Hot topics in biodiversity and climate change research

With scientific and societal interest in biodiversity impacts of climate change growing enormously over the last decade, we analysed directions and biases in the recent most highly cited data papers in this field of research (from 2012 to 2014). The majority of this work relied on leveraging large databases of already collected historical information (but not paleo- or genetic data), and coupled these to new methodologies for making forward projections of shifts in species’ geographical ranges, with a focus on temperate and montane plants. A consistent finding was that the pace of climate-driven habitat change, along with increased frequency of extreme events, is outpacing the capacity of species or ecological communities to respond and adapt.

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Climate Change in the Tropics: Ecological and Evolutionary Responses at Low Latitudes

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics ◽

10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110218-025005 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 303-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kimberly S. Sheldon

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Life Histories ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Tropical Species ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Ecological Communities ◽

Tropical Regions ◽

Current State ◽

The Tropics ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change is affecting every ecosystem on Earth. Though climate change is global in scope, literature reviews on the biotic impacts of climate change have focused on temperate and polar regions. Tropical species have distinct life histories and physiologies, and ecological communities are assembled differently across latitude. Thus, tropical species and communities may exhibit different responses to climate change compared with those in temperate and polar regions. What are the fingerprints of climate change in the tropics? This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on impacts of climate change in tropical regions and discusses research priorities to better understand the ways in which species and ecological communities are responding to climate change in the most biodiverse places on Earth.

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Sociological Perspectives on Climate Change and Society: A Review

Climate ◽

10.3390/cli9010007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Md Saidul Islam ◽

Edson Kieu

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽

Interdisciplinary Cooperation ◽

Sociological Research ◽

Potential Core ◽

Climate Change Research ◽

Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽

Connected Body ◽

Near Future ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Society is at an important intersection in dealing with the challenges of climate change, and this paper is presented at a critical juncture in light of growing recognition that the natural sciences are insufficient to deal with these challenges. Critical aspects of sociological perspectives related to climate change research are brought together in this review in the hope of fostering greater interdisciplinary collaboration between the natural and social sciences. We fervently argue for the need to inculcate interdisciplinary approaches that can provide innovative perspectives and solutions to the challenges we face from the impacts of climate change. As such, some critical sociological perspectives are addressed, with two objectives: (a) to provide a foundational opening for readers seeking an introductory perspective and potential core contributions of sociological insights on climate change; and (b) to explore opportunities and obstacles that may occur with increased interdisciplinary cooperation and collaboration. We lay out fundamental ideas by assembling a loosely connected body of sociological research, hoping to develop and advance the collaborative research agenda between sociology and other disciplines for the near future.

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