There is a broad consensus within the scientific community that global climate is undergoing a comparatively rapid change. Since many plants and animals depend on specific types of climate, it is imperative to understand: (1) the details of species’ climatic preferences; (2) how climates may change in the future; and (3) how species may respond to these changes. Species distribution modeling (SDM) is an increasingly important tool to address conservation biology and global change issues. As Fortini and colleagues described in their largest vulnerability assessment in the US, SDMs provide critical information on biological refuges and potential future shifts in species ranges. In addition, climate changes could alter not only range, [...]
