12/18/2012
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
In
partnership with: National Wildlife Federation, Arizona State University
Plant
and animal species are shifting their geographic ranges and the timing of their
life events – such as flowering, laying eggs or migrating – at faster rates
than researchers documented just a few years ago, according to a technical
report on biodiversity and ecosystems used as scientific input for the 2013
Third National Climate Assessment.
The
report, Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and
Ecosystem Services, synthesizes the scientific understanding of the way climate
change is affecting ecosystems, ecosystem services and the diversity of
species, as well as what strategies might be used by natural resource
practitioners to decrease current and future risks. More than 60 federal,
academic and other scientists, including the lead authors from the U.S.
Geological Survey, the National Wildlife Federation and Arizona State
University in Tempe, authored the assessment.
"These
geographic range and timing changes are causing cascading effects that extend
through ecosystems, bringing together species that haven't previously
interacted and creating mismatches between animals and their food
sources," said Nancy Grimm, a scientist at ASU and a lead author of the
report.
Grimm
explained that such mismatches in the availability and timing of natural
resources can influence species' survival; for example, if insects emerge well
before the arrival of migrating birds that rely on them for food, it can
adversely affect bird populations. Earlier thaw and shorter winters can extend
growing seasons for insect pests such as bark beetles, having devastating
consequences for the way ecosystems are structured and function. This can
substantially alter the benefits people derive from ecosystems, such as clean
water, wood products and food.
"The
impact of climate change on ecosystems has important implications for people
and communities," said Amanda Staudt, a NWF climate scientist and a lead
author on the report. "Shifting climate conditions are affecting valuable
ecosystem services, such as the role that coastal habitats play in dampening
storm surge or the ability of our forests to provide timber and help filter our
drinking water."
Another
key finding is the mounting evidence that population declines and increased
extinction risks for some plant and animal species can be directly attributed
to climate change. The most vulnerable species are those already degraded by
other human-caused stressors such as pollution or exploitation, unable to shift
their geographic range or timing of key life events, or that have narrow
environmental or ecological tolerance. For example, species that must live at
high altitudes or live in cold water with a narrow temperature range, such as
salmon, face an even greater risk due to climate change.
"The
report clearly indicates that as climate change continues to impact ecological
systems, a net loss of global species’ diversity, as well as major shifts in
the provision of ecosystem services, are quite likely," said Michelle
Staudinger, a lead author of the report and a USGS and University of Missouri
scientist.
For
example, she added, climate change is already causing shifts in the abundance
and geographic range of economically important marine fish. "These changes
will almost certainly continue, resulting in some local fisheries declining or
disappearing while others may grow and become more valuable if fishing
communities can find socially and economically viable ways to adapt to these
changes."
Natural
resource managers are already contending with what climate change means for the
way they approach conservation. For example, the report stated, land managers
are now more focused on the connectivity of protected habitats, which can
improve a species’ ability to shift its geographic range to follow optimal conditions
for survival.
"The
conservation community is grappling with how we manage our natural resources in
the face of climate change, so that we can help our ecosystems to continue
meeting the needs of both people and wildlife," said Bruce Stein, a lead
author of the report and director of climate adaptation at the National
Wildlife Federation.
Other
key findings of the report include:
Changes
in precipitation and extreme weather events can overwhelm the ability of
natural systems to reduce or prevent harm to people from these events. For
example, more frequent heavy rainfall events increase the movement of nutrients
and pollutants to downstream ecosystems, likely resulting not only in ecosystem
change, but also in adverse changes in the quality of drinking water and a
greater risk of waterborne-disease outbreaks.
Changes
in winter have big and surprising effects on ecosystems and their services.
Changes in soil freezing, snow cover and air temperature affect the ability of
ecosystems to store carbon, which, in turn, influences agricultural and forest
production. Seasonally snow-covered regions are especially susceptible to
climate change because small precipitation or temperature shifts can cause
large ecosystem changes. Longer growing seasons and warmer winters are already
increasing the likelihood of pest outbreaks, leading to tree mortality and more
intense, extensive fires. Decreased or unreliable snowfall for winter sports
and recreation will likely cause high future economic losses.
The
ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats are especially vulnerable to
sea-level rise and more severe storms. The Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts
are most vulnerable to the loss of coastal protection services provided by
wetlands and coral reefs. Along the Pacific coast, long-term dune erosion
caused by increasing wave heights is projected to cause problems for
communities and for recreational beach activities. However, other kinds of
recreation will probably improve due to better weather, with the net effect being
that visitors and tourism dollars will shift away from some communities in
favor of others.
Climate
change adaptation strategies are vital for the conservation of diverse species
and effective natural resource policy and management. As more adaptive
management approaches are developed, resource managers can enhance the
country’s ability to respond to the impacts of climate change through
forward-looking and climate science-informed goals and actions.
Ecological
monitoring needs to be improved and better coordinated among federal and state
agencies to ensure the impacts of climate change are adequately monitored and
to support ecological research, management, assessment and policy. Existing
tracking networks in the United States will need to improve coverage through
time and in geographic area to detect and track climate-induced shifts in
ecosystems and species.
Background:
Federal
law requires that the U.S. Global Change Research Program submit an assessment
of climate change and its impacts to the President and the Congress once every
four years. Technical reports, articles and books – such as this report --
underpin the corresponding chapters of the Third U.S. National Climate
Assessment, due out in 2013. This technical report is available at the USGCRP
website, as are other completed technical reports. Additional lead authors of
this report include Shawn Carter, USGS: F. Stuart Chapin III, University of
Alaska, Fairbanks; Peter Kareiva, The Nature Conservancy; and Mary Ruckelshaus,
Natural Capital Project.
Contact
Information:
U.S.
Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Office
of Communications and Publishing
12201
Sunrise Valley Dr, MS 119
Reston,
VA 20192
Catherine Puckett,
USGS
Phone:
352-377-2469
Aileo
Weinmann, NWF
Phone:
202-797-6801
Sandra
Leander, ASU
Phone:
480-965-9865
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