Winds of change

[PUBLICATION] Global wind patterns and the vulnerability of wind-dispersed species to climate change

Overview

This research, published in Nature Climate Change (2020), investigates how global wind currents may facilitate or hinder species adaptation to climate change. For wind-dispersed and wind-pollinated species, range shifts and gene flow toward cooler locations are essential mechanisms for climate adaptation, and these processes are significantly influenced by the geography of wind currents.

Research Approach

We developed a novel wind connectivity modeling framework and combined it with global data on projected climate change to assess where wind patterns might accelerate or impede adaptive processes. Our analysis identified regions where wind directions align with or oppose the trajectories needed for tracking suitable climate conditions.

Key Findings

The results reveal that unfavorable wind patterns in certain regions—including tropical zones and leeward sides of mountain ranges—likely reduce the adaptive capacity of wind-dispersed species in these areas. This research advances our understanding of species vulnerability to climate change by incorporating the critical role of dispersal vectors.

Citation: Kling, M.M., & Ackerly, D.D. (2020). Global wind patterns and the vulnerability of wind-dispersed species to climate change. Nature Climate Change, 10, 868-875. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0848-3

Resources: PDF available here