Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

William F. Laurance; D. Carolina Useche; Luke P. Shoo; Sebastian K. Herzog; Michael Kessler; Federico Escobar; Gunnar Brehm; Jan C. Axmacher; I-Ching Chen; Lucrecia Arellano Gamez; Peter Hietz; Konrad Fiedler; Tomasz Pyrcz; Jan Wolf; Christopher L. Merkord; Catherine Cardelus; Andrew R. Marshall; Claudine Ah-Peng; Gregory H. Aplet; M. del Coro Arizmendi; William J. Baker; John Barone; Carsten A. Bruehl; Rainer W. Bussmann; Daniele Cicuzza; Gerald Eilu; Mario E. Favila; Andreas Hemp; Claudia Hemp; Juergen Homeier; Johanna Hurtado; Jill Jankowski; Gustavo Kattan; Juergen Kluge; Thorsten Kroemer; David C. Lees; Marcus Lehnert; John T. Longino; Jon Lovett; Patrick H. Martin; Bruce D. Patterson; Richard G. Pearson; Kelvin S-H Peh; Barbara Richardson; Michael Richardson; Michael J. Samways; Feyera Senbeta; Thomas B. Smith; Timothy M. A. Utteridge; James E. Watkins; Rohan Wilson; Stephen E. Williams; Chris D. Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

William F. Laurance, D. Carolina Useche, Luke P. Shoo, Sebastian K. Herzog, Michael Kessler, Federico Escobar, Gunnar Brehm, Jan C. Axmacher, I-Ching Chen, Lucrecia Arellano Gamez, Peter Hietz, Konrad Fiedler, Tomasz Pyrcz, Jan Wolf, Christopher L. Merkord, Catherine Cardelus, Andrew R. Marshall, Claudine Ah-Peng, Gregory H. Aplet, M. del Coro ArizmendiWilliam J. Baker, John Barone, Carsten A. Bruehl, Rainer W. Bussmann, Daniele Cicuzza, Gerald Eilu, Mario E. Favila, Andreas Hemp, Claudia Hemp, Juergen Homeier, Johanna Hurtado, Jill Jankowski, Gustavo Kattan, Juergen Kluge, Thorsten Kroemer, David C. Lees, Marcus Lehnert, John T. Longino, Jon Lovett, Patrick H. Martin, Bruce D. Patterson, Richard G. Pearson, Kelvin S-H Peh, Barbara Richardson, Michael Richardson, Michael J. Samways, Feyera Senbeta, Thomas B. Smith, Timothy M. A. Utteridge, James E. Watkins, Rohan Wilson, Stephen E. Williams, Chris D. Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Tropical species with narrow elevational ranges may be thermally specialized and vulnerable to global warming. Local studies of distributions along elevational gradients reveal small-scale patterns but do not allow generalizations among geographic regions or taxa. We critically assessed data from 249 studies of species elevational distributions in the American, African, and Asia-Pacific tropics. Of these, 150 had sufficient data quality, sampling intensity, elevational range, and freedom from serious habitat disturbance to permit robust across-study comparisons. We found four main patterns: (1) species classified as elevational specialists (upper- or lower-zone specialists) are relatively more frequent in the American than Asia-Pacific tropics, with African tropics being intermediate; (2) elevational specialists are rare on islands, especially oceanic and smaller continental islands, largely due to a paucity of upper-zone specialists; (3) a relatively high proportion of plants and ectothermic vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) are upper-zone specialists; and (4) relatively few endothermic vertebrates (birds and mammals) are upper-zone specialists. Understanding these broad-scale trends will help identify taxa and geographic regions vulnerable to global warming and highlight future research priorities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	548-557
Number of pages	10
Journal	Biological Conservation
Volume	144
Issue number	1
Early online date	10 Nov 2010
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010
Publication status	Published - Jan 2011

Keywords

Africa
Asia-Pacific
Biodiversity
Climate change
Elevational range
Endemism
Extinction
Global warming
Montane areas
Neotropics
Thermal tolerance
Tropical ecosystems
CLIMATE-CHANGE
RAIN-FORESTS
SPECIES RICHNESS
WET TROPICS
AMPHIBIAN EXTINCTIONS
HIGH-TEMPERATURES
MOUNTAIN PASSES
PUERTO-RICO
COSTA-RICA
DIVERSITY

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10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

Cite this

Laurance, W. F., Useche, D. C., Shoo, L. P., Herzog, S. K., Kessler, M., Escobar, F., Brehm, G., Axmacher, J. C., Chen, I.-C., Arellano Gamez, L., Hietz, P., Fiedler, K., Pyrcz, T., Wolf, J., Merkord, C. L., Cardelus, C., Marshall, A. R., Ah-Peng, C., Aplet, G. H., ... Thomas, C. D. (2011). Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota. Biological Conservation, 144(1), 548-557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

@article{abc7221dfa8c4c16b15e33df9f57b30f,

title = "Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota",

abstract = "Tropical species with narrow elevational ranges may be thermally specialized and vulnerable to global warming. Local studies of distributions along elevational gradients reveal small-scale patterns but do not allow generalizations among geographic regions or taxa. We critically assessed data from 249 studies of species elevational distributions in the American, African, and Asia-Pacific tropics. Of these, 150 had sufficient data quality, sampling intensity, elevational range, and freedom from serious habitat disturbance to permit robust across-study comparisons. We found four main patterns: (1) species classified as elevational specialists (upper- or lower-zone specialists) are relatively more frequent in the American than Asia-Pacific tropics, with African tropics being intermediate; (2) elevational specialists are rare on islands, especially oceanic and smaller continental islands, largely due to a paucity of upper-zone specialists; (3) a relatively high proportion of plants and ectothermic vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) are upper-zone specialists; and (4) relatively few endothermic vertebrates (birds and mammals) are upper-zone specialists. Understanding these broad-scale trends will help identify taxa and geographic regions vulnerable to global warming and highlight future research priorities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Africa, Asia-Pacific, Biodiversity, Climate change, Elevational range, Endemism, Extinction, Global warming, Montane areas, Neotropics, Thermal tolerance, Tropical ecosystems, CLIMATE-CHANGE, RAIN-FORESTS, SPECIES RICHNESS, WET TROPICS, AMPHIBIAN EXTINCTIONS, HIGH-TEMPERATURES, MOUNTAIN PASSES, PUERTO-RICO, COSTA-RICA, DIVERSITY",

author = "Laurance, {William F.} and Useche, {D. Carolina} and Shoo, {Luke P.} and Herzog, {Sebastian K.} and Michael Kessler and Federico Escobar and Gunnar Brehm and Axmacher, {Jan C.} and I-Ching Chen and {Arellano Gamez}, Lucrecia and Peter Hietz and Konrad Fiedler and Tomasz Pyrcz and Jan Wolf and Merkord, {Christopher L.} and Catherine Cardelus and Marshall, {Andrew R.} and Claudine Ah-Peng and Aplet, {Gregory H.} and {del Coro Arizmendi}, M. and Baker, {William J.} and John Barone and Bruehl, {Carsten A.} and Bussmann, {Rainer W.} and Daniele Cicuzza and Gerald Eilu and Favila, {Mario E.} and Andreas Hemp and Claudia Hemp and Juergen Homeier and Johanna Hurtado and Jill Jankowski and Gustavo Kattan and Juergen Kluge and Thorsten Kroemer and Lees, {David C.} and Marcus Lehnert and Longino, {John T.} and Jon Lovett and Martin, {Patrick H.} and Patterson, {Bruce D.} and Pearson, {Richard G.} and Peh, {Kelvin S-H} and Barbara Richardson and Michael Richardson and Samways, {Michael J.} and Feyera Senbeta and Smith, {Thomas B.} and Utteridge, {Timothy M. A.} and Watkins, {James E.} and Rohan Wilson and Williams, {Stephen E.} and Thomas, {Chris D.}",

year = "2011",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010",

language = "English",

volume = "144",

pages = "548--557",

journal = "Biological Conservation",

issn = "0006-3207",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "1",

}

Laurance, WF, Useche, DC, Shoo, LP, Herzog, SK, Kessler, M, Escobar, F, Brehm, G, Axmacher, JC, Chen, I-C, Arellano Gamez, L, Hietz, P, Fiedler, K, Pyrcz, T, Wolf, J, Merkord, CL, Cardelus, C, Marshall, AR, Ah-Peng, C, Aplet, GH, del Coro Arizmendi, M, Baker, WJ, Barone, J, Bruehl, CA, Bussmann, RW, Cicuzza, D, Eilu, G, Favila, ME, Hemp, A, Hemp, C, Homeier, J, Hurtado, J, Jankowski, J, Kattan, G, Kluge, J, Kroemer, T, Lees, DC, Lehnert, M, Longino, JT, Lovett, J, Martin, PH, Patterson, BD, Pearson, RG, Peh, KS-H, Richardson, B, Richardson, M, Samways, MJ, Senbeta, F, Smith, TB, Utteridge, TMA, Watkins, JE, Wilson, R, Williams, SE & Thomas, CD 2011, 'Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota', Biological Conservation, vol. 144, no. 1, pp. 548-557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

AU - Laurance, William F.

AU - Useche, D. Carolina

AU - Shoo, Luke P.

AU - Herzog, Sebastian K.

AU - Kessler, Michael

AU - Escobar, Federico

AU - Brehm, Gunnar

AU - Axmacher, Jan C.

AU - Chen, I-Ching

AU - Arellano Gamez, Lucrecia

AU - Hietz, Peter

AU - Fiedler, Konrad

AU - Pyrcz, Tomasz

AU - Wolf, Jan

AU - Merkord, Christopher L.

AU - Cardelus, Catherine

AU - Marshall, Andrew R.

AU - Ah-Peng, Claudine

AU - Aplet, Gregory H.

AU - del Coro Arizmendi, M.

AU - Baker, William J.

AU - Barone, John

AU - Bruehl, Carsten A.

AU - Bussmann, Rainer W.

AU - Cicuzza, Daniele

AU - Eilu, Gerald

AU - Favila, Mario E.

AU - Hemp, Andreas

AU - Hemp, Claudia

AU - Homeier, Juergen

AU - Hurtado, Johanna

AU - Jankowski, Jill

AU - Kattan, Gustavo

AU - Kluge, Juergen

AU - Kroemer, Thorsten

AU - Lees, David C.

AU - Lehnert, Marcus

AU - Longino, John T.

AU - Lovett, Jon

AU - Martin, Patrick H.

AU - Patterson, Bruce D.

AU - Pearson, Richard G.

AU - Peh, Kelvin S-H

AU - Richardson, Barbara

AU - Richardson, Michael

AU - Samways, Michael J.

AU - Senbeta, Feyera

AU - Smith, Thomas B.

AU - Utteridge, Timothy M. A.

AU - Watkins, James E.

AU - Wilson, Rohan

AU - Williams, Stephen E.

AU - Thomas, Chris D.

PY - 2011/1

Y1 - 2011/1

N2 - Tropical species with narrow elevational ranges may be thermally specialized and vulnerable to global warming. Local studies of distributions along elevational gradients reveal small-scale patterns but do not allow generalizations among geographic regions or taxa. We critically assessed data from 249 studies of species elevational distributions in the American, African, and Asia-Pacific tropics. Of these, 150 had sufficient data quality, sampling intensity, elevational range, and freedom from serious habitat disturbance to permit robust across-study comparisons. We found four main patterns: (1) species classified as elevational specialists (upper- or lower-zone specialists) are relatively more frequent in the American than Asia-Pacific tropics, with African tropics being intermediate; (2) elevational specialists are rare on islands, especially oceanic and smaller continental islands, largely due to a paucity of upper-zone specialists; (3) a relatively high proportion of plants and ectothermic vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) are upper-zone specialists; and (4) relatively few endothermic vertebrates (birds and mammals) are upper-zone specialists. Understanding these broad-scale trends will help identify taxa and geographic regions vulnerable to global warming and highlight future research priorities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - Tropical species with narrow elevational ranges may be thermally specialized and vulnerable to global warming. Local studies of distributions along elevational gradients reveal small-scale patterns but do not allow generalizations among geographic regions or taxa. We critically assessed data from 249 studies of species elevational distributions in the American, African, and Asia-Pacific tropics. Of these, 150 had sufficient data quality, sampling intensity, elevational range, and freedom from serious habitat disturbance to permit robust across-study comparisons. We found four main patterns: (1) species classified as elevational specialists (upper- or lower-zone specialists) are relatively more frequent in the American than Asia-Pacific tropics, with African tropics being intermediate; (2) elevational specialists are rare on islands, especially oceanic and smaller continental islands, largely due to a paucity of upper-zone specialists; (3) a relatively high proportion of plants and ectothermic vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) are upper-zone specialists; and (4) relatively few endothermic vertebrates (birds and mammals) are upper-zone specialists. Understanding these broad-scale trends will help identify taxa and geographic regions vulnerable to global warming and highlight future research priorities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - Africa

KW - Asia-Pacific

KW - Biodiversity

KW - Climate change

KW - Elevational range

KW - Endemism

KW - Extinction

KW - Global warming

KW - Montane areas

KW - Neotropics

KW - Thermal tolerance

KW - Tropical ecosystems

KW - CLIMATE-CHANGE

KW - RAIN-FORESTS

KW - SPECIES RICHNESS

KW - WET TROPICS

KW - AMPHIBIAN EXTINCTIONS

KW - HIGH-TEMPERATURES

KW - MOUNTAIN PASSES

KW - PUERTO-RICO

KW - COSTA-RICA

KW - DIVERSITY

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78751581551&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

M3 - Article

SN - 0006-3207

VL - 144

SP - 548

EP - 557

JO - Biological Conservation

JF - Biological Conservation

IS - 1

ER -

Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

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Keywords

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Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Valuing the Arc (£74,875, Leverhulme Trust)

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