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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2025

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Shifting, expanding, or contracting? Range movement consequences for biodiversity.

Jedediah F Brodie¹, Benjamin G Freeman², Philip D Mannion³

¹Division of Biological Sciences and Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|March 1, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Climate change alters species ranges, impacting biodiversity. Understanding these shifts and expansions is crucial for predicting future ecological changes and conserving species globally.

Keywords:

climate change community diversity extinction risk latitudinal diversity gradient paleoclimate range shift

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Biodiversity Science
Climate Change Biology

Background:

Climate change drives significant alterations in species distribution patterns globally.
Observed range shifts and expansions have complex and often overlooked effects on local and global biodiversity.
Past climate changes demonstrate that species range dynamics are a key factor in biodiversity responses.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the divergent consequences of species range shifts and expansions on biodiversity.
To provide a framework for understanding how changing species ranges will reshape Earth's biodiversity.
To propose key research directions for predicting biodiversity responses to climate change.

Main Methods:

Reviewing current understanding of species range dynamics under climate change.
Analyzing the predicted impacts of range shifts and expansions on local and global diversity patterns.
Synthesizing insights from paleontology and ecological monitoring.

Main Results:

Widespread range shifts are expected to increase local diversity in many regions but decrease it in tropical lowlands.
Expansions are predicted to maintain diversity at low latitudes and increase it elsewhere, potentially stabilizing global biodiversity.
Both shifts and expansions are common, historically significant responses to climate change.

Conclusions:

Future biodiversity will be significantly reshaped by climate-driven range dynamics.
Further research is needed to leverage paleontological data for long-term insights.
Improved monitoring of range limits and incorporation of dispersal barriers are essential for accurate predictions.