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WS 3.101

Synthesizing knowledge about alpine-treeline ecotones

Session status: Accepted

Content last updated: 2025-09-24 20:52:40

Online available since: 2025-01-13 23:24:47

Details

Full Title
WS 3.101: Synthesizing knowledge about alpine-treeline ecotones in changing mountains
Scheduled
Talks & Session:
2025-09-16, 13:30 - 15:00 (LT), MCI – Aula 302
Talks & Session:
2025-09-16, 13:30 - 15:00 (LT), MCI – Aula 302
Convener
Bader, Maaike
Co-Convener(s)
Katzensteiner, Klaus; Toivonen, Johanna; Prakash, Nishtha; Bebi, Peter; and Ramirez, Lirey
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
#IMC25, Conservation, Ecosystems, ES-Forests, Monitoring, Paleoperspective
Keywords
treeline, mountain forest, alpine vegetation, climate change, vegetation patterns

Description

This workshop aligns with the Focus Session on alpine treelines and aims at bringing together researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds to discuss different approaches to understanding observed and predicted patterns of treeline-ecotone changes under climate- and land-use change, and how these approaches may offer synergies. As introductions to the discussion, we invite contributions that synthesize the state of the knowledge or specific developments in treeline research from the point of view of one or more disciplines or methodological approaches. Examples are tree-ring research, modelling, remote sensing, plant-plant interactions, plant-soil interactions, seedling establishment, tree ecophysiology, and more specific subtopics.

Note: There will be a 3 min flash talk from each poster author at the beginning of the workshop.

Registered Abstracts

Before the first abstract is presented, the (co-)convener gives a short introduction of 5min to the session.

Date/time indicate the presentation; if available: the bracketed duration is added for end-of-presentation Q&A.

ID: 3.5066

|Ali, Munawar

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:35 - 13:38

Ali, Munawar

Treeline dynamics of pine and birch in response to climate change in the Karakoram mountain, Pakistan

Ali, M.

Abstract/Description

The Alpine treeline is considered a sensitive indicator to climate change. Since low temperature is a primary constraint of treeline dynamics, upslope shifts in response to climate warming are expected. The Karakoram, under a westerly-dominated climate, has experienced significant warming since the mid-nineteenth century. However, in comparison to adjacent mountains, little is known how alpine treelines have responded to rising temperatures in westerly-dominated dry areas, such as the Karakoram. To test if climate warming triggered upslope shift of alpine treelines in the Karakoram, we compared the recent dynamics of blue pine (Pinus wallichiana) and Himalayan birch (Betula utilis) treeline populations. We expected a higher responsiveness of pine recruitment to temperature as compared with birch due to the higher drought tolerance of pine species. Tree mapping and dendrochronological methods were used to determine stand age structure, and to reconstruct spatiotemporal treeline dynamics during the past 150 years. The decadal recruitment rate of pine was positively correlated with summer and winter temperatures, whereas the birch recruitment was negatively correlated. Accordingly, pine treelines showed significant upslope shifts in two out of three plots, whilst two birch treelines remained stable in the two studied plots. Such different treeline shift rates agree with their divergent recruitment responses to climate warming. Thus, projected warming in the Karakoram will differently impact treelines depending on species-specific responses with pine showing a more dynamic and rapid upward treeline advancement.

ID: 3.8821

|Oberhuber, Walter

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:38 - 13:41

Oberhuber, Walter

Delayed onset and short duration characterize radial stem growth of the deciduous shrub Alnus alnobetula within the treeline ecotone

Oberhuber, W.

Wieser, G.; and Gruber, A.

Abstract/Description

Green alder (Alnus alnobetula (Ehrh.) K. Koch) is a tall, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub widespread in the Central European Alps across the treeline ecotone. The focus of this study was to determine key dates of intra-annual radial stem growth (RG) along an elevational transect within the treeline ecotone (1940–2150 m asl). For this purpose, RG was continuously recorded by dendrometers mounted on shoots (n=16–20 dendrometer records per year) at three study plots on Mt. Patscherkofel (2246 m asl) during 2022–2024. The Gompertz function was applied to determine phenological dates of intra-annual RG, i.e., onset, end, duration and time of maximum RG. Results revealed that within the treeline ecotone RG started and ceased around end of June (doy 177±7) and end of August (doy 233±9), respectively. Bud-break was found to occur 28±3 days before the onset of radial stem growth, and leaf shedding was observed to commence in early October. The mean growth duration amounted to 56±9 days, considering all sites and study years. The time of maximum RG was observed in July (doy 192±8), with about 60 % of the annual increment developing during this month. Results of this study revealed that RG of A. alnobetula within the treeline ecotone was limited to a period of only two months, and that the timing of the highest growth rates is not related to photoperiodic constraints. The substantial discrepancy between bud-break and the onset of RG is most likely attributable to the deciduous habit of this tall shrub, indicating that carbon reserves are initially allocated toward leaf development, with cambium activity commencing subsequent to ongoing photosynthesis. The short duration of RG is explained by the clonal propagation strategy, which may trigger an early shift of carbon allocation below ground.
This research was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), P34706-B.

ID: 3.9698

|Wieser, Gerhard

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:41 - 13:44

Wieser, Gerhard

Does shrub encouragement change the water balance within the treeline ecotone?

Wieser, G.

Gruber, A.; and Oberhuber, W.

Abstract/Description

During the last decades shrub encroachment occurred across arctic and alpine environments. Especially in the European Alps decreasing grazing pressure, land abandonment, and climate warming favour the expansion of green alder [Alnus alnobetula (Ehrh.) K. Koch; former Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC.] and Pine tree [Pinus mugo (Turra)]. Expansion of A. alnobetula primarily occurs in avalanche gullies and steep north-facing slopes with high water availability. On the other hand, A. alnobetula is also expanding into sun exposed sites with shallow soils and impaired water availability. Which typically are colonized by P. mugo. Nevertheless, shrub encroachment may strongly affect ecosystem biogeochemical cyclers such as transpiration, and runoff. Therefore, the specific goal of this study was to investigate seasonal patterns of sap flow density of A. alnobetula and P, mugo at four study plots within the treeline ecotone on Mt. Patscherkofel (1950 – 2200 m a.s.l.). These data were then scaled up to the stand level per growing season and compared with published transpiration rates of adjacent low stature vegetation and tree canopies. Our estimates suggest shrub encroachment may considerably affect the water balance of the treeline ecotone. This study was funded b the AUSTRIA Science Fund (FWF), P 34706-B).

ID: 3.10432

|Bader, Maaike

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:44 - 13:47

Bader, Maaike

Geographic patterns in the global predictability of treeline elevation

Bader, M.

Kessler, M.; and Urquiaga-Flores, E.

Abstract/Description

The elevation of the climatic upper treeline can be predicted with astonishing accuracy based on climate information alone, hinting at a common cause for treelines across climate zones. However, although the overall accuracy of climate-based treeline predictions is very high, our validation of such a prediction (the TREELIM model by Paulsen & Körner (2014), implemetned based on CHELSA clmate data by Karger et al. (2019)) showed clear geographical patterns in the model bias. Thereby a lack of observed trees at the predicted treeline might be due to factors lowering tree cover (e.g. disturbances, lagged responses to climate change) and does not necessarily indicate an inaccurate model prediction. However, in some regions trees and forest were observed far above the predicted treeline, which is, by definition, not possible. Regions showing this pattern included very wet regions and those with very low annual thermal seasonality (Patagonia, the Canadian Coast Mountains) and regionswith very high solar radiation inputs (parts of the Tropical Andes, including the Bolivian Altiplano). This phenomenon still awaits an explanation, but we will present a number of suggestive correlations and speculations, hoping to encourage discussion on the limitations of models and climate data and on the causes of global treeline.

ID: 3.12226

|D'Angeli, Chiara

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:47 - 13:50

D'Angeli, Chiara

Could LiDAR data enhance the identification of alpine-treeline ecotones? A case study in the Mont Blanc massif

D'Angeli, C.

Chassagneux, A.; Delestrade, A.; Stanisci, A.; and Froidevaux, J. S.

Abstract/Description

Ecotones, defined as transition areas between two biomes, are often considered as biodiversity hotspots due to the overlap of species from adjacent ecosystems. This is particularly evident in alpine-treeline ecotones, which form the transition between closed forests at lower elevations and open alpine areas at higher altitudes. Their high species richness is further amplified by the complex topography of mountain regions, creating a mosaic of microhabitats with varying climatic and environmental conditions. Treeline ecotones are also highly sensitive to climate change, as rising temperatures drive an upward shift of the forest boundary. Given their ecological significance and vulnerability, accurately mapping and monitoring these areas is crucial for understanding their spatiotemporal dynamics. However, identifying treeline ecotones remains a challenge: since ecotones are dynamic habitats in both space and time, it is not easy to delimit them. To address this, we propose a novel methodology that combines LiDAR data and field surveys to map and characterize treeline ecotones in mountain areas. Three study areas were selected within the French side of the Mont Blanc massif: Loriaz, Peclerey and Plan de l’Aiguille. A hierarchical sampling protocol was designed to capture key vegetation characteristics above and below the treeline. Sampling points were selected using a random stratified approach, based on the habitat map of the Chamonix valley and on the Canopy Height Model (CHM) derived from LiDAR data. Vegetation surveys were carried out within 10 x 10 m plots, where structural and compositional attributes of the vegetation were measured. During the 2024 summer season, 54 field vegetation surveys were conducted along 6 transects within the three study areas. Five EUNIS habitat types were identified: S22 Alpine and subalpine ericoid heath; S25 Subalpine and subarctic deciduous scrub; T311 Alpine and Carpathian subalpine Picea forests and T343 Western Larix, mountain pine and Pinus cembra forests. Preliminary analyses combining field and LiDAR data suggest that LiDAR-derived canopy height appears to be a good predictor of forests and shrubs. These findings highlight the potential of LiDAR data for refining the mapping of treeline ecotones and providing a more reliable framework for long-term monitoring of these sensitive ecosystems.

ID: 3.12482

|Vitali, Alessandro

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:50 - 13:53

Vitali, Alessandro

Integrating field surveys and drone-based remote sensing to monitor mediterranean mountain treeline patterns

Vitali, A.

Tonelli, E.; Baglioni, L.; Balestra, M.; Fiorani, F.; Carrieri, E.; Anselmetto, N.; Ngujen, H. T.; Atzeni, F.; Lingua, E.; Marzano, R.; Meloni, F.; Morresi, D.; Urbinati, C.; Gennaretti, F.; and Garbarino, M.

Abstract/Description

Monitoring treeline dynamics is crucial for assessing the impacts of global change and ecosystem shifts in mountainous environments. This study integrates field and remote sensed data collected along altitudinal gradients to analyze vegetation patterns and structural characteristics of the upper treeline ecotones. We sampled at two distinct sites: i) in the Western Alps, above a larch (Larix decidua) and Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) forests, ii) in the Central Apennines, above an European black pine (Pinus nigra) high-elevation plantation. During the summer of 2024, we conducted ground-based measurements along altitudinal transects from the mountain peak down to the closed forest margin, providing detailed information on species composition, tree structure features and environmental parameters. In the field, we recorded tree positions using a GNSS receiver and measured tree basal diameter and height. We collected tree cores at the stem base with a Pressler borer to determine the tree cambial age, the encroachment date and the radial growth pattern. These field data served as ground truth to validate and extend the analysis to the entire slope surveys with UAVs. On the same slopes hosting the altitudinal transects, we used drones to cover areas of approximately 20 ha each. With a LiDAR sensor we recorded the tree positions along the entire slope, detected the spatial patterns of the tree recolonization process, measured tree parameters with high accuracy, and extracted microtopography features, a potential driver for seedling establishment. Additionally, we used multispectral camera to detect tree species distribution. Point-pattern analyses aimed to determine the spatio-temporal patterns of the tree recolonization process, highlighting facilitation or limitation processes between species, between cohorts or individuals of different ages, and with respect to the presence of shrubs or microtopographic features. This integrated approach, within the PRIN-OLYMPUS Italian project, will contribute to improve the accuracy of treeline mapping and the detection of key drivers of spatial variability. It will also enhance the efficiency to monitor high altitude ecosystem changes over time and to develop predictive models for future treeline shifts.

ID: 3.12488

|Garbarino, Matteo

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:53 - 13:56

Garbarino, Matteo

OLYMPUS – Spatio-temporal analysis of mediterranean treeline patterns: a multiscale approach

Garbarino, M.

Anselmetto, N.; Atzeni, F.; Baglioni, L.; Balestra, M.; Carrieri, E.; Lingua, E.; Marzano, R.; Meloni, F.; Morresi, D.; Nguyen, H. T.; Tonelli, E.; Fiorani, F.; Urbinati, C.; and Vitali, A.

Abstract/Description

Mountain treeline ecotones are transition zones between the closed forest and the upper treeless vegetation and are considered sentinels of global change effects on terrestrial ecosystems. Treeline ecotones are constrained by multiple factors acting at different spatial and temporal scales. For this reason, we present OLYMPUS, a project based on a multiscale approach to monitor treelines in the Italian Alps and Apennines, the two main peninsular mountain ranges. The specific goals of the research are: 1) to detect the current forestline and to assess its drivers and dynamics through LANDSAT time series; 2) to assess human pressure and land abandonment effects on the treeline ecotone by adopting a diachronic approach with historical (70 years) aerial images; 3) to evaluate the role of biotic and abiotic factors on tree establishment and survival by integrating centimeter UAV images with field data collection and manipulation experiments. Landsat images of the last 4 decades were used to infer long-term trends in vegetation dynamics (greening and wetness) at the regional scale. At the landscape scale (10-20 km2) we measured land-use change dynamics with landscape metrics and treeline ecotonal shift through a deep learning land-cover classification of historical (1950s) and current (2020s) aerial photographs. A fine-scale assessment of treeline ecotones included a selection of 10 treeline ecotones where a UAV-based structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetric approach was used to derive local land cover and seedling position maps. We analyzed biotic and abiotic drivers of seedling establishment at the treeline through spatially-explicit statistical analysis and tree growth performance and patterns were assessed by tree-ring analysis. The overall contribution of the project is its spatially explicit approach crossing different disciplines (remote sensing, landscape ecology, forest ecology, dendroecology, etc.) and different spatial scales (region-landscape-tree).

ID: 3.12512

|Atzeni, Francesco

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:56 - 13:59

Atzeni, Francesco

Treeline dynamics and seedling survival in the Italian Alps: Insights from the OLYMPUS Project

Atzeni, F.

Vitali, A.; Tonelli, E.; Baglioni, L.; Balestra, M.; Fiorani, F.; Urbinati, C.; Morresi, D.; Garbarino, M.; Anselmetto, N.; Meloni, F.; Nguyen, H. T.; Carrieri, E.; Marzano, R.; and Lingua, E.

Abstract/Description

It is widely acknowledged that treeline, the ecotone delineating the transition between closed forests and tree-less vegetation, serves as a key indicator of the impacts of global warming on terrestrial ecosystems. Despite its recognized ecological significance, only a limited number of studies on treeline ecology addresses the spatial components of its patterns and processes. These ecotones are shaped by a complex interplay of environmental factors operating across different spatial and temporal scales. The present study focuses on the role of microsites in tree regeneration at the treeline, in two sites of the Alps, Genevris Mt. (Piedmont, TO) and Croda da Lago (Veneto, BL), using both field and UAV derived data (e.g. LiDAR). The experimental design involves the transplantation of Pinus cembra wildlings, with the objective of assessing the efficacy of three microsites (open field, within shrub cover and downslope of debris) in promoting seedling survivorship. This setup aims to evaluate the impact of different microsite conditions on seedling establishment and survival in two different alpine environments. At each site we transplanted 105 individuals, manipulated in groups of five to reduce the transplant mortality. Additionally, high-resolution LiDAR and multispectral drone surveys were conducted to generate detailed digital elevation models, supporting microsite characterization. By integrating environmental manipulation trials with LiDAR-derived Digital Surface Models (DSM), this study aims to identify key drivers of tree regeneration at the treeline. The findings will contribute to broader ecological and conservation discussions, helping to guide adaptive management strategies for mountain forests in a changing climate.

ID: 3.12835

|Romero P., I. Eunice

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 13:59 - 14:02

Romero P., I. Eunice

Stem wood density variability and compression wood proportions in European treeline seedlings of Picea abies.

Romero P., I. E.

González, E. J.; Rydval, M.; and Treml, V.

Abstract/Description

Wood density (WD) plays an important role in tree function and ecological performance in species inhabiting extreme environments like treelines, where climatic and mechanical constraints shape wood structure. Treeline seedlings not only endure low temperatures but also face continuous mechanical stresses, including strong winds, snow loads that may cover their stems for extended periods, and the forces associated with steep slopes in mountainous terrain. These stresses induce modifications in stem shape and wood anatomy, potentially impacting stem function. It is common for treeline gymnosperm trees to develop compression wood (CW) in mechanically stressed tissue of their stems, leading to changes in WD, strength, elasticity, and hydraulic conductivity, all of which influence ecological performance. In this study, we analyzed the WD variations in stems of Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings from Central European treelines with conspicuous climatic differences, focusing on high wood density areas (HWD) including unaffected latewood and compression wood (CW, which may affect earlywood, latewood, or both). We developed a novel method to quantify WD heterogeneity, allowing the estimation of low wood density (LWD, which includes stem areas with wide tracheid lumina, radial parenchyma, and resin channels) and HWD proportions. For each treeline site, to estimate and compare the means and variance of HWD, CW, and LWD proportions while quantifying uncertainty, we employed Bayesian generalized linear models. As initially hypothesized, HWD, composed predominantly of unaffected latewood and CW, remained consistent across treeline sites, accounting for approximately half of the stem cross-section. Stem eccentricity was generally high, likely due to mechanical forces such as wind and snowpack loads. Unexpectedly, high CW proportions did not consistently coincide with greater eccentricity at the whole cross-section level. CW accounted for a substantial portion of the cross-section, highlighting its possible ecological role in treeline seedling growth. Our method detects and quantifies WD variations in treeline seedlings, with potential applications extending to mature trees using radial cores or whole cross-sections. Assessing WD enhances our understanding of treeline seedlings’ structure, function, and ecological performance. Further research on severe CW proportions could improve insights into tree mechanical stability, growth, and carbon storage.

ID: 3.21204

|VarŠovÁ, Svetlana

MCI – Aula 302

2025-09-16 14:02 - 14:05

VarŠovÁ, Svetlana

Extraordinary Early Start to the Growing Season 2024 at the Alpine Treeline Ecotone in the High Tatras (Western Carpathians)

VarŠovÁ, S.

Lukasová, V.; Mrekaj, I.; Bilčík, D.; and Krempaský, J.

Abstract/Description

This study advances our understanding of how extreme weather events associated with global warming impact high-altitude species’ growth and distribution limits. In particular, it highlights the vulnerability of early spring phenological phases to frost events. Despite elevated precipitation levels, we observed a markedly earlier and faster reduction in snow cover during late winter 2024 compared to previous years. The winter season was also exceptionally warm, with mean air temperatures from January to April exceeding the 1961–1990 climatological norm by 3.7 °C (minimum), 3.8 °C (mean), and 4.4 °C (maximum).

Under these conditions, bud development in Swiss pine (Pinus cembra) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) commenced over a month earlier than usual. However, an 11-day cold spell that started on April 16 interrupted this early development, with daily average temperatures falling to –2.0 °C, average minimum temperatures reaching –5.3 °C, and maximum temperatures remaining below 0 °C on three days. This frost event coincided with sensitive developmental stages, resulting in substantial bud damage.

In bilberry, frost injury was evident immediately, while in Swiss pine, it manifested later during flowering, with approximately 50% of the flowers remaining undeveloped and failing to produce pollen. Such events can have significant consequences for plant growth, reproductive success, and distribution boundaries, as well as for the trophic interactions of specialized alpine consumers.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.5066

Treeline dynamics of pine and birch in response to climate change in the Karakoram mountain, Pakistan

Munawar Ali

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.5108

“Treeline Species at Risk! Exploring Climate Vulnerability in the Indian Himalayas Using GIS

Laraib Ahmad
Saran, Sameer

Abstract/Description

Betula utilis, a critical treeline species in the Indian Himalayas, plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and supports local communities by providing non-timber forest products (NTFPs). This study models the potential distribution and assesses the climate vulnerability of Betula utilis using the Random Forest (RF) model, a robust machine learning method suited for analyzing complex ecological datasets. Occurrence data were collected along trekking paths in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, while climatic variables from the CHELSA dataset—such as temperature and precipitation—were integrated with topographic factors, including elevation and aspect. Climate projections were based on the IPCC AR6 scenarios: SSP1-2.6 (low emissions), SSP3-7.0 (intermediate emissions), and SSP5-8.5 (high emissions). The RF model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.98 and an overall accuracy of 94.6%, underscoring its suitability for habitat modeling. Results revealed that elevation and precipitation were the most influential factors shaping the distribution of Betula utilis. Under the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5), significant habitat loss and fragmentation were projected, posing a severe threat to Betula utilis and the livelihoods dependent on its ecosystem services. In contrast, the low-emission scenario (SSP1-2.6) suggested minimal habitat loss, emphasizing the potential of sustainable practices to preserve this species and enhance community resilience. These findings underscore the need for targeted climate mitigation and conservation strategies to protect both Betula utilis and the local communities that rely on it.

ID: 3.8821

Delayed onset and short duration characterize radial stem growth of the deciduous shrub Alnus alnobetula within the treeline ecotone

Walter Oberhuber
Wieser, Gerhard; Gruber, Andreas

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.9026

Treeline Dynamics and Its Impact on Carbon Storage

Badri Bhattarai
Thapa, Mahendra Singh; Adhikari, Rabindra

Abstract/Description

The study of alpine tree-line dynamics is a crucial effort in identifying biological processes that are influenced by the climate under projected global warming scenarios. Treeline dynamics have significant effects on the alpine ecotone’s biodiversity and the global carbon cycle by altering the terrestrial carbon sink and perhaps driving out rare species and upsetting alpine plant ecosystems. This research work deals with delineating the treeline elevations of the years 1993, 2006, 2013, and 2023 carbon stock along the tree-line zone, and identifying the effective measures for the carbon benefit in the North-west aspect of the Rolwaling valley, Dolakha, Nepal by using Landsat imagery, inventory, key-informant survey, and secondary data analysis. The treeline elevation was done using the LISA (Local Indicator of Spatial Association) autocorrelation method, above-ground carbon estimation was done by inventory using stratified random sampling where the strata were based on the elevation of 100m, and 12 sample plots of size 500 m2 were laid randomly and an effective measure for carbon benefit was identified by key informant survey using the pairwise comparison. The treeline elevation remained almost constant in the study area with an average elevation of 3956.93±18.62m in 1993, 3957.83±17.28.68m in 2006, 3961.49±18.30m in 2013, and 3961.49±18.30 in 2023 with a shift of 4.56m in the given time frame. There was a slightly upward trend in the NDVI of 0.0011 units per year, indicating improved vegetation health or density over the 30 years in the study area. Additionally, there was a decrease in above-ground carbon with the increase in elevation, so elevation 3700-3800m has the highest above-ground carbon of 48.33 Mg/ha and 3900-4000m has the least carbon of 40.52 Mg/ha showing the above-ground carbon decreases by approximately 67.84 kg per meter rise in elevation. Forest restoration and Silviculture interventions were found to be the most effective measures for carbon benefits, while scientific research and monitoring, as well as introducing keystone species, were seen as the least effective. A thorough assessment of carbon stock should be conducted at regular intervals for the economic valuation of carbon to enable carbon trading and bolster the national economy.

ID: 3.9698

Does shrub encouragement change the water balance within the treeline ecotone?

Gerhard Wieser
Gruber, Andreas; Oberhuber, Walter

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.10432

Geographic patterns in the global predictability of treeline elevation

Maaike Bader
Kessler, Michael; Urquiaga-Flores, Erickson

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.12226

Could LiDAR data enhance the identification of alpine-treeline ecotones? A case study in the Mont Blanc massif

Chiara D'angeli
Chassagneux, Agathe; Delestrade, Anne; Stanisci, Angela; Froidevaux, Jérémy S.P.

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.12482

Integrating field surveys and drone-based remote sensing to monitor mediterranean mountain treeline patterns

Alessandro Vitali
Tonelli, Enrico; Baglioni, Lorena; Balestra, Mattia; Fiorani, Federico; Carrieri, Erik; Anselmetto, Nicolò; Ngujen, Ha Trang; Atzeni, Francesco; Lingua, Emanuele; Marzano, Raffaella; Meloni, Fabio; Morresi, Donato; Urbinati, Carlo; Gennaretti, Fabio; Garbarino, Matteo

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.12488

OLYMPUS – Spatio-temporal analysis of mediterranean treeline patterns: a multiscale approach

Matteo Garbarino
Anselmetto, Nicolò; Atzeni, Francesco; Baglioni, Lorena; Balestra, Mattia; Carrieri, Erik; Lingua, Emanuele; Marzano, Raffaella; Meloni, Fabio; Morresi, Donato; Nguyen, Ha Trang; Tonelli, Enrico; Fiorani, Federico; Urbinati, Carlo; Vitali, Alessandro

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.12512

Treeline dynamics and seedling survival in the Italian Alps: Insights from the OLYMPUS Project

Francesco Atzeni
Vitali, Alessandro; Tonelli, Enrico; Baglioni, Lorena; Balestra, Mattia; Fiorani, Federico; Urbinati, Carlo; Morresi, Donato; Garbarino, Matteo; Anselmetto, Nicolò; Meloni, Fabio; Nguyen, Ha Trang; Carrieri, Erik; Marzano, Raffaella; Lingua, Emanuele

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.12835

Stem wood density variability and compression wood proportions in European treeline seedlings of Picea abies.

I. Eunice Romero P.
González, Edgar J.; Rydval, Miloš; Treml, Václav

Abstract/Description

ID: 3.13775

Challenging Alpine Borders: The Case of Larix Decidua

Luna Maes

Abstract/Description

As elevation nature, the alps act as a prism, allowing for space/time extrapolations of (a)biotic responses to global climate change. This abstract contains a selection from research on alpine inhabitation in Aosta and Susa Valley, northwest Italy, through the concepts of a border. Four key protagonists and site-specific interventions address a different form of spatial border and ongoing habitat tensions. This abstract discusses one border(1), one protagonist(2) and one intervention(3).
1/ TWO-DIMENSIONAL BORDER
Cartographic delineations do not exclusively define spatial divisions within a mountainous territory. Moving beyond two-dimensional borders on a map, we step into the territory, into the ecotone. Subject to a climate-driven ascending of species, the ecotone shifts upwards. As its borders fluctuate, so does the inherent biotic constellation. The link between species compositions and specific geographic locations is tearing apart. How can we classify these new iso-spaces of living when ‘iso’ becomes void of the actual heterogeneity of the site? A redefining of ecotones where companion species engage in actively shaping new ecological assemblages.
2/ EUROPEAN LARCH (LARIX DECIDUA)
As a pioneer species and the only deciduous conifer in the Alps, European Larches easily and eagerly colonize freshly disturbed soils such as abandoned Alpine pastures. Thriving on the remains of recent extraction, they show the possibility of life in ruins of anthropological activity. Considered a nurse species, it can create microclimatic islands as stepping stones for other species to migrate towards. Additionally, it is a habitat in itself, hosting insects in its bark and feeding the avian community with its seeds.
3/ CATCHMENT
‘Reverse shelter-method’: instead of trees being remnants from earlier treelines, they become pioneers. The intervention aims to aid the upward migration of the Larch and thereby other species facing climatic warming rates that extend their speed of migration. Just like humans, non-humans need shelter to explore new heights, depths and extremes. On the slopes of Pila, Aosta, three structures utilise the monoecious character of the seeds and wind dispersal to foresee and accommodate upward movement. The distinction between the catchment and the terrain will fade until it is part of the slope entirely.

ID: 3.21204

Extraordinary Early Start to the Growing Season 2024 at the Alpine Treeline Ecotone in the High Tatras (Western Carpathians)

Svetlana VarŠovÁ
Lukasová, Veronika; Mrekaj, Ivan; Bilčík, Dušan; Krempaský, Ján

Abstract/Description

WS 3.129: Perspectives on Mountain Farming Resilience

WS 3.102: Lesser Known Mountains (and their Hidden Aspects) under the Impact of Global Changes

WS 3.101

Synthesizing knowledge about alpine-treeline ecotones

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