And during this time, some species managed to survive in these microrefugia, even when the rest of Europe was blanketed in ice.
All over the planet, plants and animals are migrating to more suitable habitats as global climate patterns shift, seeking a climate closer to the one they evolved in. However, some plants and animals might not have to go as far due to a phenomenon that creates pockets of land sheltered from climate change. These microrefugia manage to stay cool even when things are heating up nearby, and could end up being a key adaptive strategy for species looking to beat climate change.
These sheltered places are often found on uneven terrain, with a low-lying region surrounded by higher land. This is because heat radiating off Earth’s surface warms lower levels of the atmosphere more than higher ones, creating a heat gradient. On a clear, cloudless night, this heat is able to dissipate out into space, creating a layer of chilly air over the ground and warmer air higher above it. This cold air is too dense to circulate with the warmer air above it, so it gets cut off from the rest of the atmosphere and can get stuck in valleys and other dips in the land, creating what are called cold air pools.
These microrefugia could help some life forms survive when they die out everywhere else, which could be hugely important for preserving biodiversity. We know this is possible because it’s happened before; during a period of ice ages and thaws, some species managed to survive in these microrefugia, even when the rest of Europe was blanketed in ice. For tens of thousands of years, huge ice sheets covered the Northern Hemisphere, followed by brief periods of warming. This temperature seesaw was difficult for the species living in these areas. Although many trees died when the climate cooled, some warm-adapted species managed to survive in pockets of land near the Mediterranean. Researchers traced these shifting tree populations by analyzing the abundance of different types of pollen in ancient rock layers. This showed that microrefugia have enabled plant species to survive past climate fluctuations. Now, some scientists believe that microrefugia could help species survive the current climate change. For example, wood sorrel in southern France and conifer trees in Nevada are thriving in microrefugia. By identifying these areas and the species that live there, conservation efforts can be focused on preserving them. An example of this is the monkey puzzle tree, which is nearly extinct in its native southern Brazil due to logging and climate change. However, small populations are surviving in highland microrefugia, but only a small fraction of these lands are protected. If these trees can’t survive in microrefugia, the species may soon die out. Therefore, it is important to protect the ranges where this tree can still live. This could be true for many species whose future depends on microrefugia. Although this type of solution may not work for all species, it could help some survive the effects of climate change. Research into microrefugia could also enable us to create them in the future to protect certain species. This video was made possible thanks to our supporters on Patreon. If you’d like to become a patron, you can go to Patreon.com/SciShow to join, and as always, thanks for watching. [♪ OUTRO]