Abstract ID: 3.9515 | Reviewing | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Rising temperatures and reductions in precipitation are pushing many functionally important alpine plant species to their physiological limits, leading to shifts in geographical ranges, dieback events, and ecological cascades. In Australia, where the alpine zone and snow line have a very narrow distribution, species may be particularly vulnerable to climate-driven range contractions and local extinctions. The ability of species to cope with such changes will depend on their plasticity, evolutionary adaptive responses, and inherent dispersal capabilities, as well as interventions aimed at safeguarding populations most susceptible to these changes. This study investigates the adaptive potential of common and functionally important Australian alpine shrubs and forbs through a combination of population genomics and a common garden experiment. We present results on the population structure, connectivity, and dynamics along elevational gradients in three species – Olearia frostii (Asteraceae), Oreomyrrhis eriopoda (Apiaceae), and Ranunculus victoriensis (Ranunculaceae) – along with their seed germination responses under future temperature predictions. Preliminary results reveal contrasting species-specific patterns of genetic structure and connectivity between high- and low-elevation populations. The common garden experiment suggests that widely distributed alpine species may exhibit different germination responses to increasing temperatures. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of predicting species’ responses to climate change and exploring potential interventions, such as assisted gene flow and climate-adjusted provenancing, to enhance the resilience of alpine plant populations.