Friday, August 6, 2010: 8:00 AM-11:30 AM
Blrm A, David L Lawrence Convention Center
SYMP 22 - Alternative Approaches to the Study of Global Warming Effects on Natural Communities
Given current climatic trends, an imperative among ecologists is to study the impact of global warming on populations, communities and ecosystems around the world. To persist, plant and animal species will have to adapt to the new conditions or track the suitable climate into new regions. Thus, reliable forecasting of future species distributions and/or their adaptation potential will be crucial in order to assess the effects of global warming on those communities, and consequentially to implement appropriate conservation, restoration and management plans. This symposium will offer an overview of the approaches followed by global change research scientists in their studies of the impact of global warming on a diversity of ecosystems. We highlight approaches that rely on existing spatially and temporally varying environmental gradients, rather that those requiring technologically and financially challenging methodology. Researchers participating in this symposium will illustrate several creative ways to take advantage of information already inherent in the system of study that can be used to predict future outcomes of species’ distributions and adaptation potential to global warming. Examples of studies that will be presented include: -the use of existing long-term phenological data sets; -translocation experiments; -mechanistic range models for ecological forecasting; -landscape level habitat studies; -demographic analyses along elevational gradients; -spatial and temporal models of forest dynamics under drought in the tropics; -the use of genomics to assess the physiological constraints on geographic range; -the application of physiology and eco-mechanics in aquatic ecosystems; -the integration of high-resolution climate and fire data to assess fire regime trends. By taking advantage of species genetic variability, species differential physiology or of natural gradients in relation to the key climatic and edaphic drivers of the species distributions, these approaches provide a robust framework for studying the potential response of many species’ to global warming. These are also methods that can be applied to other locations and systems, benefiting the scientific community in their study of the impact of global warming on ecosystems.
Organizer:	Ines Ibanez, University of Michigan
Co-organizer:	Elise S. Gornish, Florida State University
Moderator:	Elise S. Gornish, Florida State University
8:00 AM			Introductory remarks
8:05 AM	SYMP 22-1		Species responses to disturbance in a tropical forest: Multiple mechanisms for successional diversity Maria Uriarte, Columbia University, James S. Clark, Duke University, Liza S. Comita, Columbia University, Jess K. Zimmerman, University of Puerto Rico, Jill Thompson, University of Puerto Rico
8:25 AM	SYMP 22-2		Not just where, but when: The role of phenology in forecasting ecological responses to climate change Abraham J. Miller-Rushing, The Wildlife Society and USA National Phenology Network
8:45 AM	SYMP 22-3		Understanding and projecting shrub-land wildfire regimes: Using spatial and temporal variability to identify key climatic drivers Andrew M. Latimer, University of California Davis
9:05 AM	SYMP 22-4		Beyond their ranges, outside their niches: Assessing the adaptation and migratory potential of temperate forests Ines Ibanez, University of Michigan, Sarah McCarthy-Neumann, University of Michigan
9:25 AM	SYMP 22-5		Life on the edge: The determinants of altitudinal range limits Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, University of Washington, Ailene Kane Ettinger, University of Washington, Kevin R. Ford, University of Washington
9:45 AM			Break
9:55 AM	SYMP 22-6		Predicting patterns of stress and mortality in intertidal invertebrates: Applications of biophysical ecology in a changing world Brian Helmuth, University of South Carolina, Michael Kearney, University of Melbourne, Gianluca Sará, University of Palermo
10:15 AM	SYMP 22-7		Genomic biology and global change: Studies of local adaptation to climate using common garden experiments and expression arrays Jessica J. Hellmann, University of Notre Dame
10:35 AM	SYMP 22-8		Montane meadow change during drought varies with background hydrologic regime and plant functional group Diane M. Debinski, Iowa State University, Hadley Wickham, Rice University, Kelly Kindscher, University of Kansas, Jennet Caruthers, Iowa State University, Matthew J. Germino, Idaho State University
10:55 AM	SYMP 22-9		Incorporating physiology into mechanistic species’ distribution models for ecological forecasting Lauren B. Buckley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
11:15 AM			Panel discussion

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See more of The 95th ESA Annual Meeting (August 1 -- 6, 2010)