New maps provide an ecological basis for climate adaptation planning

CSP researchers map physiographic diversity in the contiguous U.S. by combining information about landforms and soil conditions.

Three CSP researchers — David Theobald, Dylan Harrison-Atlas, and Christine Albano — recently published a paper in PLoS ONE entitled “Ecologically Relevant Maps of Landforms and Physiographic Diversity for Climate Adaptation Planning.” Working with William Monahan from the National Park Service, they developed high-resolution maps that characterize environmental heterogeneity, a key consideration in designing adaptation strategies for conserving ecological patterns and processes in the face of climate change. Their goal was to identify areas that could be targeted to support four adaptation strategies: protecting critical ecosystem features, ensuring habitat connectivity, supporting evolutionary potential, and protecting refugia.

The team examined physiography (which combines information about landforms and soil types) at multiple spatial scales to determine the optimal resolution for their analyses. Using their maps and databases, they calculated the susceptibility of various landform and physiographical types to climate change impacts. They also looked at the correlation between existing levels of biodiversity and physiographic setting.

The maps are novel contributions that illustrate a wide range of landforms and parent material in the U.S., corresponding to considerable physiographic diversity. They not only indicate which areas will benefit the most from conservation efforts but they will also provide a consistent, comprehensive platform for climate adaptation planning at local to regional and national scales.

To learn more about this study, click here.

Phyisographic diversity map
Map showing physiographic diversity in the conterminous USA
landforms
Landform map of the USA