Climate change and biodiversity conservation in the Caribbean Islands

Abstract

Given the important role of climate on species distributions, climate change is expected to have effects on biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity on the Caribbean Islands is characterized by a broad range of distributions, from cosmopolitan species to many rare and endemic species that occupy limited geographic areas. Species most vulnerable to climate change include rare and endemic species in wet upper mountain cloud forests and species in restricted coastal habitats vulnerable to warming oceans and sea level rise. Tropical montane cloud forests harbor endemic and endangered species from many taxa. Rising temperatures, reduced precipitation, decreasing relative humidity, and increasing intensity of hurricanes all present conservation challenges for protecting these species as migration upward to favorable climates is not possible. Coastal habitats are local biodiversity hotspots throughout the Caribbean. Rising and warming seas change conditions by increasing salinity of landward habitats, increasing the likelihood of coral bleaching, and increasing storm surge effects throughout the coastal zone. The high density of people and coastal infrastructure in the Caribbean Islands creates scenarios that limit potential landward migration of species and habitats in response to changing coastal conditions and present challenges in prioritizing land use and conservation.