IGN 2
From Mountains to Coasts: Ecosystems in the Third National Climate Assessment

Monday, August 11, 2014: 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
313, Sacramento Convention Center
Organizer:
Rebecca J. Aicher, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Co-organizer:
Emily Therese Cloyd, US Global Change Research Program National Coordination Office
Moderator:
Rebecca J. Aicher, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The United States National Climate Assessment (NCA) collects, integrates, and assesses observations and research from around the country, helping to show how the climate is changing and what it means for peoples’ lives, livelihoods, and future. The Third NCA Report (released in spring 2014), the most comprehensive assessment of climate change science, impacts, and responses in the United States to date, analyzes the current and future impacts of climate change on a number of socioeconomic and environmental sectors. The report discusses numerous impacts of climate change on ecosystems, including shifts in biodiversity and location of species, disruptions in ecosystem structures and functions, inability of ecosystems to adapt to change, and alterations to the capacity of ecosystems to moderate the consequences of disturbances. Because of the importance of ecosystems to humanity, impacts will affect the fisheries, drinking water, air quality, croplands, and iconic species and landscapes that support jobs, economic growth, health, and human well-being. This session will highlight major findings from the report about climate change’s effects on ecosystems and sectors of concern. A related session will highlight findings from each region of the United States. Report authors will discuss key findings from the NCA chapter on ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services and from other report chapters linked to ecology and ecosystems. The session will also include a moderated discussion that will allow participants to ask questions about the NCA process and products and offer feedback on progress toward building assessment capacity across the US through a sustained NCA process.
 Climate change, ecosystems, biodiversity and ecosystem services
Peter M. Groffman, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Peter Kareiva, University of California, Los Angeles; Shawn L. Carter, US Geological Survey; Nancy Grimm, Arizona State University; Joshua J. Lawler, University of Washington; Michelle C. Mack, University of Florida; Virginia Matzek, Santa Clara University; Heather Tallis, The Nature Conservancy
 Climate change, ecosystem services, and biogeochemical cycles
Nancy B. Grimm, Arizona State University; James N. Galloway, University of Virginia; William H. Schlesinger, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Christopher M. Clark, US Environmental Protection Agency; Robert B. Jackson, Stanford and Duke universities; Beverly E. Law, Oregon State University; Peter E. Thornton, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Alan R. Townsend, University of Colorado at Boulder
 Climate change and forests
Linda A. Joyce, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Steven W. Running, University of Montana; David D. Breshears, The University of Arizona; Virginia H. Dale, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Robert W. Malmsheimer, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry; R. Neil Sampson, Vision Forestry, LLC; Brent Sohngen, Ohio State University; Christopher W. Woodall, USDA Forest Service
 Climate change and indigenous lands and resources
Julie Maldonado, United States Global Change Research Program
 Coastal climate change: Critters, commerce, and communities
Laura E. Petes, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 Climate change: A matter of health
Kim Knowlton, Natural Resources Defense Council
 Agriculture during extreme climate
Richard Grotjahn, University of California-Davis
 Climate change adaptation and ecosystem protection in the United States
Joel Smith, Stratus Consulting; Rosina Bierbaum, University of Michigan; Arthur Lee, Chevron Corporation
 Indicators of climate changes and impacts for the National Climate Assessment
Melissa Kenney, University of Maryland; Anthony Janetos, Boston University; Richard V. Pouyat, USDA Forest Service; Rebecca J. Aicher, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Ainsley Lloyd, University of Maryland; Andrea J. Maguire, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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