Extreme events drive rapid and dynamic range fluctuations
Publication date
2025-09
Authors
Soifer, Lydia G
Lockwood, Julie L
Lembrechts, Jonas J.
Antão, Laura H
Klinges, David H
Senior, Rebecca A
Ban, Natalie C
Evengard, Birgitta
Fadrique, Belen
Falkeis, Sophie
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
Metadata
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License
cc_by_nc
Abstract
Climate change is altering species' distributions globally. Increasing frequency of extreme weather and climate events (EWCEs) is one of the hallmarks of climate change. Despite species redistribution being widely studied in response to long-term climatic trends, the contribution of EWCEs to range shifts is not well understood. We outline how EWCEs can trigger rapid and unexpected range boundary fluctuations by impacting dispersal, establishment, and survival. Whether these mechanisms cause temporary or persistent range shifts depends on the spatiotemporal context and exposure to EWCEs. Using the increasing availability of data and statistical tools to examine EWCE impacts at fine spatiotemporal resolutions on species redistribution will be critical for informing conservation management of ecologically, economically, and culturally important species.
Keywords
dispersal, extreme weather and climate events, range contraction, range expansion, range shifts, Taverne, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, SDG 13 - Climate Action
Citation
Soifer, L G, Lockwood, J L, Lembrechts, J J, Antão, L H, Klinges, D H, Senior, R A, Ban, N C, Evengard, B, Fadrique, B, Falkeis, S, Fredston, A L, Guralnick, R, Lenoir, J, Neate-Clegg, M H C, Palacios-Abrantes, J, Pecl, G, Pinsky, M L, Smith, J E, Stys, B, Tingley, M W & Scheffers, B R 2025, 'Extreme events drive rapid and dynamic range fluctuations', Trends in ecology & evolution, vol. 40, no. 9, pp. 862-873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.06.009