The distributions of a wide range of taxonomic groups are expanding polewards

Evidence is accumulating of shifts in species' distributions during recent climate warming. However, most of this information comes predominantly from studies of a relatively small selection of taxa (i.e., plants, birds and butterflies), which may not be representative of biodiversity as a whole. Using data from less well‐studied groups, we show that a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species have moved northwards and uphill in Britain over approximately 25 years, mirroring, and in some cases exceeding, the responses of better‐known groups.

[1]  D. Gutiérrez,et al.  Changes to the elevational limits and extent of species ranges associated with climate change. , 2005, Ecology letters.

[2]  J. Reynolds,et al.  Climate Change and Distribution Shifts in Marine Fishes , 2005, Science.

[3]  J. Greenwood,et al.  Comparative Losses of British Butterflies, Birds, and Plants and the Global Extinction Crisis , 2004, Science.

[4]  Z. Fric,et al.  Uphill shifts in distribution of butterflies in the Czech Republic: effects of changing climate detected on a regional scale , 2003 .

[5]  J. Peñuelas,et al.  A global change‐induced biome shift in the Montseny mountains (NE Spain) , 2003 .

[6]  G. Yohe,et al.  A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems , 2003, Nature.

[7]  S. Schneider,et al.  Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants , 2003, Nature.

[8]  J. K. Hill,et al.  Responses of butterflies to twentieth century climate warming: implications for future ranges , 2002, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences.

[9]  H. Jacquemyn,et al.  Possible effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change on the range of forest plant species , 2002 .

[10]  O. Hoegh‐Guldberg,et al.  Ecological responses to recent climate change , 2002, Nature.

[11]  L. Kullman.  Rapid recent range‐margin rise of tree and shrub species in the Swedish Scandes , 2002 .

[12]  J. Houghton,et al.  Climate change 2001 : the scientific basis , 2001 .

[13]  J. K. Hill,et al.  Rapid responses of British butterflies to opposing forces of climate and habitat change , 2001, Nature.

[14]  L. Conradt,et al.  Ecological and evolutionary processes at expanding range margins , 2001 .

[15]  Hughes,et al.  Biological consequences of global warming: is the signal already apparent? , 2000, Trends in ecology & evolution.

[16]  Brian Huntley,et al.  Climate and habitat availability determine 20th century changes in a butterfly's range margin , 1999, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences.

[17]  C. Parmesan,et al.  Poleward shifts in geographical ranges of butterfly species associated with regional warming , 1999, Nature.

[18]  C. Thomas,et al.  Birds extend their ranges northwards , 1999, Nature.

[19]  J. Lawton,et al.  Rare species, the coincidence of diversity hotspots and conservation strategies , 1993, Nature.