Unifying climate change biology across realms and taxa. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinsky, Malin L.; Comte, Lise; Sax, Dov F.
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 37:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 672
• Page End: 682
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: global warming -- global change -- microclimate -- range shift -- thermoregulation -- extinction; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : A major challenge in modern biology is to understand extinction risk from climate change across all realms. Recent research has revealed that physiological tolerance, behavioral thermoregulation, and small elevation shifts are dominant coping strategies on land, whereas large-scale latitudinal shifts are more important in the ocean. Freshwater taxa may face the highest global extinction risks. Nevertheless, some species in each realm face similar risks because of shared adaptive, dispersal, or physiological tolerances and abilities. Taking a cross-realm perspective offers unique research opportunities because confounding physical factors in one realm are often disaggregated in another realm. Cross-realm, across taxa, and other forms of climate change biology synthesis are needed to advance our understanding of emergent patterns of risk across all life. Highlights: An integrated perspective crossing terrestrial, freshwater, and marine realms is essential to understand where and why species are most vulnerable to climate change. The dominant ecoevolutionary processes for coping with climate change differ across realms. Cross-taxa and cross-realm research can provide unique insights and opportunities to advance our understanding of the processes and mechanisms threatening species survival. Academic culture and practice often impede cross-realm research, such that structural and cultural transitions are needed to advance a more unified field of climate change biology.