Earlier research by one of the paper’s authors has shown that cliffs may provide more stable microclimates that buffer plants from extreme temperatures. If this is the case, then cliffs could act as refuges for plants as the climate changes.

Múgica, A., Miranda, H., & García, M.B. 2024. Survival patterns and population stability of cliff plants suggest high resistance to climatic variability. Basic and Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2024.09.009