierrez, David AU - Gutierrez, Javier AU - Martinez, David AU - Agudo, Rosa AU - Monserrat, Victor PY - 2005/11// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00824.x ER -