Uncertainty in thermal tolerances and climatic debt
As modern climate change causes rapid geographical shifts of environmental conditions, there are great concerns that numerous species could be unable to track suitable environments, thereby incurring a 'climatic debt'. Recently, Devictor et al. reported that the composition of bird and butterfly communities across Europe has changed at a lower rate than could be expected given the observed increase in temperature. They concluded that communities are accumulating a significant climatic debt.
Publication Date:
01/09/2012
2
9
636-637