Will Roe Deer Persist in a Warmer World?

Jonathan Chase

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001829

Abstract

Will Roe Deer Persist in a Warmer World?

Highlights

The Earth’s climate is rapidly changing at the hands of human activities
Regardless of whether it is due to plasticity or evolution, the ability of species to alter their traits in response to climate change creates doubt about whether the ‘‘gloomand-doom’’ projections of biodiversity’s response to climate change will be realized
Only a handful of long-term studies are available to address the demographic consequences of climate change, most showing that populations can adapt through plasticity or evolutionary adaptation, thereby minimizing the potential negative influence of climate change on population growth

Summary

Introduction

The Earth’s climate is rapidly changing at the hands of human activities. There is little doubt about this. In this issue of PLOS Biology, Plard et al provide evidence to suggest that, at least for the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) of France’s Champagne region, climate change is not a minor inconvenience to overcome but rather a fundamental impediment to population growth that could portend eventual catastrophe.

Results

Conclusion