Vulnerability
Climate Change Vulnerability
New climate change vulnerability assessments for 41 species and 3 habitats in the Appalachians are now available. The conservation community can view and search each of these assessments by vulnerability scores, conservation status ranks, state and subregion of assessment, and higher taxonomy. In addition, principle investigators NatureServe compiled the results of 700 species assessments previously completed by other researchers as well as assessments on several habitats.
Partner Vulnerability Assessments
Previous vulnerability assessments from partners within the Appalachian LCC region.
Introduction to the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Research Project
Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies are dependent on the best available projections of how climate will change and impact a region’s natural and cultural resources. Understanding the vulnerability of various species and habitats within the Appalachian LCC to climate change is of critical importance. Identifying the most appropriate steps to acquire climate vulnerability information and then using this information to inform adaptation and mitigation strategies is a major research priority of the LCC.
Climate Change Vulnerability Previous Species Assessments
The research compiled a compilation of 700 species vulnerability assessments from previous research. Each excel file contains a subset of data from a compilation of scores for these species in the Appalachian LCC.
Climate Change Vulnerability Previous Habitat Assessments
Research compiled the results of habitat assessments from five previous research projects. These include two projects in the Central Appalachian and Cumberland - Southern Appalachian portion of the LCC; habitat assessments completed in the North Carolina portion of the Cumberland - Southern Appalachian subregion; habitat assessments in the northeastern portion of the Central Appalachian subregion; and a draft assessment for a habitat in the Interior Low Plateau.
Climate Change Vulnerability New Habitat Assessments
Research also assessed the climate change vulnerability of three habitats characteristic of the Appalachian LCC region: the South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian Habitat; Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens; and Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry Mesic Oak Forest.
