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Biological diversity refers to the variation among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. This includes the interrelated nature of genetics, species, and populations across the landscape (1). Biological diversity is essential to maintaining ecosystem processes and services; when loss occurs, ecosystem functionality is reduced (2, 3, 4). Losses of biological diversity over the past century have been unprecedented with environmental stressors such as land-use change, habitat degradation, landscape fragmentation, pollutants, and invasive species taking their toll.

Climate change has become an additional stress on species and communities, one that is expected to increase with time (5). Average temperatures in the United States have risen 2°F over the past half-century (6). The U. S. Global Change Research Program (7) reports that Alaska has warmed at twice the rate (3.4°F) during the same time period, causing reduced sea ice, glacier retreat, and permafrost warming. In the Southeast, fall precipitation has increased 30% and the number of freezing days has declined 4-7 days per year (7). Rising winter temperatures in the Northeast has resulted in longer growing seasons, less winter precipitation falling as snow, and earlier peak river flows. Heat waves, severe drought, and declining water resources are becoming issues in the Southwest and Great Plains (8). Higher temperatures (1.5°F – 4°F) in the Northwest have contributed to earlier snowmelt and reduced stream flows during the summer (9). Sea level rise, high water temperatures, and ocean acidification are concerns in coastal regions.

Knowledge is evolving as researchers refine levels of uncertainty and contrast anthropogenic activities altering atmospheric composition with natural climate variability. Ecological response models (occupancy, vegetation, other) using downscaled climate data will play important roles. Management options that can help maintain biodiversity even where uncertainties exist include:

• Vulnerability assessments to identify species and communities at risk, including strategies to maximize persistence, dispersal, and ecosystem resilience (6).
• Ecological risk evaluation for areas of imminent change.
• Identification of barriers to migration and identification of mitigation measures to enhance landscape connectivity into future planning efforts.
• Long-term monitoring strategies to identify patterns in disturbance and phenology including the evaluation of current environmental indicators of biological diversity and resiliency.
• Adaptive restoration strategies based on predicted species range expansion and contraction, storm surge proximity, and seal level rise.
• Enhancement of genetic diversity to provide resilience against environmental stressors.
• Development of innovative tools for integrating climate change science into land management planning.

Trani Griep, M.; Manley, P. 2012. Biodiversity and Climate Change. (January 4, 2012). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/biodiversity