Beyond Habitat Selection: Physiological Responses of

Species to Climate

Betsy ReardonGEO 387H: Physical ClimatologyLiterature Review PresentationProfessor: Dr. Zong-Liang Yang

Presentation Outline

• Introduction to Ecology/Biogeography• Climate Envelope Models vs.

Mechanistic Models• Key Life History Features and Their

Relationship to Climate• Conclusions

Introduction

• What is Ecology?• What is Biogeography?• Species Ranges and Range Limits

http://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/communis

Introduction

• What is Ecology?• What is Biogeography?• Species Ranges and Range Limits• Future Predictions about Range

Climate Envelope Model

• Based on Ecological Niche Theory– Hutchinson 1957

• Define Current Range• Determine Correlative Environmental

Variables• Attempt to Anticipate Future Spatial of

Environmental Variables

• Species Track Environmental Variables

Climate Envelope Model

• Based on either presence-absence data or abundance counts

• Assume full range information with comprehensive data

• Assume capturing all significant environmental variables

• Attempt to not “Over-Fit” the data

http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol4/iss1/art1/figure2

http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/eb/avanderg/pitfall_locations2.jpg

Mechanistic Model

• Identify relationship between key biological events and climate

• Predict physiological responses to climate change

• Forecast future range boundaries

Key Life History Features

• Migration• Sex Determination• Phenology• Reproduction

Migration

• Triggers classically studied as either temperature or lighting variations

• Suggest relationship to large-scale global climate phenomena– Ex. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)– Huppop and Huppop (2003)

http://www.bird-friends.com/pics/BlackThroatedBlueWarbler

http://www.fws.gov/arrowwood/pothole.html

Sex Determination

• Human sex determination is based on sex chromosomes

• Most reptile sex determination is based on environmental controls

http://i1.treknature.com/

• 2ºC shifted from normal• 4ºC beyond rebound

http://www.parkerriver.org

Phenology

• Study of the timing of biological events– Use to study reaction of species to

climate change– Use to anticipate shifts in ecological

relationships

Reproduction

• Commonly coupled with other life history events

• Reproductive success is dependent on climate

http://www.naturcymru.org.uk

http://www.marksphotos.nuttybird.net

Conclusions

• Essential links between key life history events and climate

• Rate of evolution and climate change• Climate Envelop vs. Mechanistic

Models