Northeast CASC Research Ecologist Toni Lyn Morelli Spearheads Special Issue on Climate Refugia
From Maine’s Acadia National Park to the wilds of Australia, geological conditions exist that slow the effects of climate change on the local ecology and inhabitants. How these “climate refugia” remain relatively protected from climate change impacts over time, and how they might help local plant and animal species survive, is a focus of Northeast CASC Research Ecologist, Toni Lyn Morelli.
Climate refugia, or geographic pockets where the rate of climate change is notably slower than in surrounding areas, are the focus of a recent special issue in Conservation Science and Practice, spearheaded by Northeast CASC Research Ecologist Toni Lyn Morelli. In this special issue, Morelli and her coauthors revisit previously identified climate refugia from across the globe to assess how far refugia science and conservation has come.
In their lead paper, the authors survey over 600 studies on climate refugia, noting that there’s a great deal of interest in studying these sanctuary sites. Additionally, an extensive amount of effort has already been put into identifying and mapping potential refugia, laying the groundwork for future research. The team notes, however, that much work is needed in terms of both on-the-ground implementation and in evaluating the effectiveness of each refuge. While the science and conservation of refugia is complex and evolving, these safe havens offer a bright spot amongst the challenges posed by a changing climate.
Learn more in this press release by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.