Projections of contemporary and future climate niche for Wyoming big sagebrush: a guide for restortation

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In this study, researchers modeled the climatic envelope for subspecies wyomingensis for contemporary and future climates (decade 2050). Comparison of the contemporary and decade 2050 models shows a predicted 39% loss of suitable climate. Much of this loss will occur in the Great Basin where impacts from increasing fire frequency and encroaching weeds have been eroding the A. tridentata landscape dominance and ecological functions. The goal of this study is to provide a management tool to promote successful restoration by predicting the geographic areas where climate is suitable for this subspecies.