IMPACTS OF CLIMATIC CHANGE IN SPAIN 
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
         2.   IMPACTS ON TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS  
         
                                    
                                    
            Fernando Valladares, Josep Peñuelas and Estanislao de Luis Calabuig 
                                    
                             Contributing Authors 
                                    
           J. J. Camarero, M. Estiarte, I. Filella, C. Gracia, F. Lloret, E. Gutiérrez Merino, R. 
                    Ogaya, R. Pérez-Obiol, S. Sabaté, M. T. Sebastiá 
                                    
                                Reviewers  
                                    
         I. Alonso, J. S. Carrión, P. Castro, J. Cortina, A. Escudero, M. Génova, F. Maestre, D. 
           Morales, F. Ojeda, B. Peco, F. Pugnaire, F. Pulido, J. M. Rey-Benayas, S. Rivas-
           Martínez, F. Rodá, J. C. Rodríguez-Murillo, B. Sánchez, J. J. Sanz, M. Segur, J. 
                      Terradas, M. Vila, R. Zamora, M. A. Zavala 
                                    
                            J. Pereira, P. Canadell 
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                                              TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS 
                                    
         
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                                             IMPACTS OF CLIMATIC CHANGE IN SPAIN 
                                          
                                     ABSTRACT 
                                          
          Spain presents a large variety of terrestrial ecosystems, many of them unique, and all of them 
          offering a wide range of goods and services. These ecosystems have been subjected to intense 
          climate change in the past, but the rhythm of these changes has accelerated in an exceptional 
          manner as a consequence of the anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases. Accelerated 
          climate change is bringing about a series of direct and indirect effects which are accentuated by 
          the interaction with other motors of global change (changes in land use, pollution, biotic 
          exchange). The effects are different for the ecosystems of the Atlantic region, limited by 
          temperature, and for those of the Mediterranean region, limited by water. Whereas productivity 
          could increase with climate change in the former, it might possibly be reduced in the latter.    
           
          The ecosystems that are at their ecological or geographic limit (formations with zero water 
          balance, ecosystems dominated by relic species from past climates, high-mountain ecosystems, 
          certain formations in arid regions) are the ones that will be most affected by climatic change.  
           
          The areas and systems most vulnerable to climate change are islands in the broad sense 
          (including edaphic islands and high-mountain ecosystems) and ecotones or transition zones 
          between systems. The spatial situation of the latter could be used as an integrated indicator and 
          as a possible early warning of climate change.  
           
          There is scientific evidence that climate change will affect the phenology and interactions 
          between species, favour the expansion of invading species and pests, will cause changes in the 
          dominance, structure and composition of the communities, and will increase the impact of 
          disturbances such as fire. With climatic change, the capacity for sequestration of atmospheric 
          carbon of the ecosystems will decrease and altitudinal and latitudinal migrations of species will 
          occur, along with the extinction of local species.  
           
          However, it is currently unknown whether species will be capable of evolving and adapting to 
          climate change in time, whether plants will increase their efficiency with regard to water use in 
          times of drought and warming, and whether these processes will accelerate the biogeochemical 
          processes.  
           
          The management of terrestrial ecosystems should involve society as a whole and ought to seek 
          creative formulae for the funding of activities for the mitigation of effects, restoration and 
          research. The conservation of terrestrial ecosystems in a scenario of climate change clashes 
          with numerous human activities, especially in relation to the use of natural resources like water. 
          This conservation is at odds with management aimed at maximising production or at 
          sequestrating atmospheric carbon. 
           
          Noteworthy among the main research needs is the consolidation of long-term ecological follow-
          up networks, making as much use as possible of the existing ones and favouring the 
          interdisciplinary participation of the scientific community, the study of interactions, both between 
          environmental factors and between species and trophic levels, along with the determination of 
          minimum tolerance levels (climatic, structural, functional) in systems vulnerable to climatic 
          change.  
           
           
           
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