Conditions that cause direct impacts:
Air and water temperatures
Frequency of extreme weather and storm events
Patterns of precipitation and freshwater supply
Sea levels
Ice cover (Arctic, coastal, freshwater)
Ocean upwelling events (El Niño, La Niña) and circulation patterns
Ocean salinity
Ocean acidification
Terrestrial and coastal sediment transport and erosion
Soil moisture
Patterns of nutrient availability
Frequency of catastrophic event
Impacts on distribution and biological characteristics of species, altering:
Spatial distribution, range, and migration of individual species
Growth and physiology of individuals within a population
Timing match (i.e., mismatches between climate patterns and a species’ life history)
Diversity of prey, predators, and competitors within communities
Species composition and distribution within ecosystems
Migration and movement corridors
Exotic and invasive species introductions and distribution
Parasite and disease risks
Nominated species must meet be: a) U.S. native, b) substantially declining (do not have to be federally listed), c) directly or indirectly impacted by climate change.
When making final selections, in addition to the magnitude of the threats, scientists also seek to have a representative range of species in terms of taxonomy, geographic range, type of ecosystem, etc.
