Meeting Abstract
Assessing the effect of global warming on natural systems is critical. The rate of global warming has been increasing in recent years, and a powerful method for determining the effects of global warming on the abundance and distribution of species is to compare present-day data with historical data. The internet has made it possible to download data and information with some searches and clicks, but data prior to 1980 remain buried in stacks and archives of libraries and research institutes. Records of species abundance and distribution prior to 1980 are likely to give the best indication of the effects of climate change. Therefore, these records are equivalent to buried treasure for an ecologist studying climate change. Finding pre-1980 records requires patience, persistence, human interactions, and a willingness to travel. Strategies for obtaining historical data and outcomes of historical studies will be presented.
