title: Managing Climate Change Refugia for Climate Adaptation.
abstract: Refugia have long been studied from paleontological and biogeographical perspectives to understand how populations persisted during past periods of unfavorable climate. Recently, researchers have applied the idea to contemporary landscapes to identify climate change refugia, here defined as areas relatively buffered from contemporary climate change over time that enable persistence of valued physical, ecological, and socio-cultural resources. We differentiate historical and contemporary views, and characterize physical and ecological processes that create and maintain climate change refugia. We then delineate how refugia can fit into existing decision support frameworks for climate adaptation and describe seven steps for managing them. Finally, we identify challenges and opportunities for operationalizing the concept of climate change refugia. Managing climate change refugia can be an important option for conservation in the face of ongoing climate change.
authors: U.S. Geological Survey, DOI Northeast Climate Science Center, Amherst, MA, United States of America.|Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.|Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.
authors: Toni Lyn
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5865-5294
authors: TL
authors: Morelli
authors: College of Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States of America.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Daly
authors: College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States of America.
authors: Solomon Z
authors: SZ
authors: Dobrowski
authors: U.S. National Park Service, Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, CA, United States of America.
authors: Deanna M
authors: DM
authors: Dulen
authors: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Ecological Division, Corvallis, OR, United States of America.
authors: Joseph L
authors: JL
authors: Ebersole
authors: U.S. Geological Survey, DOI Southwest Climate Science Center, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.|Department of Geosciences and School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America.
authors: Stephen T
authors: ST
authors: Jackson
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors: Jessica D
authors: JD
authors: Lundquist
authors: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, CA, United States of America.
authors: Constance I
authors: CI
authors: Millar
authors: Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.|Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.|Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, United States of America.
authors: Sean P
authors: SP
authors: Maher
authors: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America.
authors: William B
authors: WB
authors: Monahan
authors: U.S. National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers, CA, United States of America.
authors: Koren R
authors: KR
authors: Nydick
authors: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, United States of America.
authors: Kelly T
authors: KT
authors: Redmond
authors: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Vallejo, CA, United States of America.
authors: Sarah C
authors: SC
authors: Sawyer
authors: U.S. National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, El Portal, CA, United States of America.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Stock
authors: Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.|Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Beissinger
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D057231:Climate Change; D017753:Ecosystem; D011817:Rabbits; D000068236:Refugium