rə̇ˈfyüjēəm, rēˈf- noun
( plural refu·gia -ēə)
Etymology: Latin, refuge — more at refuge
: an area of relatively unaltered climate that is inhabited by plants and animals during a period of continental climatic change (as a glaciation) and remains as a center of relic forms from which a new dispersion and speciation may take place after climatic readjustment