DCNR Research Database

Research Application

Report Details

Low Genetic Diversity and Poor Dispersal, but Not Conservation Status Rank, are Linked to Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change vulnerability assessments for Pennsylvania were completed for 35 plant species using the Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI v2.0) developed by NatureServe. The CCVI allows the user to examine the exposure and sensitivity of a species to a series of risk factors associated with climate change. This study, as well as studies from West Virginia (Byers & Norris 2011) and New York (Schlesinger et al. 2011), indicates that among the top five risk factors, based upon both floral and fauna assessments, appeared to be related to a lack of dispersal and movement mechanisms along with low genetic diversity. All of the above studies found that conservation status rankings and vulnerability to climate change were not directly related to one another. In light of these findings conservation protocols need to be reexamined to direct resources where they will be most effective in furthering the conservation of plant species.
WRCP
WRCP-10385

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2010
2014
06/04/2014
Funding Source Details
Funding Source: WRCP
Grant Number: WRCP-10385
Amount: $36,975.00

 Location Information


Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Investigator Details
Name: Cynthia Morton
Street Address 1:
Street Address 2:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Email
Investigator Details
Name: Matthew Schlesinger
Street Address 1:
Street Address 2:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
Email matthew.schlesinger@dec.ny.gov

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