Showing papers by "Stephen E. Williams published in 2017"
Hobart Corporation1, University of Copenhagen2, University of Évora3, Spanish National Research Council4, University of Wollongong5, Conservation International6, University of Hong Kong7, National Cheng Kung University8, Umeå University9, James Cook University10, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation11, Stellenbosch University12, University of Cape Town13, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration14, Monash University15, Yale University16, University of Tasmania17, University of Picardie Jules Verne18, Southern Cross University19, University of Western Australia20, University of Eastern Finland21, University of Queensland22, Zoological Society of London23, National Oceanography Centre24, University of Florida25, University of California, Irvine26, La Trobe University27, University of British Columbia28, Academia Sinica29, University of New South Wales30
TL;DR: The negative effects of climate change cannot be adequately anticipated or prepared for unless species responses are explicitly included in decision-making and global strategic frameworks, and feedbacks on climate itself are documented.
Abstract: Distributions of Earth’s species are changing at accelerating rates, increasingly driven by human-mediated climate change. Such changes are already altering the composition of ecological communities, but beyond conservation of natural systems, how and why does this matter? We review evidence that climate-driven species redistribution at regional to global scales affects ecosystem functioning, human well-being, and the dynamics of climate change itself. Production of natural resources required for food security, patterns of disease transmission, and processes of carbon sequestration are all altered by changes in species distribution. Consideration of these effects of biodiversity redistribution is critical yet lacking in most mitigation and adaptation strategies, including the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
1,917 citations
National University of Central Buenos Aires1, University of Giessen2, Texas A&M University3, Universidade Federal de Sergipe4, National University of La Plata5, Wildlife Conservation Society6, Aarhus University7, University of California, Berkeley8, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal9, Universidade Federal de Goiás10, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research11, University of Brasília12, National Scientific and Technical Research Council13, Federal University of Paraíba14, Federal University of Pará15, University of Colorado Boulder16, University of Barcelona17, Spanish National Research Council18, National University of Mar del Plata19, University of North Texas20, University of Cape Town21, BirdLife International22, Universidade de Passo Fundo23, Biola University24, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo25, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul26, Sao Paulo State University27, National Autonomous University of Mexico28, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna29, Simón Bolívar University30, Autonomous University of Sinaloa31, University of São Paulo32, University of Freiburg33, University of San Francisco34, United States Fish and Wildlife Service35
TL;DR: This study gathered up-to-date information on threats affecting 192 populations of 96 Neotropical parrot species across 21 countries, and investigated associations among current threats and population trends.
95 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use thermal cameras to gather data on temperature heterogeneity in structurally complex rain forest environments, using thermographic photographs to capture the multidimensionality of climate created by vegetation by collecting over 76,000 temperature samples within approximately 1 m2 quadrats.
Abstract: Most terrestrial species on Earth are ectothermic and track temperature at small spatial scales, from sun flecks to cool shaded spots. Current assessments of thermal heterogeneity in complex environments are predominately characterized by ambient temperature. This omission of solar radiation may lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding thermoregulation and distribution of species. We use thermal cameras to gather data on temperature heterogeneity in structurally complex rain forest environments. Using thermographic photographs, we capture the multidimensionality of climate created by vegetation by collecting over 76,000 temperature samples within approximately 1 m2 quadrats. The method was tested against three standard methods that record air temperature to determine possible omissions in capturing thermal heterogeneity in four geographic locations—Colombia, Borneo, Madagascar, and Australia. Across all locations, there was greater thermal heterogeneity in surface temperature than captured from ambient temperature technologies. Spatial variability in surface temperature on 1 d was greater than temporal variability of ambient temperature across the entire month, with extreme deviation from ambient temperatures. Importantly, when compared to the lower bounds for optimal performance for five tropical Anolis species, this technology captured thermal regimes that support the thermoregulatory needs of these species, whereas ambient air temperature methods suggested that these species would be in thermal debt. Sampling surface temperature at high resolutions across space in combination with intensive sampling of ambient temperature and informed spatial modeling should improve our understanding of the distribution of ectothermic species living within thermally heterogeneous environments.
41 citations
TL;DR: It is found that arboreal species dominate communities in historically unstable areas, and these areas have both low richness and low endemism, whereas low- and high-altitude ground-dwelling species experience little overlap in thermal regimes.
Abstract: Aim: Species that respond favourably to environmental change tend to be mobile or dispersive. Living within trees has some benefits over life on the ground. Species that move vertically within forest canopies can take advantage of increased complexity and resource availability, which should correspond to increased resilience to environmental variability and change. Here we show that two modes of movement, arboreality and horizontal dispersal, across an entire bioregional vertebrate fauna in the rain forests of Australia are associated with measures of historical environmental stability.
Location: Wet Tropics, Queensland, Australia.
Time period: Historical (c. 20,000 years ago) and current (1990-2009).
Major taxa studied: Mammal, bird, reptile, and frog species.
Methods: We analysed vertebrate distribution for 195 species and trait data from 20 years of standardized sampling. We derived an arboreality index (i.e., the extent of vertical habitat used by each species) from a large database of field observations combined with expert opinion scores on arboreality. We compared community-wide trends in arboreality and their horizontal dispersal potential with historical climate since the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 20,000 years ago) and current climate over 20 years of the recent past (1990–2009).
Results: Vertical (arboreality) and horizontal (dispersal) movement were positively correlated, and both were negatively correlated with environmental stability. We found that arboreal species dominate communities in historically unstable areas, and these areas have both low richness and low endemism. Further, we show that low- and high-altitude arboreal species experience similar thermal regimes, whereas low- and high-altitude ground-dwelling species experience little overlap in thermal regimes.
Main conclusion: Higher variability and overlap in temperature among rain forest canopies suggests less geographical separation in tolerable conditions for arboreal taxa when compared with ground-dwelling taxa. Increased ecological plasticity in horizontal and vertical movement as well as exposure and pre-selection to high temperature variability appears to allow arboreal species to exploit climatically uncertain areas, a capacity that may serve them well in responding to future climate change.
40 citations
01 Jan 2017
TL;DR: In 2011, a National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan (NARP) was developed for the terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity theme of climate change adaptation (Terrestrial NARP 2011).
Abstract: In 2011, a National Climate Change Adaptation Research Plan (NARP) was developed for the terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity theme of climate change adaptation (Terrestrial NARP 2011). The Terrestrial NARP aims to identify priority research questions for climate change adaptation issues relevant to Australia's cities, towns and regions, including coastal communities and regions. This NARP was updated in 2013 (Terrestrial NARP 2013).
The purpose of this document is to review the Terrestrial NARP 2013 and this was done through a series of workshops with key stakeholders in 2015-16. The most important component of the NARPs is to identify and prioritise adaptation research questions that are important, often urgent, and will provide knowledge needed by adaptation stakeholders across Australia.
Based on the stakholder review, a total of 20 priority research questions (Table 1) are presented in this report within four research themes.
1 citations