Ecological Modeling for Adaptation to Climate Change

Dear Colleagues,

Climate is the primary factor regulating the geographic distributions of many plant and animal species. Many species on Earth are adapted to a range of climatic conditions (i.e., climatic niche). Unprecedented rapid climate change is causing a mismatch between the climate that a species historically adapted to and the climate that the species will experience in the future and compromising the health and functions of our ecosystems. To address such challenges, scientists and researchers have turned to ecological niche models as powerful tools. Ecological niche models help assess how climate change can impact species and ecotypes, projecting potential shifts in their distributions in various climate scenarios. By simulating these changes, researchers can gain valuable insights into the vulnerabilities of different species and identify potential areas of concern for conservation efforts. These models also provide a scientific basis for formulating adaptive strategies to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on biodiversity.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the importance of ecological niche models in the context of climate change and its impacts on species and ecosystems. This issue seeks to present cutting-edge research on the development, refinement, and application of these models, emphasizing their role in understanding and predicting the ecological consequences of climate change. This subject aligns perfectly with the scope of our journal, which focuses on publishing high-quality research in the field of climate processes of our planet, covering all scales and involving modelling and observation methods. By featuring this Special Issue, we aim to provide a platform for researchers to share their advancements in ecological niche modeling and its implications for biodiversity conservation and management.

This Special Issue welcomes manuscripts that delve into various aspects of ecological niche models concerning climate change impacts on species and ecosystems. Suggested themes and article types for submissions include, but are not limited to:

1. Novel approaches in ecological niche modeling for climate change predictions;
2. Developing climate variables to facilitate ecological niche modeling;;
3. Case studies investigating the projected distribution shifts of specific plant and animal species in response to climate change;
4. Integrating ecological niche models with other tools, such as remote sensing data, to enhance accuracy and applicability;
5. Developing adaptive management strategies based on ecological niche model predictions for species conservation;
6. Reviews or meta-analyses summarizing the current state of knowledge in ecological niche modeling and its relevance to climate change research.

Dr. Tongli Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Climate is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• climate change
• climate data
• climate niche
• bioclimate envelope
• species distribution
• adaptation