Global change threatens the biodiversity of cold regions: current knowledge and priorities for further research

Cold regions are among the most pristine areas remaining globally, hosting unique fauna and flora. Historically, these regions have often been refugia from land-use change, resource exploitation, and pollution, but climate warming and biological invasions increasingly constitute profound threats. Focusing on terrestrial plant and invertebrate species, we provide an overview of the impacts of climate change and biological invasions on the biodiversity of cold regions, from the individual to the species level, and discuss pervasive challenges to understanding and managing these impacts. In particular, we explore the consequences of climate change and biological invasions in the contexts of individual physiology, population dynamics, and species redistribution. We suggest new research avenues by identifying priorities for future studies on plants and invertebrates of cold regions in the context of concurrent climate change and biological invasion.