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The distributions of a wide range of taxonomic groups are expanding polewards
Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01116.x
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How to Cite
HICKLING, R., ROY, D. B., HILL, J. K., FOX, R. and THOMAS, C. D. (2006), The distributions of a wide range of taxonomic groups are expanding polewards. Global Change Biology, 12: 450–455. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01116.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 MAR 2006
- Article first published online: 7 MAR 2006
- Received 17 September 2005; revised version received 26 October 2005; accepted 17 October 2005
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Keywords:
- climate change;
- distributions;
- range shifts
Abstract
Evidence is accumulating of shifts in species' distributions during recent climate warming. However, most of this information comes predominantly from studies of a relatively small selection of taxa (i.e., plants, birds and butterflies), which may not be representative of biodiversity as a whole. Using data from less well-studied groups, we show that a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species have moved northwards and uphill in Britain over approximately 25 years, mirroring, and in some cases exceeding, the responses of better-known groups.