Winter color polymorphisms identify global hot spots for evolutionary rescue from climate change

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Climate change threatens biodiversity, necessitating evolutionary rescue via adaptive traits.
• Few traits are directly linked to climate change selection, hindering conservation integration.
• Seasonal coat color molting in vertebrates (e.g., brown to white) is a potential adaptive trait.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify vertebrate traits under direct selection by anthropogenic climate change.
• To investigate clinal variation in winter coat color across vertebrate species.
• To pinpoint hotspots for evolutionary rescue in changing climates.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed 2713 georeferenced samples of winter coat color from eight vertebrate species.
• Mapped clinal gradients in winter coat color (brown vs. white morphs).
• Assessed co-occurrence of morphs in polymorphic zones.

Main Results:

• Identified environmentally driven clinal gradients in winter coat color.
• Documented polymorphic zones where brown and white morphs coexist.
• Found these zones are underrepresented in current protected area networks.

Conclusions:

• Seasonal coat color is a key trait influenced by climate change.
• Polymorphic zones represent critical areas for evolutionary rescue.
• Conservation strategies must incorporate these evolutionary hotspots for effective biodiversity maintenance.