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The protection of heritage from a changing climate has been of increasing interest over the last few decades, which creates a need for a systematic approach to the impacts of climate on tangible and intangible heritage. We present heritage climatology as an applied, interdisciplinary field of science that examines aspects of climate that affect heritage and provides data, statistics, well-tuned climate parameters and projections that can aid interpreting past changes and future management of heritage. It must consider the impact of extreme events, cyclic processes and the gradual accumulation of damage. Climate threats to heritage need to be represented at the appropriate temporal and spatial scales, and transferred using dose–response functions such that they can be interpreted in terms of management decisions yet be resistant to errors from both the representation of the climate threat and its translation into policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Species responses to global warming will depend on intraspecific diversity, yet studies of factors governing biogeographic patterns of variability are scarce. Here, we investigate the evolutionary processes underlying genetic and phenotypic diversity in the flightless and cold‐adapted grasshopper Sigaus piliferus, and project its suitable space in time. Location: Te Ika‐a‐Māui Aotearoa—North Island of New Zealand. Methods: We used mitochondrial sequences to investigate population connectivity and demographic trends using phylogeographic tools and neutrality statistics. Metric data were used to document phenotypic variation using naïve clustering. We used niche metrics to assess intraspecific niche variation, and niche modelling to investigate suitability under past and future scenarios. Multiple matrix regressions with randomization explored the processes contributing to phenotypic differentiation among grasshopper populations. Results: Niche models and demographic analyses suggest suitable space for this grasshopper was more restricted during glacial than interglacial stages. Genealogical relationships among ND2 haplotypes revealed a deep north–south split partly concordant with phenotypic and niche variation, suggesting two ecotypes that have mixed during recolonisation of the central volcanic region. Multiple matrix regressions with randomization indicate a link between climate and phenotypic differentiation inferred from leg and pronotum dimensions but not pronotum shape. Niche projections predict severe habitat reduction due to climate warming. Main conclusions: The current distribution and intraspecific diversity of S. piliferus reflect complex biogeographical scenarios consistent with Quaternary climates and volcanism. Phenotypic divergence appears adaptive. Current levels of genetic and phenotypic variation suggest adaptive potential, yet the pace of anthropogenic warming over the next 50 years could result in small populations that may collapse before adapting. Differences in niche features between diverging intraspecific lineages suggest distinct responses to climate change, and this has implications for prioritising conservation actions and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic histories are frequently a product of the environment, as populations expand or contract in response to major environmental changes, often driven by changes in climate. Meso‐ and bathy‐pelagic fishes inhabit some of the most temporally and spatially stable habitats on the planet. The stability of the deep‐pelagic could make deep‐pelagic fishes resistant to the demographic instability commonly reported in fish species inhabiting other marine habitats, however the demographic histories of deep‐pelagic fishes are unknown. We reconstructed the historical demography of 11 species of deep‐pelagic fishes using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. We uncovered widespread evidence of population expansions in our study species, a counterintuitive result based on the nature of deep‐pelagic ecosystems. Frequency‐based methods detected potential demographic changes in nine species of fishes, while extended Bayesian skyline plots identified population expansions in four species. These results suggest that despite the relatively stable nature of the deep‐pelagic environment, the fishes that reside here have likely been impacted by past changes in climate. Further investigation is necessary to better understand how deep‐pelagic fishes, by far Earth's most abundant vertebrates, will respond to future climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing biodiversity and climate change crises require society to adopt nature‐based solutions that integrate and enhance ecosystems. To achieve successful implementation of nature‐based solutions, it is vital to communicate scientific information about their benefits and suitability.This article explores the potential of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a tool for automating and scaling up science communication, outreach, and extension for nature‐based solutions.To illustrate the potential of GenAI, we present three case study examples; (1) reporting scientific information on ecosystem services, future land use options, and nature‐based solutions for farms (2) interactively providing guidance in response to homeowner questions about biodiversity‐friendly garden design and (3) visualising potential future scenarios of landscape change that incorporate diverse nature based and technological solutions. These examples demonstrate potential applications which may be relevant to other systems and types of nature‐based solutions.While GenAI for nature‐based solutions offers significant opportunities, this new technology brings risks of bias, false information, data privacy, mistrust, and high energy usage. Alongside technological development, we require integrated social research into ethics, public acceptability, and user experience, to maximise the benefits of GenAI while limiting these risks.GenAI offers an opportunity to accelerate the dissemination of nature‐based design strategies and reach a broader audience, by synthesising information and producing tailored content for specific users and locations. By harnessing the power of GenAI alongside human expertise, we can support nature‐based solutions to tackle the complex challenges of future sustainability. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean warming has been driving mortality events across the world's coral reef ecosystems and is resulting in multifaceted ecosystem restructuring. With the rapid shifts occurring across ecosystems, questions arise of which species, in which locations, have the capacity to persevere under climate change. Environmental generalism refers to species with the biological traits that support environmental flexibility, enabling the organism to occupy a broad range of environmental conditions. Some Scleractinia have been categorised as environmental generalists and proposed as likely winners under changing climate conditions, as environmental generalists have been considered less susceptible to environmental disturbance than specialist species. Given the complexity of the holobiont structure of corals, which includes photoendosymbiosis and diverse microbial consortia, understanding the complexity of the coral holobiont-environment interaction for the generalist corals will be an important factor in accurately predicting the success of these species into the future. Here we conduct a literature search to compile topics and concepts of environmental generalism for Australia's warming coral reef ecosystems and the breadth of holobiont responses to ecosystem restructuring. We synthesise these findings in the context of the latitudinal expanse of Australia's coral reefs to highlight how it is necessary to understand the biological underpinnings of generalist corals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilgrimages are an important part of our intangible heritage. These long journeys, often on foot, can be sensitive to weather, so this study sees pilgrimages as providing an opportunity to look at the way in which changes in climate affect intangible heritage. It examines two important Ethiopian pilgrimages that involve hundreds of thousands who travel each year to Dirre Sheikh Hussein, seen as the country's Mecca, and Lalibela, its Jerusalem. These journeys in the cold season (December–February) often exceed 1000 km in length and expose pilgrims to low temperatures in mountain areas. Our analysis uses daily output data from ERA-5 and CHIRPS for rainfall and temperature across the recent past (1984–2014) and an ensemble of climate models (CMIP6) for the periods 1984–2014 and 2035–2065, to explore changes in nighttime low temperature, daytime high temperature and the potential increase in days of heavy rain in mountain areas. Additionally, we examine the increasing number of very hot days affecting travel to and from Dirre Sheikh Hussein. The pilgrims experience weather events and not long-term average conditions, so extremes and spells of inclement weather can affect their experience. Management plans for the regions have yet to address likely changes to climate at these religious sites, or consider how strategic planning might mitigate their impact on pilgrims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in biodiversity generated by anthropogenic stressors at both species and population levels can alter emergent processes instrumental to ecosystem function and resilience. As such, understanding the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function and its response to climate perturbation is increasingly important, especially in tropical systems where responses to changes in biodiversity are less predictable and more challenging to assess experimentally. Using large-scale transplant experiments conducted at five neotropical sites, we documented the impacts of changes in intraspecific and interspecific plant richness in the genus Piper on insect herbivory, insect richness, and ecosystem resilience to perturbations in water availability. We found that reductions of both intraspecific and interspecific Piper diversity had measurable and site-specific effects on herbivory, herbivorous insect richness, and plant mortality. The responses of these ecosystem-relevant processes to reduced intraspecific Piper richness were often similar in magnitude to the effects of reduced interspecific richness. Increased water availability reduced herbivory by 4.2% overall, and the response of herbivorous insect richness and herbivory to water availability were altered by both intra- and interspecific richness in a site-dependent manner. Our results underscore the role of intraspecific and interspecific richness as foundations of ecosystem function and the importance of community and location-specific contingencies in controlling function in complex tropical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Demographic histories are frequently a product of the environment, as populations expand or contract in response to major environmental changes, often driven by changes in climate. Meso‐ and bathy‐pelagic fishes inhabit some of the most temporally and spatially stable habitats on the planet. The stability of the deep‐pelagic could make deep‐pelagic fishes resistant to the demographic instability commonly reported in fish species inhabiting other marine habitats, however the demographic histories of deep‐pelagic fishes are unknown. We reconstructed the historical demography of 11 species of deep‐pelagic fishes using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. We uncovered widespread evidence of population expansions in our study species, a counterintuitive result based on the nature of deep‐pelagic ecosystems. Frequency‐based methods detected potential demographic changes in nine species of fishes, while extended Bayesian skyline plots identified population expansions in four species. These results suggest that despite the relatively stable nature of the deep‐pelagic environment, the fishes that reside here have likely been impacted by past changes in climate. Further investigation is necessary to better understand how deep‐pelagic fishes, by far Earth's most abundant vertebrates, will respond to future climatic changes.

Human populations are migrating as a result of climate change. We conducted a systematic literature review examining the relationship between several climate hazards and migration flows. We reviewed 58 empirical studies between 2010 and 2023 that examined current and future migration related to acute and long-term climate hazards. The results indicate that the relationship between climate hazards and migration is diverse and depends on a range of socio-economic factors. Droughts and rising temperatures have a major impact on both international and domestic migration. Our review also reveals that multiple climate hazards collectively tend to intensify domestic migration toward urban areas, especially in agriculturally dependent regions. A better understanding of migration patterns and the climate hazards that drive them can inform global policy and preparedness for climate migration.