Bioclimatic transect networks: Powerful observatories of ecological change |
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| Authors: | Stefan Caddy‐Retalic Alan N Andersen Michael J Aspinwall Martin F Breed Margaret Byrne Matthew J Christmas Ning Dong Bradley J Evans Damien A Fordham Greg R Guerin Ary A Hoffmann Alice C Hughes Stephen J van Leeuwen Francesca A McInerney Suzanne M Prober Maurizio Rossetto Paul D Rymer Dorothy A Steane Glenda M Wardle Andrew J Lowe |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Australian Transect Network, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), Adelaide, SA, Australia;2. School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia;3. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia;4. Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW, Australia;5. Science and Conservation Division, Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Kensington, WA, Australia;6. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia;7. Ecosystem Modelling and Scaling Infrastructure, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), Adelaide, SA, Australia;8. School Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;9. School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia;10. Centre for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla County, Yunnan, China;11. Sprigg Geobiology Centre and School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia;12. CSIRO Land and Water, Wembley, WA, Australia;13. National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney, NSW, Australia;14. School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia;15. Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia;16. Long Term Ecological Research Network, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN), Adelaide, SA, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Transects that traverse substantial climate gradients are important tools for climate change research and allow questions on the extent to which phenotypic variation associates with climate, the link between climate and species distributions, and variation in sensitivity to climate change among biomes to be addressed. However, the potential limitations of individual transect studies have recently been highlighted. Here, we argue that replicating and networking transects, along with the introduction of experimental treatments, addresses these concerns. Transect networks provide cost‐effective and robust insights into ecological and evolutionary adaptation and improve forecasting of ecosystem change. We draw on the experience and research facilitated by the Australian Transect Network to demonstrate our case, with examples, to clarify how population‐ and community‐level studies can be integrated with observations from multiple transects, manipulative experiments, genomics, and ecological modeling to gain novel insights into how species and systems respond to climate change. This integration can provide a spatiotemporal understanding of past and future climate‐induced changes, which will inform effective management actions for promoting biodiversity resilience. |
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| Keywords: | change detection community turnover ecological forecasting environmental gradients spatial analogues transect replication |
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