Reimagining species on the move across space and time

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Climate Change Biology
• Conservation Science

Background:

• Climate change significantly impacts biodiversity, influencing species' life cycles and distributions.
• Current studies often focus on single dimensions (space or time) or gradients (latitude or phenology) of species movement.
• A fragmented understanding limits effective conservation and resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a unifying framework for studying species movement across multiple scales and dimensions.
• To integrate the understanding of how species respond to climate change.
• To improve future conservation planning and natural resource management.

Main Methods:

• This opinion article proposes a conceptual framework.
• It synthesizes existing knowledge on species' spatial and temporal shifts.
• The framework aims to connect micro- and macro-scale observations.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive framework is proposed to integrate the study of species on the move.
• The framework accounts for movement across space and time, and from micro to macro scales.
• This integrated approach enhances understanding, attribution, and prediction of climate-driven species shifts.

Conclusions:

• An integrated framework is crucial for understanding and predicting climate change impacts on biodiversity.
• Improved understanding of species movement is essential for effective conservation planning.
• This framework will aid natural resource managers in adapting to ongoing environmental changes.