Rapid climate warming has caused species across the globe to shift their geographic ranges, and ecologists are increasingly concerned about whether species are able to track climate warming. Early efforts to predict species ranges used statistical correlation models that neglected population dynamics. Recently, theoretical ecologists have begun to incorporate both population growth and dispersal in their models. Integrodifference equations are useful in describing spatiotemporal dynamics of species with distinct growth and dispersal stages. These equations can accommodate a diverse assortment of dispersal mechanisms. I incorporated climate warming into some classic examples of integrodifference equations by letting the niche curve, a curve describing environmental suitability for population growth on a spatial gradient, shift in one direction. The equations thus become non-autonomous. Using a series of these non-autonomous integrodifference equations, I investigate the impact of changing climatic conditions on a single-species population. These integrodifference equations can prescribe climate-warming scenarios and environmental heterogeneity in a versatile way. These new models capture the range-shift phenomenon. A population experiencing niche-curve shifts exhibits traveling pulse solutions when it persists. The population may, however, lag behind the shifting niche curve, and carry a niche deficit. The niche deficit may stabilize at a level, or keep accumulating, depending on the acceleration of climate warming. Acceleration of climate warming is shown to impose extra burden on the species, compared with constant-speed warming, even if the amount of warming is the same over the same period of time for a fair comparison. The population experiencing climate warming may also fail to persist, and go extinct, if climate warming is too rapid. The threshold speed for persistence, or the critical speed, c*, can be viewed as the species' ability to keep up with climate warming. This critical speed depends both on the species' growth or recruitment, and its dispersal.

The potential for geographic range shifts of species is a pressing issue in ecology given the rapid rate of anthropogenic climate change. The shifts will change total species richness and biodiversity patterns because species likely differ in their capacity to shift under climate change. This concern has sparked efforts to project changes in species' geographic distributions. Several of the underlying assumptions of the ecological theories driving these projections, however, have not been rigorously tested. Current models of species' ranges assume uniformity with respect to climatic impacts on fitness for all individuals of a species, which ignores local selection and historical genetic differences. Following this, these models assume that warmer temperature at the poleward edge of a species' range will increase fitness ('peripheral enhancement'), causing population increases and greater poleward colonization. My dissertation examines this assumption by using two butterfly species, Erynnis propertius and Papillo zelicaon, that co-occur and have contrasting levels of host specialization and dispersal ability. The aim of my research is to determine if populations are uniform or differentiated with respect to their responses to both temperature and host plant. I used a series of common garden experiments in the field and lab where I variede climate and host plant to see if locally adapted forms within species are present. I did not find evidence of local adaption in P. zelicaon, but populations across the species' range performed poorly temperature altered growth and survivorship in this species. Growth and survivorship of E. propertius larvae increased in warmer conditions. However, local adaptation during the overwintering period counteracted the increases found during the growing period. Further, southern population of E. propertius are locally adapted to their natal host plants, so colonization poleward may be further limited. This more nuanced consideration of species could lead to different expectations for the biological consequences of climate change if species can not shift their ranges as previously projected. We can not properly mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity until our projection methods capture realistic dynamics of species' ranges.

A critical synthesis of the impacts of climate change on birds, examining potential future effects and conservation responses.

This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.

In recent years an increasing number of studies have been published reporting observations of adapted behaviour and shifting species ranges of plant and animal species due to recent climate warming. Are these `fingerprints' of climate change? An international conference was organised to bring together scientists from different continents with different expertise but sharing the same issue of climate change impact studies. Ecologists, zoologists, and botanists exchanged and discussed the findings from their individual field of research. The present book is an international collection of biological signs of recent climate warming, neither based only on computer models nor on prediction for the future, but mainly on actually occurring changes in the biosphere such as adapted behaviour or shifts in the ranges of species. `Fingerprints' of Climate Change presents ecological evidence that organisms are responding to recent global warming. The observed changes may foreshadow the types of impacts likely to become more frequent and widespread with continued warming.

A synthesis of present understanding of the structure of the geographic ranges of species, which is a core issue in ecology and biogeography with implications for many of the environmental issues presently facing humankind.

More than a quarter of bird species are concentrated in areas that together make up just one per cent of the earth's land surface. These restricted range species include almost three-quarters of all threatened birds. BirdLife International has identified 218 Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs), which hold at least two restricted range species, although some support more than 60. EBAs provide a reasonable overlap with the biodiversity hotspots identified by other conservation organisations, and are a focus for conservation action. At the heart of this book are descriptions of all 218 EBAs, including key habitats, major threats and conservation initiatives and a detailed map. Tables list the restricted-range bird species present, with their global status, habitat requirements and distribution. Introductory sections present global and regional overviews. The authors discuss the wider conservation relevance of EBAs, including why birds are good indicators of biodiversity, and how EBAs can be used effectively to influence policy-makers. A comprehensive overview of the regions of the world that support the vast majority of our imperilled and vulnerable birds - Birding. biodiversity - The Quarterly Review of Biology. The ultimate guide to range-restricted birds. Conservation managers, ecologists and birders alike will want to own this unprecedented work - Conservation Biology. The ultimate 'where to watch birds' - BBC Wildlife.