Using Plant Traits to Assess Threatened Species Adaptive Capacity Under Climate Change
Author: Rachael Gallagher
Publisher:
Published: 2018-03
Total Pages:
ISBN-13: 9780992500634
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis report aims to assess the adaptive capacity of plant taxa listed under the NSW TSC Act to climate change. Data availability has allowed us to use a trait-based, quantitative framework to classify 342 of NSW's threatened plant species relative to four key areas relevant for response to climate change: dispersal capacity, reproduction, level of niche specialisation and spatial coverage. We have established which of these limiting factors underpin species' vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate change. We also show where important data gaps in basic ecological information about threatened species need to be addressed. We have used the analysis of adaptive capacity and vulnerability to recommend a suite of management actions which may be most appropriate and effective for increasing the adaptive capacity of threatened species under climate change.