Northern movement of some Michigan mammals could be linked to climate change
05/18/09
Researchers from three universities (Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Ohio's Miami University) suggest that some Michigan mammals are moving northward, in response to climate change. Scientists studying the south-to-north range expansion of some historically southern species say this could lead to significant ecological impact. The findings appear in the June 2009 issue of the journal, Global Change Biology.
In the study, distribution and abudance records of small mammals were analyzed, in addition to data from intensive live-trapping, and specimens and data taken from research museums --including the Michigan State University Museum-- which contained records of Michigan species from hundreds of locations, sampled over the past 100 years.
Zoology associate professor Barbara Lundrigan worked in a collaboration with other scientists to document current and past geographical ranges of small mammals in Michigan, which were used in the study. Lundrigan specializes in mammalian behavioral and morphological evolution.
Read the text from the journal Global Change Biology below:
Climate-induced changes in the small mammal communities of the Northern Great Lakes Region (pdf)
The article is also featured in the current issue of ScienceDaily.