Study Identifies Natural Strongholds for Species Displaced by Climate Change

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=study-identifies-natural-strongholds-displaced-species

A diverse array of ecosystems piles into the folds and faults of central Appalachia, a chain of peaks extending through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Floodplain forests and river shore grasslands dot the lower reaches, while high-elevation swamps, shale barrens and stands of dwarf oak mark the highland places.

The complex geology and high rates of biodiversity in the region -- currently home to an estimated 7,452 plant and animal species -- make it a potential "natural stronghold" in the fight against climate change, according to a new, multimillion-dollar study by the Nature Conservancy.

Titled "Resilient Sites for Terrestrial Conservation," the study analyzed more than 156 million acres of land stretching from Virginia to Maine and into adjacent portions of Canada. Based on its results, Nature Conservancy scientists identified a number of geologically and ecologically complex sites throughout the Northeast that could function as strongholds.

"These strongholds will be critical to all life as the threats of climate change continue to grow," said Mark Anderson, regional director of conservation science with the Nature Conservancy. "They could serve as breeding grounds and seed banks for many animal and plant species that otherwise may be unable to find habitat due to climate change."