Quaternary Refugia and Persistence of Biodiversity

Abstract
In order to preserve biodiversity, we need to understand the mechanisms that sustain it. In their perspective, [Taberlet and Cheddadi][1] describe work ([Tzedakis][2] et al .) that illustrates the importance of southern refugia for the persistence of some temperate tree species during the last glacial-interglacial cycles. Interdisciplinary efforts to identify other putative refugia, could be important in long-term conservation planning. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/297/5589/2009 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/297/5589/2044