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Global Warming: Can Existing Reserves Really Preserve Current Levels of Biological Diversity?
Author(s) -
Li MaiHe,
Kräuchi Norbert,
Gao SuPing
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2006.00232.x
Subject(s) - global warming , climate change , context (archaeology) , pace , glacial period , range (aeronautics) , global change , geography , diversity (politics) , nature reserve , elevation (ballistics) , effects of global warming , ecology , biodiversity , latitude , environmental science , biology , political science , paleontology , materials science , geometry , geodesy , law , composite material , mathematics , archaeology
Paleoecological evidence and paleoclimatic records indicate that there was a plant poleward migration in latitude and an upward shift in elevation with increased temperatures after the last glaciation. Recent studies have shown that global warming over the past 100 years has been having a noticeable effect on living systems. Current global warming is causing a poleward and upward shift in the range of many plants and animals. Climate change, in connection with other global changes, is threatening the survival of a wide range of plant and animal species. This raises the question: can existing reserves really preserve current levels of biological diversity in the long term given the present rapid pace of climate change? The present paper deals with this question in the context of the responses of plants and animals to global climate change, based on a literature review. Consequently, we recommend expanding reserves towards the poles and/or towards higher altitudes, to permit species to shift their ranges to keep pace with global warming. (Managing editor: Ya‐Qin Han)