Forecasting cloud forest in eastern and southern Mexico conservation insights under future climate change

Assuming that co-distributed species are exposed to similar environmental conditions, ecological niche models (ENMs) of cloud forest species were developed to study how climate change could affect the distribution of cloud forest in eastern and southern Mexico for the year 2050. Using ENM-based predictions and climatic data for IPCC climate change A2 and B2 scenarios, we observed 54-76% reduction of the cloud forest, mainly in the northern region of its current range (Sierra Madre Oriental) and the Pacific slope of Chiapas. With predicted 2050 climate change, cloud forest in the Los Tuxtlas region and El Cielo Biosphere Reserve may face a serious threat of extinction due to the observed upward migration to higher elevations. Our results add to recent studies detecting negative impacts of climate change in montane forests, but the negative impacts of climate change might be exacerbated by current environmental changes in the region. The integration of ecological-niche characteristics of cloud forest in conjunction with projections of extreme climate scenarios constitute a suitable tool to define appropriate areas in which proactive conservation and management strategies should be focused.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rojas Soto, Octavio R. autor/a, Sosa, Victoria autor/a 13498, Ornelas, Juan Francisco autor/a
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Bosque de niebla, Cambio climático, Uso de la tierra, Espacios naturales protegidos, Disturbio ecológico, Artfrosur,
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!