shifts in these groups has been hypothesized to have direct relationship to one another, with the possibility of a release from herbivory pressures causing the bloom in novel plant assemblages during the late quaternary. Future no-analog climates Modern ecologists looking to study future climates and ecosystem assemblages use modern analogs to understand how species distributions will change and how to infer management of ecosystems with climate change. Along with modern analogs, studying past climates and how they've changed is being used to understand future novel climates due to climate changes. Species distribution models are currently being tested with no-analog climates to get more predictive estimates of species range shifts and biodiversity loss. Examples of modern conditions that are considered no-analogs are also present. Accelerated tree growth due to environmental conditions and pollutants that are present today provide no analog to past conditions of tree growth. Emerging ecosystems The concept of emerging ecosystems originated from the discussion of the ecological and economical fate of agricultural land once it is no longer in use. Similarly to the definition of a no-analog, emerging ecosystems are considered as those that have species composition and abundances that are not seen in modern analogs. Emerging ecosystems not only encompass the understanding of ecological consequences, but also those social, economic and cultural associations. These ecosystems may provide opportunities for species to colonize new niche space. Additional examples Projections of future no-analog communities based on two climate models and two species-distribution-model algorithms indicate that by 2070 over half of California could be occupied by novel assemblages of bird species, implying the potential for dramatic community reshuffling and altered patterns of species interactions See also Axel Heiberg Island ~80°N is known for its large ~45-million-year-old 'fossil forests'. Biogeography Ecology Effects of global warming Ellesmere Island ~80°N is known for its ~55-million-year-old 'fossil forest'. Extinction risk from global warming La Brea Tar Pits are well known for their fossils of extinct North American megafauna. Paleoclimatology Paleontology Pleistocene rewilding References Biological concepts Ecology terminology