Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota

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dc.contributor.authorLaurance W.F.
dc.contributor.authorCarolina Useche D.
dc.contributor.authorShoo L.P.
dc.contributor.authorHerzog S.K.
dc.contributor.authorKessler M.
dc.contributor.authorEscobar F.
dc.contributor.authorBrehm G.
dc.contributor.authorAxmacher J.C.
dc.contributor.authorChen I.-C.
dc.contributor.authorGamez L.A.
dc.contributor.authorHietz P.
dc.contributor.authorFiedler K.
dc.contributor.authorPyrcz T.
dc.contributor.authorWolf J.
dc.contributor.authorMerkord C.L.
dc.contributor.authorCardelus C.
dc.contributor.authorMarshall A.R.
dc.contributor.authorAh-Peng C.
dc.contributor.authorAplet G.H.
dc.contributor.authordel Coro Arizmendi M.
dc.contributor.authorBaker W.J.
dc.contributor.authorBarone J.
dc.contributor.authorBruhl C.A.
dc.contributor.authorBussmann R.W.
dc.contributor.authorCicuzza D.
dc.contributor.authorEilu G.
dc.contributor.authorFavila M.E.
dc.contributor.authorHemp A.
dc.contributor.authorHemp C.
dc.contributor.authorHomeier J.
dc.contributor.authorHurtado J.
dc.contributor.authorJankowski J.
dc.contributor.authorKattan G.
dc.contributor.authorKluge J.
dc.contributor.authorKromer T.
dc.contributor.authorLees D.C.
dc.contributor.authorLehnert M.
dc.contributor.authorLongino J.T.
dc.contributor.authorLovett J.
dc.contributor.authorMartin P.H.
dc.contributor.authorPatterson B.D.
dc.contributor.authorPearson R.G.
dc.contributor.authorPeh K.S.-H.
dc.contributor.authorRichardson B.
dc.contributor.authorRichardson M.
dc.contributor.authorSamways M.J.
dc.contributor.authorSenbeta F.
dc.contributor.authorSmith T.B.
dc.contributor.authorUtteridge T.M.A.
dc.contributor.authorWatkins J.E.
dc.contributor.authorWilson R.
dc.contributor.authorWilliams S.E.
dc.contributor.authorThomas C.D.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:58:54Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:58:54Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractTropical 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. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationBiological Conservation
dc.identifier.citation144
dc.identifier.citation1
dc.identifier.issn63207
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/10903
dc.subjectbiodiversity
dc.subjectdata quality
dc.subjectectothermy
dc.subjectendemism
dc.subjectextinction risk
dc.subjectfuture prospect
dc.subjectgeographical distribution
dc.subjectgeographical region
dc.subjectglobal warming
dc.subjectmountain region
dc.subjectNeotropic Ecozone
dc.subjecttemperature tolerance
dc.subjecttropical environment
dc.subjectvulnerability
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectPacific Ocean
dc.subjectPacific Rim
dc.subjectAmphibia
dc.subjectAves
dc.subjectMammalia
dc.subjectReptilia
dc.subjectVertebrata
dc.titleGlobal warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota
dc.typeArticle
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