Thematic group
Species distributions, past present and future

Project leaders: Dr. Tom Hayden with assistance from Dr. Steve Waldren

Project Statement

This project will develop outside of the workpackages and cross-cutting themes, though it will develop links with all of these.  The aim is to bring together groups of researchers from normally disparate areas to develop a coherent research framework.  This project has been included as model for providing a synthesis of current knowledge with a view to making firm recommendations for future funding; as such it presents our visions for how our project can develop strategically beyond the current project funding.  We hope that other such groups might be developed around other research areas, from similar modest seed money.

Objectives and Targets

• Assemble a working group with specialist knowledge in palaeoecology, biogeography and phylogeography, climate change, population genetics

• Determine current state of knowledge on biogeographical distributions of major groups of biota

• Determine extent of knowledge of fossil distributions of a range of biota from these groups

• Determine predicted change in current distributions based on climate change scenarios

• Identify major gaps in current knowledge, determine priorities for future research funding