The relative influence of change in habitat and climate on elevation range limits in small mammals in Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A.

Climate change has a stronger influence on the elevation range shifts of small mammals in Yosemite National Park compared to habitat changes, particularly at higher elevations. However, habitat factors become increasingly important at mid-elevations for predicting these shifts. The study used species distribution models (SDMs) and occupancy modeling (OM) to analyze data from 1910–1930 and 2003–2010, finding that while climate was the dominant driver of range dynamics, habitat played a significant role in lower elevation shifts. Predictions were more accurate for range contractions at higher elevations, but some observed shifts remained unexplained, suggesting the need to incorporate biotic interactions, behavioral flexibility, and evolutionary adaptation into future modeling frameworks.

Santos, M. J., Smith, A. B., Thorne, J. H., & Moritz, C. (2017). The relative influence of change in habitat and climate on elevation range limits in small mammals in Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A. Climate Change Responses, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40665-017-0035-6