Species diversity in the Central Appalachians has been linked to geophysical diversity of the area. With increasing topographic and landform complexity comes a greater number of landscape characteristics and microhabitats that buffer against climate changes. Many areas across West Virginia and Maryland, including the Appalachian range, have a high diversity of landscape characteristics, such as geophysical setting, landscape complexity, and connectivity, that contribute to the high species diversity. Even the relatively flat areas of the Central Appalachians contain complex ridge systems and associated soil moisture regimes that support a high diversity of species. Although climate will largely determine a species’ potential range, it is the influence of geology that creates areas of microhabitat offering refugia against the effects of climate change.