Global warming leads to habitat loss and genetic erosion of alpine biodiversity

Aim: Species living on steep environmental gradients are expected to be especially sensitive to global climate change. Here, we combined genetic, ecological niche modelling and climatic niche comparisons to investigate the influence of climate on the biogeography of three alpine species with overlapping ranges.
Location: Te Waipounamu (South Island) Aotearoa–New Zealand.
Taxon: Endemic alpine-adapted Cataontopinae grasshoppers.
Methods: We used niche modelling to estimate and project the potential niche of three focal species under past and future climate scenarios. Vulnerability assessments were performed using niche factor analyses. Demographic trends and phylogeographic structure were investigated using samples from 15 mountain tops to generate mitochondrial DNA haplotype networks and population genetic statistics.
Results: Niche models and genetic data suggest suitable habitat for all three alpine species was more widespread and contiguous in the past than today. Demographic analyse..., , ,