Climate is recognized as one of the main factors responsible for shaping large-scale species distributions. Global climate change observed over the past decades has produced shifts in the distribution and abundance of numerous species and is responsible for species extinction. Increased levels of global warming are expected to have different effects on species, based on their life-history traits,, dispersal rates, and habitat requirements. Predicted outcomes include range shifts following changing environments, adaptation to novel conditions, isolation to unaffected regions (refugia), and extinction.

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