Species Phenological Shifts Linked To Global Warming Meta-Analysis

Over 100 years of global temperature data underpins this meta-analysis of 143 studies on wild animal and plant species. The research, published by Root et al. in 2003, identifies a consistent temperature-related shift in species from molluscs to mammals and grasses to trees. It finds more than 80% of observed species changes align with expected physiological responses to warming.

Use Cases

• Analyze the correlation between documented species shifts and the reported 0.6°C global temperature rise over a century.
• Validate climate impact models by comparing predicted physiological constraints against the observed directional changes in over 80% of species.
• Investigate the synergism between temperature rise and other stressors like habitat destruction mentioned in the study's conclusions.

Strengths

• Meta-analysis synthesizes evidence from 143 independent studies.
• Findings are based on a century-long observed temperature trend of approximately 0.6°C increase.

Limitations

• Underlying raw observational data from the 143 studies is not directly provided.
• The meta-analysis and its conclusions are from 2003 and may not reflect the most recent two decades of warming.

Provenance

Source

Root et al. (2003) study abstract, hosted by NASA GISS.

Collection Method

Meta-analysis of 143 published studies on species and global warming.

Time Range

Approximately 100 years prior to 2003.

Geography

Global, as inferred from the term 'global warming' and the synthesis of international studies.