Integrating physiological threshold experiments with climate modeling to project mangrove species' range expansion

Abstract

Predictions of climate-related shifts in species ranges have largely been based on correlative models. Due to limitations of these models, there is a need for more integration of experimental approaches when studying impacts of climate change on species distributions. Here we used controlled experiments to identify physiological thresholds that control poleward range limits of three species of mangroves found in North America. We found that all three species exhibited a threshold response to extreme cold, but freeze tolerance thresholds varied among species. From these experiments we developed a climate metric, freeze degree days (FDD), which incorporates both the intensity and frequency of freezes. When included in distribution models, FDD accurately predicted mangrove presence/absence. Using 28 years of satellite imagery, we linked FDD to changes in mangrove abundance in Florida, further supporting the importance of extreme cold. We then used downscaled climate projections of FDD to project that these range limits will move northward by 2.2 to 3.2 km/year over the next 50 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.