Boreal and northern tree species in the Midwest are generally expected to decline in suitable habitat under climate change, while temperate tree species, grasslands, savannas, and woodlands may expand by the end of the century.

When considering the potential for ecosystem conversions, species migration is a critical issue. It is not necessarily communities that move, but instead species that move and then form new communities. Species distribution models have also indicated that species may respond individually to future climate change, with suitable habitat expanding for some species and declining for others.