Climate-driven species migrations in the Colombian Andes.

In the northern part of the Colombian Andes, I aim to test the prediction that plant species will shift their ranges, or “migrate”, towards higher elevations as a consequence of climate change. In mountain systems as the Tropical Andes, which has been identified as a region with one of the highest rates of endemism and species richness on Earth, the current speed of species migration appear to be slower than required to remain at equilibrium with the temperature increases. If species are unable to keep pace with climate change many species will be pushed outside of their thermal niches, enhancing the risk of dieback and local or global extinctions.