Applying assessments of adaptive capacity to inform natural-resource management in a changing climate.

Abstract

Adaptive capacity (AC)-the ability of a species to cope with or accommodate climate change-is a critical determinant of species vulnerability, along with exposure and sensitivity. Using information on species adaptive capacity in conservation planning is critical for ensuring successful outcomes. Here, we make connections between a list of species attributes (e.g., traits, population metrics, behaviors) that were recently proposed for assessing species AC and specific management actions that may enhance AC for at-risk species. These management actions support the general adaptive capacity pathways of persist in place or shift in space in response to contemporary climate change. Some actions, such as genetic manipulations, directly alter the ability of species to cope with climate change, whereas other actions indirectly enhance adaptive capacity through addressing ecological or anthropogenic constraints on the expression of a species innate abilities to adapt. This paper constitutes the first synthesis of potential management actions directly linked to adaptive capacity. Focusing on attributes helps to understand how and why aspects of climate are affecting organisms; this mechanism-based interpretation is needed for building connections between the causes of vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and proposed management actions that can facilitate AC and reduce vulnerability in support of evolving conservation paradigms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.