臭氧污染胁迫下植物的抗氧化系统调节机制

工业和农业的快速发展导致近地层O3浓度不断提高,这对陆地生态系统的动物、植物、微生物和人类健康造成伤害。O3对植物的影响尤其是对农作物的影响将关系到世界粮食的安全生产。O3污染胁迫可诱导植物产生活性氧物质,破坏植物的膜系统,影响植物的光合作用等正常生理功能。植物在自然适应过程中,可形成一套抗氧化机制来缓解O3胁迫伤害。综述了国内外近年来有关O3胁迫下植物抗氧化系统调节机制的研究进展,包括植物通过调节体内的抗氧化酶活性和非酶类物质含量来缓解O3对植物伤害的机制。O3污染胁迫下植物可调节其叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)等抗氧化酶的活性。抗坏血酸(AsA)、类胡萝卜素(Car)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)等非酶类物质在清除O3胁迫产生活性氧方面具有重要的作用。另外,根据目前的研究进展,提出了一些需要继续深入探讨的问题。     

铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系

逆境条件下植物体内产生并累积活性氧从而破坏植物组织结构与功能,同时植物也可以通过改变活性氧代谢相关酶活性清除活性氧而减轻活性氧伤害以适应环境胁迫。为研究铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种(Triticum aestivum L.)在活性氧代谢上的差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系,本试验选用小麦品种ET8(耐铝型)、ES8(铝敏感型)为试验材料研究了不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢变化上的差异。结果表明,50μmol·L-1铝处理24h,ET8和ES8活性氧含量显著升高,O2·ˉ产生速率增幅分别为10.5%和20.4%,H2O2含量增幅分别为3.3%和7.6%。ET8和ES8超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性增幅分别为11.9%和41.6%,过氧化物酶(POD)活性增幅为51.8%和77.8%,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性增幅为54.4%和29.1%,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性增幅为32.9%和38.4%,谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性增幅为83.1%和85.5%。虽然抗氧化酶活性增加后会清除一部分活性氧,但活性氧的累积仍然造成了膜脂的过氧化,ET8和ES8丙二醛(MDA)含量分别增加18.2%和50.0%,质膜透性也随着MDA含量的升高而增加,增幅分别为1.25倍和1.36倍。综上所述,不同耐铝品种间活性氧代谢的差异是小麦品种耐铝性差异显著的原因之一。     

铜胁迫对两种地衣植物生理生化特征的影响

以中国树花（Ramalina sinensis Jatta.）和亚花松萝（Usnea subfloridana Stint.）为材料,研究了铜胁迫对这两种地衣植物生理生化特性的影响。结果表明：在Cu2＋的作用下,中国树花和亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数和过氧化物酶（POD）活性发生一系列的变化,且表现出明显的剂量效应关系和时间效应关系。随着处理浓度的加大和处理时间的延长,中国树花体内叶绿素质量分数呈现先降后升再降。在处理的48 h,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时中国树花体内叶绿素a质量分数下降为0 mg.mL-1时的16.34%,叶绿素总质量分数下降为42.54%,而当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时叶绿素a质量分数下降为22.95%,叶绿素总质量分数下降为60.39%,亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数呈现先升后降的趋势,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理48 h后的亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数比36 h下降18.82%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,处理48 h后的亚花松萝体内叶绿素质量分数比36 h下降23.52%。随着处理浓度的加大和处理时间的延长,中国树花过氧化物酶活性呈现上升的趋势,当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理24、36、48 h后过氧化物酶的活性分别增加为88.1%、64.83%和65.49%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,分别增加为69.83%、82.05%和82.57%。而亚花松萝过氧化物酶活性呈现先下降后上升等波动性变化,Cu2＋质量浓度为0.1 mg.mL-1时,处理24、36、48 h后过氧化物酶的活性先下降62.56%,后增加7.93%,又下降42.28%;当Cu2＋质量浓度为0.5 mg.mL-1时,比对照组分别下降72.92%、33.49%和62.56%。对比两种地衣植物发现,中国树花体内生理指标的变化较亚花松萝的明显,说明中国树花对铜胁迫反应较敏感,有利于监测重金属铜污染。     

外源亚精胺对模拟干旱胁迫下番茄幼苗活性氧水平和抗氧化系统的影响

以耐旱性不同的2个品种番茄('粉802'和'皇冠')为试材,采用营养液栽培,研究了聚乙二醇(PEG)模拟的干旱胁迫下喷施外源哑精胺(Spd)对番茄幼苗活性氧(ROS)水平和抗氧化系统的影响.结果表明,喷施0.1 mmol L-1Spd降低了7.5%PEG胁迫下2个品种番茄幼苗叶中超氧阴离子(O2-)产生速率、过氧化氢(H2O2,)、丙二醛(MDA)含量的上升,增加了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氧酶(CAT)以及AsA-GSH循环中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)的活性,提高了抗氧化物质抗坏血酸(AsA)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量,对单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性没有影响.耐旱性较强的‘毛粉802'幼苗叶中抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化剂升高幅度明显大于耐旱性较弱的‘皇冠',ROS积累速度和膜脂过氧化程度相对较低,喷施Spd处理对‘皇冠'效果更为明显.这表明外源Spd通过减少干旱胁迫下番茄幼苗体内ROS的产生,提高植株体内抗氧化系统中抗氧化酶活性、抗氧化剂含量和降低膜脂过氧化水平,起到缓解干旱胁迫对番茄幼苗伤害的作用,增强幼苗对干旱逆境的适应性.图4参32     

铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系

逆境条件下植物体内产生并累积活性氧从而破坏植物组织结构与功能,同时植物也可以通过改变活性氧代谢相关酶活性清除活性氧而减轻活性氧伤害以适应环境胁迫。为研究铝胁迫下不同耐铝小麦品种（TriticumaestivumL．）在活性氧代谢上的差异及与小麦耐铝性的关系,本试验选用小麦品种ET8（耐铝型）、ES8（铝敏感型）为试验材料研究了不同耐铝小麦品种活性氧代谢变化上的差异。结果表明,50μmol·L-1铝处理24h,ET8和ES8活性氧含量显著升高,O2产生速率增幅分别为10．5％和20．4％,H202含量增幅分别为3．3％和7．6％。ET8和ES8超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性增幅分别为11．9％和41．6％,过氧化物酶（POD）活性增幅为51．8％和77．8％,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性增幅为54．4％和29．1％,过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增幅为32．9％和38．4％,谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）活性增幅为83．1％和85．5％。虽然抗氧化酶活性增加后会清除一部分活性氧,但活性氧的累积仍然造成了膜脂的过氧化,ET8和ES8丙二醛（MDA）含量分别增加18．2％和50．0％,质膜透性也随着MDA含量的升高而增加,增幅分别为1．25倍和1．36倍。综上所述,不同耐铝品种间活性氧代谢的差异是小麦品种耐铝性差异显著的原因之一。     

增强UV-B辐射和CO2倍增的交互作用对蚕豆幼苗的保护酶活性及脂质过氧化作用的影响

在4．52kJ m^-2 d^-1 UV-BBE的UV-B辐射和700μmol mol^-1的CO2浓度人工模拟复合处理下,研究了蚕豆(Vicia faba L.)幼苗的紫外吸收物含量、保护酶活性和抗氧化物质含量的变化,结果表明,在UV-B辐射和CO,的单独和复合胁迫下,紫外吸收物的含量均升高,而在复合胁迫下达到最大;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性在UV-B辐射下降低,在CO2和复合胁迫下增强;丙二醛(MDA)的含量在UV-B辐射下提高,在CO2胁迫下降低,在复合胁迫下接近对照;抗坏血酸(AsA)含量在UV-B辐射下降低,在CO,和复合胁迫下增加,这表明CO2倍增能提高蚕豆对增强UV-B辐射伤害的防御能力,而蚕豆体内保护酶体系(SOD、POD、CAT)、抗氧化物质(AsA)和紫外吸收物是其在高浓度CO2下增强抗UV-B辐射能力的内在基础,图1参24     

铝对养麦和金荞麦根际土壤微生物及酶活性的影响

以两种耐铝性不同蓼科荞麦属植物荞麦和金荞麦为材料,通过土培盆栽试验,比较研究其根际土壤微生态对铝胁迫反应的差异。结果表明,一定质量分数的Al对荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤细菌具有显著刺激效应,对金荞麦的影响更大,但Al质量分数过高,对细菌的刺激效应明显减弱,甚至产生抑制作用,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤真菌数量均随着Al质量分数的升高而明显增加,荞麦根际土壤真菌增加幅度更为显著,Al胁迫下二者根际放线菌数量的变化亦表现出一定的差异;Al胁迫下,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤氨化细菌、硝化细菌、反硝化细菌等氮素生理群微生物的变化趋势亦显示出明显差异,整体上荞麦根际土壤细菌生理群对Al胁迫比金荞麦更敏感;Al胁迫对荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤过氧化氢酶活性均表现出较弱的抑制效应,但荞麦根际土壤始终维持较金荞麦更高的过氧化氢酶活性,这与荞麦具有更强的耐铝性有一定的关系,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤转化酶对Al非常敏感,随着铝的加入,其活性显著下降,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤脲酶活性的变化趋势基本一致,但整体上荞麦根际土壤脲酶活性均明显低于金荞麦,这是否与其耐铝毒特性的差异有关有待于进一步探讨。     

铝对荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤微生物及酶活性的影响

以两种耐锅性不同蓼科荞麦属植物荞麦和金荞麦为材料,通过土培盆栽试验,比较研究其根际土壤微生态对铝胁迫反应的差异.结果表明,一定质量分数的Al对荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤绌菌具有显著刺激效应,对金荞麦的影响更大,但Al质量分数过高,对细菌的刺激效应明显减弱,甚至产生抑制作用,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤真菌数量均随着Al质量分数的升高而明显增加,荞麦根际土壤真菌增加幅度更为显著,Al胁迫下二者根际放线菌数量的变化亦表现出一定的差异;Al胁迫下,养麦和金荞麦根际土壤氨化细菌、硝化绌菌、反硝化细菌等氮素生理群微生物的变化趋势亦显示出明显差异,整体上荞麦根际土壤细菌生珲群对Al胁迫比金荞麦更敏感;Al胁迫对荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤过氧化氢酶活性均表现出较弱的抑制效应,但荞麦根际土壤始终维持较金荞麦更高的过氧化氢酶活性,这与荞麦具有更强的耐铝性有一定的关系,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤转化酶对Al非常敏感,随着铝的加入,其活性显著下降,荞麦和金荞麦根际土壤脲酶活性的变化趋势基本一致,但整体上荞麦根际土壤脲酶活性均明显低于金荞麦,这是否与其耐铝毒特性的差异有关有待于进一步探讨.     

水分胁迫对燥红土和变性土上生长的玉米叶片几种酶活性的影响

采用盆栽控制试验，研究了不同处理条件下，水分胁迫对金沙江干热河谷典型土壤(燥红土和变性土)生长的玉米(Zea mays L.)叶片中几种酶活性的影响．结果表明：(1)在一定的水分胁迫范围内，玉米叶片的过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(ASP)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均随着土壤含水量的降低而升高，但过度胁迫时，酶活性降低；(2)随着土壤含水量降低，玉米叶片中保护酶活性的变化规律略有差异，这与二者的土壤物理性质有关；(3)施肥处理和栽培方式对玉米叶片的酶活性有影响，增施有机肥和Zn肥可提高适度水分亏缺条件下玉米叶片中POD、CAT、ASP和PPO活性．图4参35     

Zn2+胁迫及恢复下番茄幼苗根系中抗氧化系统的动态变化

通过温室水培试验,研究1.0×10-4mol/LZn2 胁迫及解除胁迫对番茄(Lycopersicom esculentum Mill.)幼苗根系中抗氧化系统的动态变化.结果表明,胁迫条件下,番茄根系丙二醛(MDA)和蛋白质含量增加;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD,EC1.15.1.1),过氧化氢酶(CAT,EC1.11.1.6)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX,EC1.11.1.9)活性上升,而过氧化物酶(POD,EC1.11.1.7)活性下降;AsA-GSH循环代谢受影响;抗坏血酸过氧化酶(APX,EC1.11.1.11)活性在胁迫d1、d3上升,随后下降,而谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR,EC1.6.4.2)活性在胁迫1~5d时下降,随后上升;抗坏血酸(AsA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量上升.解除胁迫后,根系中MDA和蛋白质含量随时间延长逐渐减少,接近对照;POD和APX活性增加,而SOD、CAT和GR活性及GSH含量先升高,随后减少;GPX活性和AsA含量却降低;恢复后根系中抗氧化物水平仍然高于对照.依据实验结果,文中讨论了胁迫及恢复过程中植物AsA-GSH循环代谢的作用.图3参16     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles

Summary Undamaged plants emit low levels of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), while caterpillar-damaged and artificially damaged plants emit relatively higher levels of certain GLVs. Female braconid parasitoids,Microplitis croceipes, oriented to both damaged plants and to individual GLVs in no-choice tests in a wind tunnel, but seldom oriented to undamaged plants. Female ichneumonid parasitoids,Netelia heroica, also oriented to individual GLVs in a wind tunnel. Males of both wasp species failed to orient to the GLVs. These data show that leaf-feeding caterpillars can cause the release of GLVs, and that parasitic wasps can respond to these odors by flying upwind (chemoanemotactic response), which brings the wasps to their caterpillar hosts. This supports the hypothesis that plants communicate with members of the third trophic level,i.e., plants under herbivore attack emit chemical signals that guide natural enemies of herbivores to sites of plant damage. In this interaction, the GLVs serve as tritrophic plant-to-parasitoid synomones. That parasitoids from two different wasp families oriented to GLVs suggests that the response may be widespread among the Hymenoptera.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture     

Human Influence and Classical Biogeographic Predictors of Rare Species Occurrence

Biogeographic theory predicts that rare species occur more often in larger, less‐isolated habitat patches and suggests that patch size and connectivity are positive predictors of patch quality for conservation. However, in areas substantially modified by humans, rare species may be relegated to the most isolated patches. We used data from plant surveys of 81 meadow patches in the Georgia Basin of Canada and the United States to show that presence of threatened and endangered plants was positively predicted for patches that were isolated on small islands surrounded by ocean and for patches that were isolated by surrounding forest. Neither patch size nor connectivity were positive predictors of rare species occurrence. Thus, in our study area, human influence, presumably due to disturbance or introduction of competitive non‐native species, appears to have overwhelmed classical predictors of rare species distribution, such that greater patch isolation appeared to favor presence of rare species. We suggest conservation planners consider the potential advantages of protecting geographically isolated patches in human‐modified landscapes because such patches may represent the only habitats in which rare species are likely to persist. Influencia Humana y Predictores Biogeográficos Clásicos de la Ocurrencia de Especies Raras     

Seasonal dynamics of macro-algae in the South Lake of Tunis

The macro-algae communities observed in the south lake of Tunis are characterized by the predominance of nitrophilous algae which are in the order of biomass importance:Ulva, Cladophora andEnteromorpha. We have noted seasonal changes of alga distribution. The wind appears to be one of the most important factors influencing this distribution. The total biomass reaches a maximum in the spring. Rapid decomposition of the biomass leads to a severe ecological imbalance, resulting in crises of anoxia and fish death. A restoration project has already started. It aims at removal of contaminated muds and the introduction of a new circulation system. The main objectives of this work were to collect information on the distribution and biomass of the phytobenthic communities as a first step in the constitution of a database for further comparison.     

Patterns and biases of climate change threats in the IUCN Red List

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments rely on published data and expert inputs, and biases can be introduced where underlying definitions and concepts are ambiguous. Consideration of climate change threat is no exception, and recently numerous approaches to assessing the threat of climate change to species have been developed. We explored IUCN Red List assessments of amphibians and birds to determine whether species listed as threatened by climate change display distinct patterns in terms of habitat occupied and additional nonclimatic threats faced. We compared IUCN Red List data with a published data set of species’ biological and ecological traits believed to infer high vulnerability to climate change and determined whether distributions of climate change‐threatened species on the IUCN Red List concur with those of climate change‐threatened species identified with the trait‐based approach and whether species possessing these traits are more likely to have climate change listed as a threat on the IUCN Red List. Species in some ecosystems (e.g., grassland, shrubland) and subject to particular threats (e.g., invasive species) were more likely to have climate change as a listed threat. Geographical patterns of climate change‐threatened amphibians and birds on the IUCN Red List were incongruent with patterns of global species richness and patterns identified using trait‐based approaches. Certain traits were linked to increases or decreases in the likelihood of a species being threatened by climate change. Broad temperature tolerance of a species was consistently related to an increased likelihood of climate change threat, indicating counterintuitive relationships in IUCN assessments. To improve the robustness of species assessments of the vulnerability or extinction risk associated with climate change, we suggest IUCN adopt a more cohesive approach whereby specific traits highlighted by our results are considered in Red List assessments. To achieve this and to strengthen the climate change‐vulnerability assessments approach, it is necessary to identify and implement logical avenues for further research into traits that make species vulnerable to climate change (including population‐level threats).