While assessments on the changes in abiotic factors have proved useful in defining the extent of climate change, one may opine that changes in the biotic factors of ecosystems could provide even more insights to better characterize how impactful and how pervasive climate change can be.
And while a number of studies have determined certain species as effective bioindicators in their respective communities, I have yet to encounter species or groups of organisms that may potentially serve as bioindicators for far more encompassing systems (i.e. biogeographical realms and even the biosphere itself perhaps).
If the question proves to be too idealistic, kindly at least provide criteria -- some defining characteristics/attributes -- that can characterize such an organism/(a) group(s) of organisms. I think these categorical descriptors can pinpoint candidates that may be considered in niche modelling (for ecological forecasting). Thomas et al 2004 achieved the objective albeit with the use of the considerably less accurate climate envelope modelling approach.
Insights from the documentation of these organisms may also be used to build a framework/weighted matrix of many parameters to assess and explore the different aspects of climate change.
Please have a look at this useful researchgate link.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_Bio-indicators_for_Climate_Change
Please have a look at this link also.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Which_plant_species_should_be_taken_as_climate_change_indicators
Please have a look at this link and PDF attachments also.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_indicator_species_to_have_idea_on_climate_change/1
You will have to identify organisms which are most sensitive to temperature changes and relate temperature to its biological traits or characters. You may identify specific organism trait(s) that you will use to monitor with particular climate change factor. Good luck!
Hi Lance
I recommend you read (full text available from my profile page):
Thackeray S.J.; Sparks, T.H.; Frederiksen, M.; Burthe, S.; Bacon, P.; Bell, J.R.; Botham, M.S.; Brereton, T.M.; Bright, P.W.; Carvalho, L.; Clutton-Brock, T.; Dawson, A.; Edwards, M.; Elliott, J.M.; Harrington, R.; Johns, D.; Jones, I.D.; Jones, J.T.; Leech, D.I.; Roy, D.B.; Scott, W.A.; Smith, M.; Smithers, R.J.; Winfield, I.J. and Wanless, S. (2010) Trophic level asynchrony in rates of phenological change for marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Global Change Biology. 16:12, 3304–3013.
Dear Lance,
these are keystone species or simply keystones and moreover k. that can be qualified as edificating species. Like fir-tree or oak-tree forests. In world ocean it will be intencity of development of phytoplankton and changes of distribution of its primary productivity. As well changes in terms and ways of migration of some animals esp large mammals both terrestrial and marine and birds...
This all like global the very long-term indicators but in local special surroundings isolated ecosystems of some islands or alpine zone of the mountains can be good evident (like raising of the fir-tree band into the sub-alpine zone in the Carpathians).
May be some explanations of the question raised you will find in our book Biological Conservation in the 21st Century: A Conservation Biology of Large Wildlife that appearing in the Nova Publ. Sep 1, 2017.
Andrey
Lichens and bryophytes are the best indicators of climate change. Please take a look at the following RG links and PDF attachment.
Article Monitoring climate change with lichens as bioindicators
Article Suitability of lichens to monitor climate change
Article Lichen as a Bio-Indicator Tool for Assessment of Climate and...
Article Climate Change, Bioclimatic Models and the Risk to Lichen Diversity
Article Case study of the implications of climate change for lichen ...
Article Monitoring climate change with lichens as bioindicators
Article Bryophytes in a latrine as indicators of climate change in t...
Chapter Alpine Bryophytes as Indicators for Climate Change: a Case S...
Article Bryophytes as indicators of climate change
Article Bryophytes as Indicators of Recent Climate Fluctuations in C...
Chapter Lichens as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
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