Nov
Rethinking global change narratives: predicting plant range shifts across tropical forests and temperate grasslands
In this talk, Sean E. H. Pang, visiting Postdoc from Aarhus University, will share some of his recent works on global change ecology that re-evaluates these perspectives, encouraging a shift in how we perceive global change impacts on biodiversity and how we approach conservation planning.
Abstract
Most tropical species are expected to experience substantial range losses due to climate change, with the extreme climate change scenario (SSP5–RCP 8.5) posing the greatest threat to biodiversity. Calls for temperate ecosystem restoration often emphasise on forests, where tree planting and forest conservation are key solutions. While there is some truth to these narratives, the full picture is more nuanced.
Using species distribution models, I explore how various global changes—climate change, deforestation, and land abandonment—could reshape plant distributions. My previous research revolved around tropical tree species in Southeast Asia, where I uncovered variable downsides under different non-sustainable futures. Currently, I am investigating how vegetation succession into closed-canopy forest could impact European flora, much of which inhabit open grasslands and light woodlands. By asking bold questions that are unbiased by ongoing narratives, we may uncover the nuance and detail hidden behind simple narratives. These insights can help develop conservation solutions that reflect the complexities of ecological responses to global changes.
About Sean Pang
Sean is a spatial ecologist from the Southeast Asia tropics that has been let loose onto European landscapes. Complexity and nuance excites him, taking him on paths that reveal interesting insights about ecology and biodiversity, but sometimes also dead ends. Sean's research revolves around three key topics.
- Ecological Niche Theory—Sean is drawn to the ecological niche as a lens through which to understand how species evolve, thrive, and interact with their environments; it captivates him as a framework that connects biodiversity, evolutionary adaptation, and survival across diverse ecosystems.
- Global Change Ecology—his interest in global change ecology stems from a commitment to addressing the environmental crises of our time, particularly how shifts in climate and land use reshape ecosystems and biodiversity and the potential for conservation to mitigate these impacts.
- Spatial Modelling & Methods—Sean is fascinated by the challenge of capturing complex ecological patterns in data, driven by a desire to refine our understanding of species distributions and to develop models that can more accurately predict responses to environmental changes.
These three themes form the foundation of his curiosity and the work he does. See Researchgate profile.
About the event
Location:
Atmosfären, Geocentre II, 2nd floor, room 209
Contact:
annemarie [dot] eckes-shephard [at] nateko [dot] lu [dot] se