Sensitivity of Dutch vascular plants to climate change and habitat fragmentation : a preliminary assessment based on plant traits in relation to past trends and future projections

In the present study indicators were developed for the sensitivity of plant species to climate change and habitat fragmentation, by analysing large databases. The resulting sensitivity scores were confronted with trends observed over the 20th century in the frequency of occurrence of species. The scores for sensitivity to climate change and habitat fragmentation can both explain part of the trends observed over the 20th century. Within the group of species that are sensitive to climate change, the highest proportion of deteriorating species was found among the subset of species with low dispersal ability. This supports the theory that the effects of climate change on biodiversity are aggravated by habitat fragmentation