Abstract ID: 3.12371 | Accepted as Poster | Poster | TBA | TBA

Under climate change, shrub species are expanding their ranges further into mountain and arctic regions. Ericaceous shrubs in particular play a key role in maintaining ecosystem functions and services across diverse habitats, in part due to their biotic interactions. These same roles, ranging from contributing to competition and facilitation between plants, through to consumption of their leaves, seeds, pollen and nectar, and their unique associations with mycorrhizal fungi, may also make these shrub species vulnerable under global change, as trophic interactions may be reshaped. Here, we have conducted a literature synthesis investigating the diverse biotic interactions associated with ericaceous shrub communities around the globe. Focusing on mountain regions in particular, our research quantifies the regional and habitat-specific variations in how these shrubs provide ecosystem functions and services. We also document to what extent we understand how these roles may vary with the impacts of global change drivers, such as climate change, land use change, invasive species, and pollution. Together these insights will highlight both the potential new roles of these shrubs in mountain ecosystems as they expand their range, but also any potential vulnerabilities to varying global change drivers, enabling better research and management priorities to be identified. As our study is systematic and global in nature, we use bibliometrics analysis to identify the extent to which knowledge on biotic interactions is siloed, with certain biotic interactions only investigated in given regions, or habitats, limiting our capacity to draw more holistic conclusions about the true community and ecosystem impacts of ericaceous shrubs within their respective ecosystems. Through citation analyses we also assess how, and if, insights are being utilized in conservation efforts, or being included in larger-scale trophic modelling of global change responses. Lastly we will highlight publication research themes through time, identifying key knowledge gaps for future research efforts.