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LETTER
Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change
Article first published online: 6 OCT 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00824.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Wilson, R. J., Gutiérrez, D., Gutiérrez, J., Martínez, D., Agudo, R. and Monserrat, V. J. (2005), Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change. Ecology Letters, 8: 1138–1146. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00824.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 6 OCT 2005
- Article first published online: 6 OCT 2005
- Editor, John Harte Manuscript received 28 April 2005 First decision made 3 June 2005 Manuscript accepted 5 July 2005
- Abstract
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- Cited By
Keywords:
- Conservation;
- elevational associations;
- extinction;
- Lepidoptera;
- range margins;
- range shifts;
- species distributions
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.