Areas where populations of organisms survive during periods of regional adverse conditions, such as ice ages or climate change. These refuges allow species to persist and later recolonize surrounding areas when conditions improve.
From Latin 'refugium' meaning 'place of refuge,' plural 'refugia.' The ecological concept developed in the 20th century as scientists studied how species survived ice ages and other environmental catastrophes.
Refugia are nature's safe houses during tough times! During ice ages, many North American species survived in ice-free pockets like the Pacific Northwest coast, then spread back across the continent when glaciers retreated.
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