Integrating climate change vulnerability assessments from species distribution models and trait-based approaches. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Willis, S.G.; Foden, W.; Baker, D.J.; Belle, E.; Burgess, N.D.; Carr, J.A.; Doswald, N.; Garcia, R.A.; Hartley, A.; Hof, C.; Newbold, T.; Rahbek, C.; Smith, R.J.; Visconti, P.; Young, B.E.; Butchart, S.H.M.
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 190(2015)
• Page Start: 167
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Species distribution modelling -- Species climate vulnerability traits -- Model integration -- Conservation planning for climate change; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.05.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: To accommodate climate-driven changes in biological communities, conservation plans are increasingly making use of models to predict species' responses to climate change. To date, species distribution models have been the most commonly used approach for assessing species' vulnerability to climate change. Biological trait-based approaches, which have emerged recently, and which include consideration of species' sensitivity and adaptive capacity, provide alternative and potentially conflicting vulnerability assessments and present conservation practitioners and planners with difficult choices. Here we discuss the differing objectives and strengths of the approaches, and provide guidance to conservation practitioners for their application. We outline an integrative methodological framework for assessing climate change impacts on species that uses both traditional species distribution modelling approaches and biological trait-based assessments. We show how these models can be used conceptually as inputs to guide conservation monitoring and planning.