Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Significance of Protected Area Network in Preserving Biodiversity in a Changing Northern European Climate

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

Climate change is a major threat to biodiversity, causing species to move to new climatically suitable areas, and thus increasing the extinction probability of species inhabiting fragmented landscapes. This highlights the need for climate-wise conservation strategies. With such strategies, a well-connected network of protected areas (PAs) is one of the most important means to support species survival. An extensive and representative PA network can enhance the resilience of regional populations of species, resulting in slower species loss in landscapes with a significant proportion of area of habitat being protected. This paper presents analyses of both the observed (1974–2010) and the predicted changes (by 2051–2080) in boreal bird populations in Finland. Firstly, the results show some general patterns of climate change on bird species: (1) species are shifting their ranges towards north, (2) range sizes of many species are declining, and (3) these changes are different in northern and southern species and in species occupying different habitats. Secondly, the paper looks more into the role of protected area (PA) network in securing birds in a changing climate and concludes that at least in Finland, open habitats, such as open mires and mountain heaths, change more rapidly in their species composition in protected areas than for example old-growth forests. However, generally, species decline less within than outside PAs showing that protected areas alleviate climate change effects on bird species of conservation concern. This finding, further supported by results from elsewhere in Europe, provides evidence for the resilience of PA networks in preserving species under climate change. Representative PA network that includes high cover for key habitats is hence needed in all latitudinal zones. The projected efficiency of the PA network in maintaining biodiversity was partly dependent on the strength of climate change varying with respect to future scenarios. This suggests that a flexibly adaptive climate-wise conservation planning is required to be better prepared for preserving biodiversity in the face of uncertain climate change. Thirdly, the paper discusses several aspects of climate change studies and avian biodiversity that have been hitherto understudied especially in the northern biomes. The paper suggests that future studies should concentrate on (1) abundance-based models and prioritisations, (2) species’ adaptive capacity (ability to avoid the impacts of climate change through dispersal and/or evolutionary change) and sensitivity (limited potential to persist in situ under changing climate) to climate change, (3) the role of the landscape matrix around the PAs and (4) the effects of the biogeophysical features of the PAs themselves. In conclusion, we envision that improved assessments regarding the ability of PA networks to maintain biodiversity in northern biomes are needed to enhance our ability to perform climate-wise conservation planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ackerly DD, Loarie SR, Cornwell WK, Weiss SB, Hamilton H, Branciforte R, Kraft NJB (2010) The geography of climate change: implications for conservation biogeography. Divers Distrib 16(3):476–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo MB, Peterson AT (2012) Uses and misuses of bioclimatic envelope modeling. Ecology 93(7):1527–1539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo MB, Cabeza M, Thuiller W, Hannah L, Williams PH (2004) Would climate change drive species out of reserves? An assessment of existing reserve-selection methods. Glob Change Biol 10(9):1618–1626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo MB, Alagador D, Cabeza M, Nogues-Bravo D, Thuiller W (2011) Climate change threatens European conservation areas. Ecol Lett 14(5):484–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beale CM, Baker NE, Brewer MJ, Lennon JJ (2013) Protected area networks and savannah bird biodiversity in the face of climate change and land degradation. Ecol Lett 16(8):1061–1068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellard C, Bertelsmeier C, Leadley P, Thuiller W, Courchamp F (2012) Impacts of climate change on the future of biodiversity. Ecol Lett 15(4):365–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brommer JE, Lehikoinen A, Valkama J (2012) The breeding ranges of Central European and Arctic bird species move poleward. PLoS One 7(9):e43648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Case MJ, Lawler JJ, Tomasevic JA (2015) Relative sensitivity to climate change of species in northwestern North America. Biol Cons 187:127–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Negro M, Caprio E, Rolando A (2013) Assessing the sensitivity of alpine birds to potential future changes in habitat and climate to inform management strategies. Biol Cons 167:127–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coetzee BWT, Robertson MP, Erasmus BFN, van Rensburg BJ, Thuiller W (2009) Ensemble models predict important bird areas in southern Africa will become less effective for conserving endemic birds under climate change. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 18(6):701–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crick HQP (2004) The impact of climate change on birds. Ibis 146(s1):48–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foden WB, Butchart SHM, Stuart SN, Vié J-C, Akçakaya HR, Angulo A, DeVantier LM, Gutsche A, Turak E, Cao L, Donner SD, Katariya V, Bernard R, Holland RA, Hughes AF, O’Hanlon SE, Garnett ST, Şekercioğlu CH, Mace GM (2013) Identifying the world’s most climate change vulnerable species: a systematic trait-based assessment of all birds, amphibians and corals. PLoS One 8(6):e65427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaüzère P, Jiguet F, Devictor V (2016) Can protected areas mitigate the impacts of climate change on bird’s species and communities? Divers Distrib 22(6):625–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gimona A, Poggio L, Brown I, Castellazzi M (2012) Woodland networks in a changing climate: threats from land use change. Biol Cons 149(1):93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griesser M, Halvarsson P, Sahlman T, Ekman J (2014) What are the strengths and limitations of direct and indirect assessment of dispersal? Insights from a long-term field study in a group-living bird species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 68(3):485–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Häkkilä M, Le Tortorec E, Brotons L, Rajasärkkä A, Tornberg R, Mönkkönen M (2017) Degradation in landscape matrix has diverse impacts on diversity in protected areas. PLoS One 12(9):e0184792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hannah L, Midgley G, Andelman S, Araújo M, Hughes G, Martinez-Meyer E, Pearson R, Williams P (2007) Protected area needs in a changing climate. Front Ecol Environ 5(3):131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen RK, Luoto M, Araújo MB, Virkkala R, Thuiller W, Sykes MT (2006) Methods and uncertainties in bioclimatic envelope modelling under climate change. Prog Phys Geogr 30(6):751–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hole DG, Willis SG, Pain DJ, Fishpool LD, Butchart SHM, Collingham YC, Rahbek C, Huntley B (2009) Projected impacts of climate change on a continent-wide protected area network. Ecol Lett 12(5):420–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard C, Stephens PA, Pearce-Higgins JW, Gregory RD, Willis SG (2014) Improving species distribution models: the value of data on abundance. Methods Ecol Evol 5(6):506–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntley B, Green RE, Collingham YC, Willis SG (2007) A climatic atlas of European breeding birds. Durham University, The RSPB and Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntley B, Collingham YC, Willis SG, Green RE (2008) Potential impacts of climate change on European breeding birds. PLoS One 3(1):e1439

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jetz W, Wilcove DS, Dobson AP (2007) Projected impacts of climate and land-use change on the global diversity of birds. PLoS Biol 5(6):1211–1219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston A, Ausden M, Dodd AM, Bradbury RB, Chamberlain DE, Jiguet F, Thomas CD, Cook ASCP, Newson SE, Ockendon N, Rehfich MM, Roos S, Thaxter CB, Brown A, Crick HQP, Douse A, McCall RA, Pontier H, Stroud DA, Cadiou B, Crowe O, Deceuninck B, Hornman M, Pearce-Higgins JW (2013) Observed and predicted effects of climate change on species abundance in protected areas. Nat Clim Change 3:1055–1061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jylhä K, Tuomenvirta H, Ruosteenoja K (2004) Climate change projections for Finland during the 21st century. Boreal Environ Res 9(2):127–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehikoinen A, Virkkala R (2016) North by northwest: climate change and directions of density shifts in birds. Glob Change Biol 22:1121–1129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindström Å, Green M, Paulson G, Smith HG, Devictor V (2013) Rapid changes in bird community composition at multiple temporal and spatial scales in response to recent climate change. Ecography 36(3):313–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loarie SR, Duffy PB, Hamilton H, Asner GP, Field CB, Ackerly DD (2009) The velocity of climate change. Nature 462(7276):1052–1055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martinuzzi S, Radeloff VC, Joppa LN, Hamilton CM, Helmers DP, Plantinga AJ, Lewis DJ (2015) Scenarios of future land use change around United States’ protected areas. Biol Cons 184:446–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pacifici M, Visconti P, Butchart SHM, Watson JEM, Cassola FM, Rondinini C (2017) Species’ traits influenced their response to recent climate change. Nat Clim Change 7(3):205–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parmesan C (2006) Ecological and evolutionary responses to recent climate change. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 37:637–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reside AE, Vanderwal J, Garnett ST, Kutt AS (2016) Vulnerability of Australian tropical savanna birds to climate change. Austral Ecol 41(1):106–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santangeli A, Rajasärkkä A, Lehikoinen A (2017) Effects of high latitude protected areas on bird communities under rapid climate change. Glob Change Biol 23(6):2241–2249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sieck M, Ibisch PL, Moloney KA, Jeltsch F (2011) Current models broadly neglect specific needs of biodiversity conservation in protected areas under climate change. BMC Ecol 11:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suárez-Seoane S, Álvarez-Martinez JM, Wintle BA, Palacín C, Alonso JC (2017) Modelling the spatial variation of vital rates: An evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of correlative species distribution models. Divers Distrib 23(8):841–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD, Gillingham PK (2015) The performance of protected areas for biodiversity under climate change. Biol J Lin Soc 115(3):718–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD, Cameron A, Green RE, Bakkenes M, Beaumont LJ, Collingham YC, Erasmus BFN, de Siqueira MF, Grainger A, Hannah L, Hughes L, Huntley B, van Jaarsveld AS, Midgley GF, Miles L, Ortega-Huerta MA, Peterson AT, Phillips OL, Williams SE (2004) Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427(6970):145–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CD, Gillingham PK, Bradbury RB, Roy DB, Anderson BJ, Baxter JM, Bourn NAD, Crick HQP, Findon RA, Fox R, Hodgson JA, Holt AR, Morecroft MD, O’Hanlon NJ, Oliver TH, Pearce-Higgins JW, Procter DA, Thomas JA, Walker KJ, Walmsley CA, Wilson RJ, Hill JK (2012) Protected areas facilitate species’ range expansions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109(35):14063–14068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thuiller W, Lavorel S, Araújo MB, Sykes MT, Prentice IC (2005) Climate change threats to plant diversity in Europe. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(23):8245–8250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thuiller W, Pironon S, Psomas A, Barbet-Massin M, Jiguet F, Lavergne S, Pearman PB, Renaud J, Zupan L, Zimmermann NE (2014) The European functional tree of bird life in the face of global change. Nat Commun 5:3118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Lehikoinen A (2014) Patterns of climate-induced density shifts of species: poleward shifs faster in northern boreal birds than in southern birds. Glob Change Biol 20(10):2995–3003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Lehikoinen A (2017) Birds on the move in the face of climate change: high species turnover in northern Europe. Ecol Evol 7(20):8201–8209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Rajasärkkä A (2011a) Climate change affects populations of northern birds in boreal protected areas. Biol Let 7(3):395–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Rajasärkkä A (2011b) Northward density shift of bird species in boreal protected areas due to climate change. Boreal Environment Research 16(suppl. B):2–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Rajasärkkä A (2012) Preserving species populations in the boreal zone in a changing climate: contrasting trends of bird species groups in a protected area network. Nat Conserv 3:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Heikkinen RK, Leikola N, Luoto M (2008) Projected large-scale range reductions of northern-boreal land bird species due to climate change. Biol Cons 141(5):1343–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Heikkinen RK, Fronzek S, Kujala H, Leikola N (2013a) Does the protected area network preserve bird species of conservation concern in a rapidly changing climate? Biodivers Conserv 22(2):459–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Heikkinen RK, Fronzek S, Leikola N (2013b) Climate change, northern birds of conservation concern and matching the hotspots of habitat suitability with the reserve network. PLoS One 8(6):e63376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Heikkinen RK, Lehikoinen A, Valkama J (2014a) Matching trends between recent distributional changes of northern-boreal birds and species-climate model predictions. Biol Cons 172:124–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virkkala R, Pöyry J, Heikkinen RK, Lehikoinen A, Valkama J (2014b) Protected areas alleviate climate change effects on northern bird species of conservation concern. Ecol Evol 4(15):2991–3003

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Our work was financially supported by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment through the SUMI project (Protected area network in the changing climate).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biodiversity Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 140, FI-00251, Helsinki, Finland

    Raimo Virkkala, Risto K. Heikkinen, Saija Kuusela, Niko Leikola & Juha Pöyry

Authors
  1. Raimo Virkkala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Risto K. Heikkinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Saija Kuusela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Niko Leikola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Juha Pöyry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raimo Virkkala .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. International Climate Change Information and Research Programme, Hamburg, Germany

    Jelena Barbir

  3. School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Richard Preziosi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Virkkala, R., Heikkinen, R.K., Kuusela, S., Leikola, N., Pöyry, J. (2019). Significance of Protected Area Network in Preserving Biodiversity in a Changing Northern European Climate. In: Leal Filho, W., Barbir, J., Preziosi, R. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change and Biodiversity. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98681-4_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation