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Habitat Climate Change Vulnerability Index Applied to Major Vegetation Types of the Western Interior United States

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick J. Comer

    (NatureServe, 1680 38th Street, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301, USA)

  • Jon C. Hak

    (NatureServe, 1680 38th Street, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301, USA)

  • Marion S. Reid

    (NatureServe, 1680 38th Street, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301, USA)

  • Stephanie L. Auer

    (NatureServe, 2511 Richmond Highway, Suite 930, Arlington, VA 22202, USA)

  • Keith A. Schulz

    (NatureServe, 1680 38th Street, Suite 120, Boulder, CO 80301, USA)

  • Healy H. Hamilton

    (NatureServe, 2511 Richmond Highway, Suite 930, Arlington, VA 22202, USA)

  • Regan L. Smyth

    (NatureServe, 2511 Richmond Highway, Suite 930, Arlington, VA 22202, USA)

  • Matthew M. Kling

    (Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

Abstract

We applied a framework to assess climate change vulnerability of 52 major vegetation types in the Western United States to provide a spatially explicit input to adaptive management decisions. The framework addressed climate exposure and ecosystem resilience; the latter derived from analyses of ecosystem sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Measures of climate change exposure used observed climate change (1981–2014) and then climate projections for the mid-21st century (2040–2069 RCP 4.5). Measures of resilience included (under ecosystem sensitivity) landscape intactness, invasive species, fire regime alteration, and forest insect and disease risk, and (under adaptive capacity), measures for topo-climate variability, diversity within functional species groups, and vulnerability of any keystone species. Outputs are generated per 100 km 2 hexagonal area for each type. As of 2014, moderate climate change vulnerability was indicated for >50% of the area of 50 of 52 types. By the mid-21st century, all but 19 types face high or very high vulnerability with >50% of the area scoring in these categories. Measures for resilience explain most components of vulnerability as of 2014, with most targeted vegetation scoring low in adaptive capacity measures and variably for specific sensitivity measures. Elevated climate exposure explains increases in vulnerability between the current and mid-century time periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick J. Comer & Jon C. Hak & Marion S. Reid & Stephanie L. Auer & Keith A. Schulz & Healy H. Hamilton & Regan L. Smyth & Matthew M. Kling, 2019. "Habitat Climate Change Vulnerability Index Applied to Major Vegetation Types of the Western Interior United States," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-27, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:7:p:108-:d:246228
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Han Li & Wei Song, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of Ecosystem Vulnerability on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Patrick J. Comer & Jon C. Hak & Patrick McIntyre, 2022. "Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability in the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems—Results Demonstrated for a Cross-Section of Major Vegetation-Based Ecosystem Types in the United States," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Pinki Mondal & Sonali Shukla McDermid, 2021. "Editorial for Special Issue: “Global Vegetation and Land Surface Dynamics in a Changing Climate”," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-4, January.

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