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© WWF
Climate change and ecological processes
Scheffers et al,
2016 Science,
354, 719
Observed impacts on species
morphology, physiology and behaviour
• painted turtles grow larger in warmer years, and during
warm sets of years and turtles can reach sexual maturity
faster
© WWF
Framework for understanding effects
of global change drivers
SPECIES model
Red-tipped cudweed
Observed distribution
(Filago
lutescens)
MONARCH 3, Berry
et al., 2007
Song
thrush
(Turdus
philomelos)
MONARCH 3
Tower
mustard
(Arabis
glabra
MONARCH 3
Potential range loss with and without dispersal
(A) Invertebrates
(B) Chordata
(C) Plantae
(D) Insecta
(E) Mammalia
(F) Aves (birds)
(G) Reptilia
(H) Amphibia
The proportion of modelled species losing more than half their climatically determined range by
2100 at specific levels of global warming. Warren et al. Science 2018;360:791-795
Published by AAAS
Proportion of species in Great Britain likely to be at
risk or have an opportunity for expansion from
climate change
• Biotic interactions
• Model-based uncertainty
• Population dynamics • Thresholding
• Dispersal • Climate projections
• In situ adaptation
• Existing adaptation
• Direct impacts of CO2
(based on Pearson and Dawson, Global Ecol.Biogeog., 2003; 2004)
Model-based uncertainty
Modelling technique
A A C C C G G G G
200
N N E G T A A A L
N N R M A M R M
1 2 P
100
Diastella divaricata
Predicted -100
percentage
300
range gain/loss by
2030 200 Leucospemum
hypophyllocarpodendron
100
-100
(Pearson et al., 2006.; Thuiller et al. Nature, 2004; see also Beaumont et al., 2016,
Ecological Modelling 342, 135–146)
Extreme events July/August 2003 headlines
Limitations and assumptions
• species are in equilibrium with mean climate
• difficult to model range margins and patchy
distributions
• only certain species are selected – do they
adequately represent habitat response?
• outputs are of potential suitable climate space -
fundamental vs realised niche
• no migration or habitat availability - will species
fulfil their range?
• do not reflect response of other factors to climate
change - these cannot easily be included need
other models
What is modelling not projecting?
Climate change and biodiversity loss – two side of the same coin
The interactions between climate and
ecosystems?
Species/ecosystem distributions
and ecological processes
Climate Biodiversity
(change) (change)
“
The three elements of nature-based solutions
actions to Ecosystem-
NbS simultaneously
HWB &
protect, based Biodiversity providing
sustainably action human well-
manage, and being and
restore natural biodiversity
or modified benefits
ecosystems
Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) – or NbS for
climate change
Griscom et al., 2020 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 375, Issue: 1794, DOI: (10.1098/rstb.2019.0126)
Systematic map of the 6 most reported climate
impacts addressed by 6 broad intervention types
Green roofs Increased stormwater infiltration, Challenging environment for some Carbon sequestration,
water flow reduction, habitat species reduced energy demand
provision, increased connectivity through decreasing
temperatures.