News and Announcements
Managing Climate Change Refugia to Protect Wildlife
Natural and cultural areas that will remain similar to what they are today -- despite climate change -- need to be identified, managed and conserved as “refugia” for at-risk species, according to a study published today in PLOS One.
In Hot Water: Climate Change is Affecting North American Fish
Climate change is already affecting inland fish across North America -- including some fish that are popular with anglers. Scientists are seeing a variety of changes in how inland fish reproduce, grow and where they can live.
Southern Appalachian Forest Water Yield Down since 1970s
Climate change and forest disturbances are threatening the ability of forested mountain watersheds to provide the clean, reliable, and abundant fresh water necessary to support aquatic ecosystems and a growing human population.
Climate Science Centers and U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center—Annual report for 2015
2015 was another great year for the Department of the Interior (DOI) Climate Science Centers (CSCs) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) network.
Mountain Streams Offer Climate Refuge
A new study offers hope for cold-water species in the face of climate change. The study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, addresses a longstanding paradox between predictions of widespread extinctions of cold-water species and a general lack of evidence for those extinctions despite decades of recent climate change.
New Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments Available for Species and Habitats
New climate change vulnerability assessments for 41 species and 3 habitats in the Appalachians are now available on the applcc.org Web Portal.
Climate Adaptation Fund Announce Latest round of Grantmaking
Read the 2016 Request for Proposals, review the Applicant Guidance Document and submit a completed WCS Pre-proposal Application using our online application form no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Friday, April 8, 2016.
Service and partners announce science-based tool to help prioritize and target fish habitat conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) today announce the availability of an online tool that enables users to target and prioritize fish habitat conservation in the face of climate and land use change.
NASA, NOAA Analyses Reveal Record-Shattering Global Warm Temperatures in 2015
Earth’s 2015 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern record keeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
BIG DATA as an engine for aquatic information creation
The smartest thing, the only thing really, we can do to conserve & preserve fisheries and aquatic biodiversity as the climate warms this century is to invest our limited resources wisely.
The eDNA revolution & developing comprehensive aquatic biodiversity archives
Measuring & understanding the effects of climate change on aquatic life requires an accurate baseline status assessment that can serve as a benchmark for comparisons through time.
Climate-informed management of oak ecosystems in the Central Hardwoods region
Global climate changes will lead to local impacts on oak ecosystems throughout the central hardwoods region, including shifts in habitat suitability for different species, changes in soil moisture regime, and effects on insect pests, diseases, and species invasion.
Appalachian LCC part of Premiere Climate Education and Literacy Training Program
The inaugural Educator Climate and Conservation Colloquium (or EC3) brought together 50 teachers and school decision makers from across the nation to receive training on campus sustainability and wildlife conservation issues to better serve schools and communities.
Global Vulnerability of Forests to Climate Change-Related Tree Mortality is Widely Underestimated
Forests worldwide are vulnerable to growing risks of drought- and heat-induced tree mortality and forest die-off because of a rapidly warming Earth, according to just-published research in the scientific journal Ecosphere. The paper is an invited “ESA Centennial Paper” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ecological Society of America.
Researchers Seek a Sneak Peek Into the Future of Forests
In May 2015, scores of scientists from dozens of research institutions descended on a patch of forest in central North Carolina, taking samples of everything from ants and mites to other microbes – samples they hope will offer a glimpse into the future of forest ecosystems.
Geodiversity Key to Conserving Biodiversity Under Climate Change
The physical factors that create diversity (landform, bedrock, soil and topography), collectively known as geodiversity, might be the key to conserving biodiversity under a changing climate.
Monthly carbon dioxide levels hit new milestone
NOAA scientists reported that in March 2015 the monthly average global carbon dioxide level went above 400 parts per million for the first time.
A Complex Landscape has both Vulnerabilities and Resilience to Climate Change
Central Appalachian forests have been experiencing the effects of a changing climate for decades, and effects such as more heavy rainfall events, more drought, and more hot days are likely to continue, according to a new vulnerability assessment for the region by the U.S. Forest Service and many partners.
Assessing climate-sensitive ecosystems in the southeastern United States
The southeastern U.S. contains a unique diversity of ecosystems that provide important benefits, including habitat for wildlife and plants, water quality, and recreation opportunities. As climate changes, a better understanding of how our ecosystems will be affected is vital for identifying strategies to protect these ecosystems.
100 Case Studies Published Today Show How Communities Are Preparing Our Roads, Airports, and Transit Systems for Climate Change
One hundred case studies released today by the Georgetown Climate Center demonstrate how leaders are responding to the growing threats from climate change to America's roads, airports, transit systems, and infrastructure.
