MAMMALIAN RESPONSE TO GLOBAL WARMING ON VARIED TEMPORAL SCALES

摘要: Paleontological information was used to evaluate and compare how Rocky Mountain mammalian communities changed during past global warming events characterized by different durations (350, ;10,000‐20,000, 4 million years) per‐100-year rates (1.08C, 0.18C, 0.06‐0.088C, 0.0002‐0.00038C per 100 years). Our goals were determine whether biotic changes observed today are characteristic of or accelerated relative what took place clarify the possible trajectory faunal change that climate may initiate. This determination is complicated because actual scale inversely with time which temperature measured, species life-history strategies respond (or do not) in ways. Nevertheless, examination episodes suggested approximately concurrent warming, a predictable sequence occurs at regional central northern United States Mountains. First, phenotypic density populations detectable within years. Extinction some species, noticeable taxonomic composition communities, possibly reduction richness follow as extends few thousand Faunal turnover nears 100% diversity increase when warm temperatures last hundreds thousands millions years, speciation takes initiated variety shorter-term processes accumulate. Climate-induced reported for current episode probably not yet exceed normal background rate, but continued next decades, especially combined many other pressures humans on natural ecosystems, has high probability producing effects have been experienced often, if ever, history. words: change, Holocene, mammals, Miocene, Pleistocene