Phylogenetic patterns of species loss in Thoreau's woods are driven by climate change.

ABSTRACT: Climate change has led to major changes in the phenology (the timing of seasonal activities, such as flowering) of some species but not others. The extent to which flowering-time response to temperature is shared among closely related species might have important consequences for community-wide patterns of species loss under rapid climate change. Henry David Thoreau initiated a dataset of the Concord, Massachusetts, flora that spans approximately 150 years and provides information on changes in species abundance and flowering time. When these data are analyzed in a phylogenetic context, they indicate that change in abundance is strongly correlated with flowering-time response. Species that do not respond to temperature have decreased greatly in abundance, and include among others anemones

SUBMITTER: Willis CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2573948 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature