System for Assessing Species Vulnerability

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool

HABITAT
H1. Area and distribution: breeding
Is the area or location of the associated vegetation type used for breeding activities by this species expected to change? Specific habitat elements and food resources are considered in other questions.
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H2. Area and distribution: non-breeding
Is the area or location of the associated vegetation type used for non-breeding activities by this species expected to change?
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H3. Habitat components: breeding
Are specific habitat components required for breeding expected to change within the associated vegetation type?
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H4. Habitat components: non-breeding
Are other specific habitat components required for survival during non-breeding periods expected to change within the associated vegetation type?
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H5. Habitat quality
Within habitats occupied, are features of the habitat associated with better reproductive success or survival expected to change?
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H6. Ability to colonize new areas
What is the potential for this species to disperse?
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H7. Migratory or transitional habitats
Does this species require additional habitats during migration that are separated from breeding and non-breeding habitats?
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PHYSIOLOGY
PS1. Physiological thresholds
Are limiting physiological conditions expected to change?
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PS2. Sex ratio
Is sex ratio determined by temperature?
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PS3. Exposure to weather-related disturbance
Are disturbance events (e.g., severe storms, fires, floods) that affect survival or reproduction expected to change?
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PS4. Limitations to daily activity period
Are projected temperature or precipitation regimes that influence the activity period of species expected to change?
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PS5. Survival during resource fluctuation
Does this species have flexible strategies to cope with variation in resources across multiple years?
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PS6. Energy requirements
What is this species’ metabolic rate?
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PHENOLOGY
PH1. Mismatch potential: Cues
Does this species use temperature or moisture cues to initiate activities related to fecundity or survival (e.g., hibernation, migration, breeding)?
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PH2. Mismatch potential: Event timing
Are activities related to species’ fecundity or survival tied to discrete resource peaks (e.g., food, breeding sites) that are expected to change?
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PH3. Mismatch potential: Proximity
What is the separation in time or space between cues that initiate activities related to survival or fecundity and discrete events that provide critical resources?
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PH4. Resilience to timing mismatch
Does this species have more than one opportunity to time reproduction to important events?
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BIOTIC INTERACTIONS
I1. Food resources
Are important food resources for this species expected to change?
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I2. Predators
Are predator populations important for this species expected to change?
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I3.Symbionts
Are populations of symbiotic species expected to change?
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I4. Disease
Is prevalence of diseases known to cause widespread mortality or reproductive failure in this species expected to change?
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I5. Competitors
Are populations of important competing species expected to change?
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