Daniel Gibson-Reinemer of the Illinois Natural History Survey will present “Climate change effects on species’ distributions and ecological assemblages” Thursday, September 10, at 4p.m. in 210 Moulton Hall.

Abstract

Climate change has altered a number of ecological processes, including the geographical distribution of species. Species’ distributions are meaningful indicators of change because they influence species’ interactions: when species change their distributions, they often form new assemblages and interact with different species. In this talk, I will examine patterns and mechanisms of range shifts in plants, insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians, mammals, marine invertebrates, and fish across five continents. Species’ traits and physiology influence how species respond to climate change, highlighting the importance of fundamental research in biology.