Welcome to Chinese Journal of Ecology! Today is Share:

cje

Previous Articles    

Refugia and their identification methods: A review.

HU Zhong-jun1,2, ZHANG Yi-li1**, LIU Lin-shan1, YU Hai-bin1,2   

  1. (1 Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)
  • Online:2013-12-10 Published:2013-12-10

Abstract: As a hotspot in the research of biogeography, refugia have attracted the attention by more and more biogeographic scholars, and the related studies have an accelerated growth trend, adding new vitality to the research of biogeography. After the Earth has withstood the long-standing test by Quaternary Ice Age, numerous species are able to survive because of the protection from glacial refugia, and, after Quaternary Ice Age ended, the refugia have expanded their distribution range, leading to the gradual formation of the present distribution status of global biodiversity. To respond to the present and future climate change, refugia shall continuously play the roles of protecting the endangered species, biota, and biodiversity. Therefore, it is necessary to know the biogeographic characteristics and formation causes and processes of refugia, understand the concepts and significances of refugia, and approach the methods of identifying refugia. At present, the comprehension of refugia is mainly based on the phylogeographic researches of organisms in Europe and North America during the obvious temperature fluctuation periods of Quaternary climate, and the related researches in other regions (including China) are in a very low level, with much room for the improvement. Refugia have already facilitated the survival capacity of biota under the constant changing environmental conditions for millennia, and thus, to identify and protect the refugia should be a priority for ecological conservation. Various methods that progressed for seeking refugia have promoted the identification of refugia in any environment, while the integration of various methods would facilitate the people’s comprehension of refugia and the capacity of refugia in serving as the safe haven for organisms and biodiversity under the condition of climate change.