Biodiversity in a Changing Climate ─ Linking Science and Management in Conservation

A major consequence of climate change can be abrupt, dramatic changes in regional biodiversity. Even under the most optimistic scenarios for mitigating climate change, the fate of many wild species rests on the shoulders of those engaged in conservation planning, management, and policy. Thus, it’s critical that resource managers have access to the latest developments in climate change research in a way that’s useful to them, but is often challenging given the science-management divide.”

Biodiversity in a Changing Climate addresses this chasm by establishing a framework to promote dialog among scientists, decision makers and managers who are grappling with the increasing threats to species and ecosystems in a rapidly changing climate. The book includes case studies and best practices used to address impacts related to climate change across a broad spectrum of species and habitatsfrom coastal krill and sea urchins to prairie grass and mountain bumblebees. While focused on California, the issues and strategies presented throughout the book will translate to regions across the West and farther, and is meant to be a framework for how scientists and managers in any region can bridge the communication divide in the interest of managing biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

Biodiversity and a Changing Climate will prove an indispensable guide to students, scientists, and professionals engaged in conservation and resource management.

Terry L. Root is a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, and Professor, by courtesy, in the Department of Biology at Stanford University. She studies climate change impacts on wild animals and plants, with a current focus on mass extinction as a result of global warming. She was lead author on the third (2001) and fourth (2007) assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and a Review Editor for the Fifth (2014) Assessment Report. In 2007, she shared the Nobel Peace Prize with other IPCC participants, and with Al Gore.

Kimberly R. Hall is adjunct professor jointly in the Dept. of Forestry and Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. She is also the recent-past Climate Change Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy.

Mark Herzog is a quantitative ecologist and wildlife biologist for the USGS Western Ecological Center. He is the former co--Director of the Informatics Division at PRBO Conservation Science.

Christine A. Howell is Senior Conservation Scientist for Point Blue (formerly the Point Reyes Biological Observatory).