Ecosystems are dynamic and undergo change as a function of time in response to a variety of stressors, including climate. Climate change has the potential to influence the geographic location of ecosystems, species diversity, and ecosystem services.
Human activity can exacerbate the impact of climate change through the build-up of greenhouse gases.
While ecosystems are capable of adapting to change, global change may occur at a rate so rapid that ecosystems are unable to keep up, and thus are vulnerable. Species or ecosystems whose natural habitat is within an ecotone are expected to exhibit the first signals of global change. Latitudinal migration of high altitude wild flowers, for example, may be such a signal. Identification of changes within these sentinel species would significantly decrease the uncertainty as to whether climate change is indeed occurring and provide information on the vulnerability of these sensitive ecosystems to climate change. Our research also focuses on coastal areas which are extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise and therefore considered high risk.