title: Disentangling effects of uncertainties on population projections: climate change impact on an epixylic bryophyte.
abstract: Assessment of future ecosystem risks should account for the relevant uncertainty sources. This means accounting for the joint effects of climate variables and using modelling techniques that allow proper treatment of uncertainties. We investigate the influence of three of the IPCC's scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions (special report on emission scenarios (SRES)) on projections of the future abundance of a bryophyte model species. We also compare the relative importance of uncertainty sources on the population projections. The whole chain global climate model (GCM)-regional climate model-population dynamics model is addressed. The uncertainty depends on both natural- and model-related sources, in particular on GCM uncertainty. Ignoring the uncertainties gives an unwarranted impression of confidence in the results. The most likely population development of the bryophyte Buxbaumia viridis towards the end of this century is negative: even with a low-emission scenario, there is more than a 65 per cent risk for the population to be halved. The conclusion of a population decline is valid for all SRES scenarios investigated. Uncertainties are no longer an obstacle, but a mandatory aspect to include in the viability analysis of populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), PO Box 7044, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. aleruete@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruete
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bärring
authors.forename: Nils Chr
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Stenseth
authors.forename: Tord
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Snäll
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000502:physiology*; D057231:Climate Change; D017753:Ecosystem; D057232:Global Warming; D011157:Population Dynamics; D035501:Uncertainty