Open AccessThe effectiveness of protected areas in the conservation of species with changing geographical ranges
Author(s) -
Gillingham Phillipa K.,
Bradbury Richard B.,
Roy David B.,
Anderson Barbara J.,
Baxter John M.,
Bourn Nigel A. D.,
Crick Humphrey Q. P.,
Findon Richard A.,
Fox Richard,
Franco Aldina,
Hill Jane K.,
Hodgson Jenny A.,
Holt Alison R.,
Morecroft Mike D.,
O'Hanlon Nina J.,
Oliver Tom H.,
PearceHiggins James W.,
Procter Deborah A.,
Thomas Jeremy A.,
Walker Kevin J.,
Walmsley Clive A.,
Wilson Robert J.,
Thomas Chris D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/bij.12506
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , range (aeronautics) , biodiversity , climate change , species distribution , umbrella species , butterfly , latitude , distribution (mathematics) , endangered species , geography , habitat , mathematical analysis , materials science , mathematics , geodesy , composite material
A cornerstone of conservation is the designation and management of protected areas ( PAs ): locations often under conservation management containing species of conservation concern, where some development and other detrimental influences are prevented or mitigated. However, the value of PAs for conserving biodiversity in the long term has been questioned given that species are changing their distributions in response to climatic change. There is a concern that PAs may become climatically unsuitable for those species that they were designated to protect, and may not be located appropriately to receive newly‐colonizing species for which the climate is improving. In the present study, we analyze fine‐scale distribution data from detailed resurveys of seven butterfly and 11 bird species in G reat B ritain aiming to examine any effect of PA designation in preventing extinctions and promoting colonizations. We found a positive effect of PA designation on species' persistence at trailing‐edge warm range margins, although with a decreased magnitude at higher latitudes and altitudes. In addition, colonizations by range expanding species were more likely to occur on PAs even after altitude and latitude were taken into account. PAs will therefore remain an important strategy for conservation. The potential for PA management to mitigate the effects of climatic change for retracting species deserves further investigation. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2015, ●● , ●●–●●.