Climate change vulnerability of terrestrial vertebrates in a major refuge and dispersal corridor in North America

Climate-induced distribution dynamics and niche adaptation of South Korean endemic plants across the Korean Peninsula

As climate change intensifies, endemic plants native to South Korea, especially those in specialized ecological niches, confront heightened risks of distribution shifts and habitat degradation. To provide a comprehensive understanding of these impacts, this study evaluates the climate-induced distribution dynamics and niche adaptation of these endemic species across the entire Korean Peninsula. Utilizing species distribution models (SDMs) for 179 plant species and incorporating environmental variables under projected future climate scenarios, our analysis identified unique distribution and niche adaptation patterns. Findings demonstrate that specialized endemic species are likely to migrate to higher altitudes and latitudes, highlighting their distinct vulnerability due to limited ecological niches. Our comparative approach underscores the necessity for refined conservation strategies that address the specific requirements of these endemic species, as opposed to those with wider distributions. This research offers valuable insights into biodiversity conservation amid climate change, proposing targeted actions such as the establishment of protected areas, habitat restoration, and the implementation of assisted migration strategies to safeguard these vital endemic plant species throughout the Korean Peninsula.

Small mammals in a mountain ecosystem: the effect of topographic, micrometeorological, and biological correlates on their community structure

An increasing number of studies have investigated spatial and temporal patterns in species richness and assemblage composition in mountain ecosystems along altitudinal gradients. Small mammals have been successfully used as indicators of environmental health and as proxies of biodiversity. However, information about the composition and distribution of species assemblages in the mosaic of habitat and rocky landform types at a high altitude is still lacking for most of the mountain regions. Through the use of live traps and camera trapping, we described the small mammal community living above the treeline of the Western Dolomites (Italian Alps), investigating the species richness, abundance of individuals and community composition in relation to topographic, micrometeorological, mesohabitat, and biological correlates. A total of five species and 50 individuals were sampled, analysed, and released. At the extremes of the analysed altitudinal range (i.e. 1900 vs 2900 m a.s.l.), community composition was completely different and species richness was related to elevation, steepness, and vegetation cover. At the same time, the taxonomic distinctness of ground-dwelling arthropods (namely carabid beetles and spiders), a proxy of habitat complexity, showed higher values in areas with a greater small mammal species richness. We found a positive effect of steepness and rocky landform type “carsism” on the number of captured individuals, showing the importance of the availability of shelters and underground burrows for the sampled species. As a confirmation of the altitudinal shift for these species in relation to the ongoing climate change, we detected a negative impact of sub-surface ground temperature on small mammal abundance during the monitoring period. In conclusion, small mammals represent an excellent model for understanding the evolutionary processes of ecosystems, population dynamics under changing environmental conditions, and habitat vulnerabilities.