Impact of a century of climate change on small-mammal communities in Yosemite National Park, USA

Science. 2008 Oct 10;322(5899):261-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1163428.

Abstract

We provide a century-scale view of small-mammal responses to global warming, without confounding effects of land-use change, by repeating Grinnell's early-20th century survey across a 3000-meter-elevation gradient that spans Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Using occupancy modeling to control for variation in detectability, we show substantial ( approximately 500 meters on average) upward changes in elevational limits for half of 28 species monitored, consistent with the observed approximately 3 degrees C increase in minimum temperatures. Formerly low-elevation species expanded their ranges and high-elevation species contracted theirs, leading to changed community composition at mid- and high elevations. Elevational replacement among congeners changed because species' responses were idiosyncratic. Though some high-elevation species are threatened, protection of elevation gradients allows other species to respond via migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization
  • Altitude
  • Animal Migration
  • Animals
  • Biodiversity*
  • California
  • Climate*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Greenhouse Effect*
  • Mammals*
  • Population Dynamics
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors