Recently, concerns about impacts of climate change on ecosystems have drawn much attention due to the population decline and habitat loss of native species. The objective of this study are to develop the vulnerability index of plant and to assess the climate change impact and vulnerability of plant species and habitat in South Korea. We developed the vulnerability index with the distribution change of plants and created hotspot maps using the output of an assemble model of SDMs (Species Distribution Models) adopting the adaptability of plants using dispersal ability. We selected 216 plant species with three range types which are endemic, northern and southern limit in South Korea. RCP4.5 and 8.5 climate change scenarios was used to predict the future distribution.
Results/Conclusions
The results showed that the vulnerability of each plant changed according to climate change scenarios and adaptation ability and we can set the priority of conservation plan for vulnerable species. The future habitat of plant hotspots changed under future climate change according to their range types and vulnerable habitats of existing species and new refugia of species were detected. Therefore, we can make appropriate adaptation policies to conserve vulnerable species and habitats.