SynthesisNature communications2019
Adaptive responses of animals to climate change are most likely insufficient.
Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph
Synthesis in Nature communications, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 150 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
150citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
150 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Arboreal Mammals Are at Risk Under Climate Change: Insights From a Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Global change biology · 2026Pooled it
- Changes in phenology mediate vertebrate population responses to temperature globally.Nature communications · 2026Pooled it
- Climate change and the global redistribution of biodiversity: substantial variation in empirical support for expected range shifts.Environmental evidence · 2023Pooled it
- Bat responses to climate change: a systematic review.Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2023Pooled it
- Article
- Temperature-Associated Variation in Evolutionary Rates ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Seasonal Coat Colour Moult and Mismatch in Ezo Mountain Hares (Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Can Fecal T3 Metabolite Level Fluctuations in European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Give Insights on Body Condition and Thermal Stress?Integrative zoology · 2026Article
- Phenological plasticity enables thermal homeostasis in a wild bird population.Science advances · 2026Article
- Climate-Driven Range Dynamics of the Chinese Giant Salamander: Past, Present, and Future Projections From Ensemble Species Distribution Models.Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Changing food availability and its effect on the heritability of offspring size in woodland passerine birds.The Journal of animal ecology · 2026Article
- Overwintering drives rapid adaptation in Drosophila with potential costs to insecticide resistance.Evolution; international journal of organic evolution · 2026Article
- Physiological responses and adaptive mechanisms of amphibians and reptiles to multiple interacting environmental stressors: an integrative review.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Review
- Integrating Genomic and Climate Data to Design Representative Seed Production Areas: A Pragmatic Workflow for Climate-Adjusted Provenancing.Ecology and evolution · 2026Article
- Divergent climate impacts despite similar response to temperature in a widespread aerial insectivore.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Insights into the thermal ecology, physiology, and behavior of a threatened ectothermic specialist from a warming and drying ecoregion.Biology open · 2025Article
- Quantitative-genetic analysis of directional adaptation suggests low maximum sustainable rates of change in agreement with data from field populations.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Synching with seasonality: Predicting roe deer parturition phenology across its distributional range.The Journal of animal ecology · 2025Article
- Plasticity in climate change responses.Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2025Review
- Geography, Environmental Conditions and Life History Shape Patterns of Within-Population Phenotypic Variation in North American Birds.Ecology letters · 2025Review
90 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
65 authors.
Viktoriia RadchukLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany. radchuk@izw-berlin.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3072-0095
Thomas ReedSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, T23 N73K, Ireland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2993-0477
Céline TeplitskyCEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Martijn van de PolDepartment of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Anne CharmantierCEFE UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Christopher HassallSchool of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3510-0728
Peter AdamíkDepartment of Zoology, Palacký University, tř. 17. listopadu 50, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1566-1234
Frank AdriaensenEvolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Markus P AholaSwedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden.
Peter ArceseDepartment of Forest and Conservation Sciences, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, BC, Canada.
Jesús Miguel AvilésDepartment of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC), Ctra de Sacramento s/n, 04120, Almería, Spain.
Javier BalbontinDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Avenue Reina Mercedes, 41012, Seville, Spain.
Karl S BergDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, 78520, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3648-2991
Antoni BorrasMuseu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, P° Picasso s/n, Parc Ciutadella, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
Sarah BurtheCentre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK.
Jean ClobertStation of Experimental and Theoretical Ecology (SETE), UMR 5321, CNRS and University Paul Sabatier, 2 route du CNRS, 09200, Moulis, France.
Nina DehnhardBehavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium.
Florentino de LopeDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
André A DhondtLab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA.
Niels J DingemanseBehavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3320-0861
Hideyuki DoiGraduate School of Simulation Studies, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima-minamimachi, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2701-3982
Tapio EevaDepartment of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland.
Joerns FickelLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0593-5820
Iolanda FilellaCREAF, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
Frode FossøyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), P.O. Box 5685 Torgarden, 7485, Trondheim, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7535-9574
Anne E GoodenoughSchool of Natural and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL50 4AZ, UK.
Stephen J G HallEstonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2666-1715
Bengt HanssonDepartment of Biology, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6694-8169
Michael HarrisCentre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, UK.
Dennis HasselquistDepartment of Biology, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden.
Thomas HicklerSenckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Jasmin JoshiBiodiversity research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, Berlin, 14469, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-2465
Heather KharoubaDepartment of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada.
Juan Gabriel MartínezDepartamento de Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.
Jean-Baptiste MihoubSorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CESCO, UMR 7204, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France.
James A Mills10527A Skyline Drive, Corning, NY, 14830, USA.
Mercedes Molina-MoralesDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
Arne MoksnesCSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain.
Arpat OzgulDepartment of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
Deseada ParejoDepartment of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
Philippe PilardLPO Mission Rapaces, 26 avenue Alain Guigue, 13104, Mas-Thibert, France.
Maud PoisbleauBehavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium.
Francois RoussetISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, 34095, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4670-0371
Mark-Oliver RödelLeibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Museum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
David ScottSavannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, 29802, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-0593
Juan Carlos SenarMuseu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, P° Picasso s/n, Parc Ciutadella, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
Constanti StefanescuCREAF, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
Bård G StokkeCSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain.
Tamotsu KusanoDepartment of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, 192-0397, Japan.
Maja TarkaDepartment of Biology, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden.
Corey E TarwaterDepartment of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E University Avenue, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
Kirsten ThonickeResearch Domain 1 'Earth System Analysis', Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), P.O. Box 60 12 03, Telegrafenberg A31, Potsdam, D-14412, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5283-4937
Jack ThorleyImperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8426-610X
Andreas WiltingLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5073-9186
Piotr TryjanowskiInstitute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznań, Poland.
Juha MeriläOrganismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Faculty Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9614-0072
Ben C SheldonEdward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
Anders Pape MøllerEcologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3739-4675
Erik MatthysenEvolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Fredric JanzenDepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5919-196X
F Stephen DobsonDepartment of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
Marcel E VisserDepartment of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1456-1939
Steven R BeissingerDepartment of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, CA, USA.
Alexandre CourtiolLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0637-2959
Stephanie Kramer-SchadtLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9269-4446
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Biological responses to climate change have been widely documented across taxa and regions, but it remains unclear whether species are maintaining a good match between phenotype and environment, i.e. whether observed trait changes are adaptive. Here we reviewed 10,090 abstracts and extracted data from 71 studies reported in 58 relevant publications, to assess quantitatively whether phenotypic trait changes associated with climate change are adaptive in animals. A meta-analysis focussing on birds, the taxon best represented in our dataset, suggests that global warming has not systematically affected morphological traits, but has advanced phenological traits. We demonstrate that these advances are adaptive for some species, but imperfect as evidenced by the observed consistent selection for earlier timing. Application of a theoretical model indicates that the evolutionary load imposed by incomplete adaptive responses to ongoing climate change may already be threatening the persistence of species.
Indexed as
Climate ChangePhenotypeAcclimatizationAnimalsBirdsSelection, GeneticTime Factors
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