Private

FS 3.166

Alpine microclimates, biodiversity, and climate change

Details

Full Title
FS 3.166: Alpine microclimates, biodiversity, and climate change
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Stefan Dullinger
Co-Conveners
Harald Pauli,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Cryo- & Hydrosphere, Ecosystems
Keywords
Climate change, microclimate, species distribution, biodiversity, alpine ecosystems

Description

Cold-adapted organisms of above-treeline habitats have long been thought to be among those most threatened by climate change because warming temperatures may force them into a cul-de-sac situation, with nowhere to escape the heat. However, the recent emphasis on microclimate has put this paradigm up to debate, in particular for species exposed to the climate near the ground, which can markedly deviate from free-air conditions in the rugged alpine terrain. However, to which degree such fine-scale climatic variation may actually buffer cold-adapted flora and fauna of alpine and higher elevations against climate change remains yet to be explored. In this session we present studies that assess microclimatic effects on current as well as on past and predicted future changes to the distribution or performance of particular species or, more broadly, to alpine biodiversity patterns within or across taxonomic groups. Experimental, observational and model-based studies referring to any facet of biodiversity, from genetic to habitat, and from taxonomic to functional are welcome, as well as those that present methodological advances in evaluating the role of microclimates for alpine biodiversity in a changing climate.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.5556

Under fire and heat: experimental warming increases plant biomass, but not species turn-over in Drakensberg grasslands of South Africa.

Conor Eastment
te Beest, Mariska; Gordijn, Paul; Tedder, Michelle; Rietkerk, Max

Abstract/Description

Climate change is influencing ecosystems worldwide. At high elevation, biodiversity and associated ecosystem functioning of mountainous ecosystems is are at a larger risk due to elevated temperatures. The nature and extent to which this will interact with fire, a primary driver of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in many southern hemisphere of the Drakensberg grasslands is unknown. Few studies have investigated the interactive effect of fire and warming on plant diversity and productivity. We address this gap by using an in-situ full-factorial warming experiment with open-top chambers (OTCs). The OTCs were placed within the long-term Brotherton fire-manipulation experiment situated in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains in South Africa. To observe variations in microclimate across all treatment conditions, we utilised high resolution loggers over the course of a year. Phytomass was measured across several seasons by a combination of the disc-pasture meter and comparative yield method. Species composition was determined using a descending point levy-bridge. In concurrence with the enhanced plant growth expected as a result of elevated temperature, we found higher plant biomass in the warming treatments. In total we recorded 35 grass and forb species in the experiment. Dissimilarity in composition was better explained by fire frequency than warming. W e found diverse microclimatic responses to the interaction of fire and warming, showing how vegetation can act as a mediator between macro and microclimatic conditions. With this information we provide guidelines for supporting future fire management policy in a warmer climate. While plant communities seem resistant to change from warming, there is an associated increase in phytomass with implications on fire severity. In concurrence with other studies in the area, we suggest a preference for intermediate fire frequencies as they can mitigate both soil moisture loss and extreme temperatures, associated with climate change.

ID: 3.8717

Effects of climate change on biological soil crusts and their ecosytem services in alpine regions.

Janne Creve
Herdy, Stefan; Faulhammer, Philipp; Kim, Minsu; Maier, Stefanie; Herndl, Markus; Weber, Bettina

Abstract/Description

Authors: Janne Creve, Stefan Herdy, Philipp Faulhammer, Stefanie Maier, Minsu Kim, Markus Herndl, Bettina Weber.

The Alps are warming at a rate that is twice the global average, accompanied by changes in precipitation patterns and rapid snow and ice loss. In high alpine regions, particularly those with retreating glaciers, biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are the first communities to colonize shallow soils and rocky surfaces. Composed of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes, along with heterotrophic bacteria, archaea, and microfauna, biocrusts play essential roles in the ecosystem, such as stabilizing soils, reducing erosion, fixing nutrients, and enhancing water retention to support the surrounding vegetation. Despite their critical functions, the responses of biocrusts to climate change in alpine ecosystems remain poorly understood.

To address this, we established a climate change experiment in the high alpine region of the Großglockner, Austria. The setup includes ten plots near Hochtor, Carinthia, with five plots heated by infrared lamps and five serving as controls. A nearby climate station records ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, light intensity, and precipitation. Additionally, plot-specific sensors monitor biocrust water content and temperature. Within each plot, eight permanent subplots are photographed biannually to analyze changes in coverages of vegetation and biocrusts over time, using image analyses supported by a deep learning algorithm. In addition, controlled experiments are conducted in climate chambers to assess biocrust responses to increased temperatures and altered CO₂ levels.

The project, which is strongly supported by the “Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein” and the “Großglockner Hochalpenstraße AG”, was launched in May 2024, with the initial field setup completed in June 2024. After resolving technical issues, the system became fully operational in September 2024. Due to harsh winter conditions and the risk of avalanches, the setup is dismantled during winter months. Our first preliminary results during 2024 have demonstrated the feasibility of our approach. Our project aims to provide valuable insights into the resilience and functioning of biocrusts in the context of climate change, thereby enhancing our understanding of their role in alpine ecosystems.

ID: 3.9478

Can interglacial refugia explain the persistence of Australian endemic alpine plants?

Iris Hickman
Morgan, John; Murphy, Nick; D'Ombrain, Mandi

Abstract/Description

The cyclical climatic changes during the Quaternary have led to the expansion and contraction of species’ geographical ranges. In the Pleistocene, many alpine species migrated into deglaciated areas or survived glacial conditions within refugia. During interglacial periods, topographic locations with persistent cold-air pooling and temperature inversions are prime refugia candidates, enabling species persistence and potentially driving speciation. Knowledge of the location of such refugia has important implications for climate change research. It influences our understanding of the spatial distribution of species through time, their patterns of genetic diversity, and potential dispersal rates in response to climate shifts. Understanding the roles of refugia through past climate changes on present-day species distributions enables us to make better predictions of the impacts of future changes.

This study investigates cold air-inversion refugia in the Victorian Alpine Bioregion, Australia. Preliminary findings show that subalpine grasslands maintain lower minimum temperatures due to persistent cold air pools compared to their alpine counterparts. We observed significant differences in species diversity between these habitats, with subalpine grasslands harbouring a greater abundance of rare species. Consequently, large subalpine basins may be important phylogeographical hotspots that have supported the persistence of endemic alpine species over time.

This research enhances our understanding of how microhabitats in mountainous regions support biodiversity and provides insights into the potential impacts of climate change on alpine and subalpine ecosystems. Identifying such refugia is crucial for conservation efforts, predicting future species distributions, and assessing extinction risks in a warming climate.

ID: 3.9786

How does it feel on Alpine summits when you are a bryophyte?

Kelly Theunissen

Abstract/Description

Mounting evidence points to the crucial need for microclimatic data for an enhanced understanding of species distributions and response to climate change. The issue of scale and associated climatic data is intimately associated with the size of the organisms. Small-sized organisms often occur in micro-environments wherein they experience microclimatic conditions that drastically differ from the regional macroclimate. Here, we determine the extent to which the buffering effect of the microtopography and vegetation effectively drives variations in alpine bryophyte community composition. Temperature and relative humidity data as well as bryophyte species composition were recorded at 84 plots on two Alpine summits. We modelled the relationship between macro-and microclimates and determined the contribution of high-resolution topographic and remote-sensing data to the slope of the macro-microclimate relationship at each sensor, which characterises the buffering effect of the environment. Finally, we quantified the predicting power of the buffering effect on the variation in species composition among bryophyte communities.

ID: 3.9839

Australian alpine plant responses to the experimental drought in-situ

Mohan Pandey
Morgan, John; Venn, Susanna

Abstract/Description

The Australian alpine region is considered one of the most sensitive areas to climate change due to its narrow environmental niches, isolated habitats, interactions with anthropogenic and natural stressors. Reduced snowpack, low summer rainfall and increased temperatures in the Australian Alps are likely to lead to drier future conditions for plants, and alpine plants are likely to endure drought conditions over the summer months. Given these conditions, slow growth rates and the limited dispersal ability of alpine plants, it is crucial to understand how increasingly water-limited conditions will shape alpine plant communities in the future. Utilising in-situ experimental infrastructure that simulate a drier future climate, can provide an accurate reflection of future alpine microclimatic conditions and data necessary to compare short-term and long-term impacts. There is also a substantial gap in our understanding of the species- and community-level responses to climatic extremes, which is necessary to develop future landscape revegetation and conservation plans. We used rainout shelters installed across four alpine regions of Australian Alps, designed to restrict precipitation without altering other microclimatic conditions. The shelters allowed us to study how different alpine plants respond to experimental drought in-situ. We documented and analysed time-series species composition and above-ground biomass data to study impact on plant growth and community dynamics in control and drought induced plots. We found that the response of alpine plants to a drier future condition is species-specific. Graminoids showed more sensitivity and drought led to reduction in above ground growth. The variability in drought sensitivity among species indicates that alpine plants adopt diverse coping mechanisms to water stress, which are influenced by site characteristics and seasonal climatic conditions. The findings will help identify drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant species, and model predicted shifts in community composition for future landscape management and conservation strategies.

ID: 3.10322

Tracing integrative taxonomy and historical biogeography of Geometridae moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) for unravelling evolutionary patterns in the North Western Himalaya, India: a roadmap for investigation

Shabnam Kumari
Uniyal, Virendra Prasad

Abstract/Description

High-altitude alpine ecosystems above the tree line are among the most extreme and ecologically significant habitats, characterized by harsh climatic conditions, ecological isolation, and a high degree of endemism. The high-altitude landscapes of the North Western Himalayan (NWH) subdivision, demarcated to the west of Sutlej River defile, are referred to formed as a result of the upliftment of the Tethys geosyncline and dry desert landscape of the Turkmenian subregion of the Palearctic region. It has many more or less parallel mountain ranges and is recognized for its distinct geological history and unique geographical location. Earlier studies have highlighted the role of in-situ speciation with the uplift of this region to high elevation, resulting in the highly endemic, mountain-autochthonous cryophilic/xerophilic life forms. This study aims to test this in-situ speciation hypothesis by studying the diversity, historical biogeography, and vicariance and dispersal patterns following the geographical isolation caused by the upliftment of these ranges. We are using Geometridae moths, which exhibit high species richness and abundances in the high-altitudinal/latitudinal habitats and are uniquely adapted to the cold and windy climatic conditions through flightlessness and shifts in adult diel activity. To document the diversity of geometrid moths, systematic field sampling-cum data collection surveys will be conducted in different protected areas and few miscellaneous sites across the length and breadth of NWH. Furthermore, lab-based molecular analysis will be integrated to resolve cryptic species groups, generate a DNA barcode reference library, and construct time-calibrated molecular phylogenies. These phylogenies will be used to study the vicariance/dispersal patterns, test the in-situ speciation hypothesis, and gain insights on the evolutionary and ecological processes shaping the diversity across these ranges. Analysis of phylogenetic diversity will help to reveal the mountain ranges or habitat types with a higher amount of evolutionary diversity and unique and endemic lineages, which will serve as valuable insights for conservation prioritization. Overall, by integrating taxonomic and molecular phylogenetic approaches, this study will enhance our understanding and generate critical baseline data for biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning.

ID: 3.10819

Metabolic state of native microbiome influences soil respiration and Q10 in alpine and subalpine grasslands

Magdalena Nagler
Steinwandter, Michael; Bahn, Michael; Seeber, Julia

Abstract/Description

Understanding soil respiration (SR) dynamics is essential for predicting climate change impacts on terrestrial carbon cycles. However, there is limited knowledge about how microbial community composition and metabolic state affect SR in mountainous areas, where environmental conditions are highly variable and warming occurs faster than in other regions. This study examines the relationship between SR and microbial (ITS- and 16S-based) gene copy numbers from intracellular DNA (iDNA) in alpine and subalpine grassland soils. By focusing on iDNA, we exclude non-organismic extracellular DNA and analyze DNA from intact cells, whether active or dormant. We calculate a gene-copy specific respiration rate (GSRR) and categorize microbial communities into different metabolic states. Our findings show a positive correlation between GSRR and Q10, with highly active microbial communities found at lower elevations with higher inclinations, more favorable pH, and C:N ratios. Additionally, greater soil fauna richness and diversity reduced microbial activity levels, while prokaryote richness and diversity were highest in the most active and most dormant communities. This study provides new insights into the relationships between microbial metabolic states and SR in alpine and subalpine grasslands, enhancing our understanding of these complex interactions and the effects of global warming on terrestrial carbon cycles.

ID: 3.10904

Thermophilization and biotic homogenization effects of alpine vegetation across Europe

Mary Carolina García Lino
Winkler, Manuela; Pauli, Harald

Abstract/Description

Climate change leads to elevational shift of alpine plants. This favours the increase of warmth-demanding species on the cost of cold-adapted species, which may subsequentially lose suitable habitats. This process is known as thermophilization. First signals of thermophilization have already been found after a short study period (2001-2008) across 18 European mountain regions. As a further consequences of species range shifts, we expect increasing signals of biotic homogenization, because upwards moving species from low elevations usually have wider distribution ranges than high-mountain species. In this study, we will use data of 1-m² permanent plots of the expanded European GLORIA* monitoring network (with 35 regions), with extended time-series (up to >20 years). The study sites are distributed over the main European biomes (Mediterranean, humid-temperate, boreal, arctic), including more than 1200 vascular plant species. We will analyse if the previously observed directional species turnover is consistent across Europe and has changed in magnitude and velocity. Further, we will assess if thermophilization has already caused a measurable biotic homogenization, i. e., composition of vegetation in plot, summits and region have become more similar to each other.
This study will be based on many contributors from GLORIA-Europe and of the Microclim project, to be included in the authorship of the publication.
* Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments

ID: 3.11003

Three decades of vegetation change in the high-elevation zone of the Tyrolean Alps

Katharina Kagerl
Lamprecht, Andrea; Chytrý, Kryštof; Helm, Norbert; Dullinger, Stefan; Pauli, Harald

Abstract/Description

High elevation mountain plants are expected to be increasingly threatened by rising temperatures because they are cold adapted dwarf-growing plants with weak competitive abilities, usually having small and often fragmented distribution areas. Effects of climate driven upwards shifts of species have been repeatedly documented in the form of increasing species numbers, but less commonly as species declines and local extinctions. In this study we use a ~30-year time-series of vegetation change documented by permanent plot series at the upper alpine to nival zone of Mt. Schrankogel in the central Tyrolean Alps. These plots (several hundred quadrats of 1m²) were re-surveyed every decade by recording all vascular plant species and their percentage cover. In addition, we used data such as soil temperature measured at over 900 randomly distributed vegetation plots on the same mountain to derive thermal niches of species. We focus on increases and decreases of species cover, specifically if previously observed declines have continued over the study period, and if the patterns of gains and losses are related to the thermal niches of species.

ID: 3.11176

GLOBALP: A Global Database of Alpine Vegetation

Riccardo Testolin

Abstract/Description

The GLOBALP vegetation database (GIVD ID 00-00-007) is the first global collection of georeferenced vegetation plots from alpine regions, with a particular focus on non-European mountains. Currently, it houses 2,796 vegetation plots from different parts of the world, including North America (United States), South America (Peru), Africa (Tanzania, South Africa), Asia (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Mongolia, Russia), and Oceania (Indonesian Papua, Papua New Guinea). The plots encompass a wide range of alpine vegetation formations, including temperate and boreal alpine vegetation, tropical montane grassland and shrubland, and tropical high montane scrub and grassland. Plot sizes range from 1 to 500 m², and geographic coordinates are recorded using GPS, estimated from maps, or based on localities, with varying levels of precision. The database includes both published and novel data, providing comprehensive coverage of zonal vascular vegetation above the natural climatic treeline. Each plot contains a full list of vascular plant species and their respective cover values. GLOBALP is part of sPlot – the largest repository for plant community data in the world – and is aleady contributing to research projects in biogeography, macroecology, and conservation biology.

ID: 3.11228

What will alpine grassland look like at the end of the 21st century?

Erika Hiltbrunner
Möhl, Patrick

Abstract/Description

It is an undisputable fact that the earth has been getting warmer since industrialisation and that the climate has changed considerably. Air temperature in the European Alps has now increased by more than 2.5 K since pre-industrial times. By the end of the 21st century, substantial shifts in snowmelt and more frequent droughts are expected to also substantially impact alpine grassland and its provision of ecosystem services (water yield, carbon storage, fodder production, etc.). We will here present results of a longer term experiment in the Swiss Alps at 2500 m a.s.l. (established 10 years ago) in which annually recurring treatments of advanced and delayed snowmelt were combined with 5- and 10-week summer droughts. Aboveground plant biomass production and single plant species performance will be related to belowground plant signals under the experimental treatments. And we will show why terricolous lichens are under risk under continuing dry summer. Earlier snowmelt alone will not stimulate biomass production in alpine grassland, either above or below ground. Root growth responses to summer drought depend on its duration and the long winter periods ‒usually not accounted for due to limited accessibility‒ contribute to root losses, particularly in combination with severe drought in the preceding growing season.

ID: 3.11361

Microclimate Matters: Soil Temperature and Plant Community Dynamics in High-Mountain Ecosystems

Michele Di Musciano
Ricci, Lorenzo; Theurillat, Jean-Paul; Cutini, Maurizio; Sabatini, Francesco; Cangelmi, Giacomo; Frattaroli, Anna Rita

Abstract/Description

Mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change, with warming temperatures driving shifts in species distributions and altering community composition. However, recent research highlights the role of microclimatic variation in modulating these responses, particularly in alpine environments where fine-scale temperature differences can shape local biodiversity patterns. In addition to climate change, land-use shifts—such as the abandonment of traditional pastoral activities—further influence plant community dynamics, often leading to encroachment by shrubs and trees. Understanding how microclimatic factors, especially soil temperature, mediate these transformations is crucial for predicting biodiversity changes in alpine landscapes. In this study, we investigate the direct effects of soil temperature on plant distribution and community structure in a high-mountain environment. We analyzed vegetation dynamics across 84 nested plots (with size ranging from 2.25 cm² to 4 m²) along an elevational gradient in the Apennines (Italy), monitored 4 times over a 20-year period (2005–2025). Soil temperature was recorded hourly using 40 dataloggers buried at 10 cm depth. From these data, we derived key microclimatic variables, including annual mean temperature, snow cover duration, growing season length, and growing degree days. These variables were then spatialized across the study area using boosted regression trees (GBM) and considering the following predictors: elevation, topographic wetness index, eastness, and northness. Changes in plant community composition were assessed using trajectory analysis. Linear mixed models were applied to evaluate the influence of soil temperature-related variables on community variation (angle and magnitute of the trajectory). Our findings reveal that compositional changes is strongly scale-dependent: in small plots, changes are largely stochastic, whereas larger plots (≥0.25 m²) exhibit more consistent temporal trends. Notably, plots with prolonged snow cover and low growing degree days showed the highest variation in species composition and the greatest increase in species richness. These results underscore the critical role of soil microclimate in shaping alpine biodiversity responses and highlight the vulnerability of cryophilic plant communities to global change.

ID: 3.11589

Effects of Climate Change on Himalayan Vegetation

Robbie Hart

Abstract/Description

The Himalayas are incredibly rich in biodiversity, with high levels of endemic and useful species. However, this region is also experiencing much higher rates of climate change in comparison to the global average. To document effects of climate change on Himalayan vegetation we completed a resampling of 33 alpine summits within 9 target regions across Nepal, Bhutan and the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (TAP), China after a period of 7-11 years. We found that summits across the Himalaya are increasing in species richness at a rate of about 1.1 species per year. Over the entire survey period, this equated to an increase of 4.9 species at each of the 8 variable-area sections of a summit (t = 2.4, df = 227, P < 0.05) and +1.4 species in each 1m2 plot (t = 2.7, df = 475, P < 0.01). While both endemic and widespread species showed increases in species richness, endemic species showed higher rates of increase at higher elevations, while widespread species were favored at lower elevations. We also found that timing of resurveys played a significant role in observed changes in richness and frequency. Observed increases in species richness of alpine summits may mask an emerging threat to more vulnerable endemic species.

ID: 3.12121

Temporal changes in the alpine plant biodiversity in response to climate change: a multi-component approach in the context of the Italian GLORIA project

Silvano Lodetti
Tomaselli, Marcello; Porro, Francesco; Rossi, Graziano

Abstract/Description

In the alpine life zone, climate change already led to shift in the floristic composition as well as local species-specific changes in abundance. Environmental changes affected species’ distribution mostly resulting in shifts towards more warm- and nutrient-demanding plant assemblages. The study aims to assess plant species richness variations over time, species-specific abundance changes, biodiversity losses, floristic homogenization, and changes in the ecology of plant assemblages across vegetation belts located at different elevations within the alpine life zone. The study area includes 23 summits distributed over six mountain regions in the Italian Alps and the Apennines as part of the Italian GLORIA network, mostly monitored since 2001-2003. Changes in Alpha- and Beta-diversity were investigated through distinct metrics. Species-specific net-increases and -decreases (identifying “winners” and “losers” on the species level) in abundance were assessed by the Cliff’s Delta index. Shifts in the ecology of vascular plant assemblages were modelled over species pool abundance estimations weighted on Pignatti’s ecological indicators for the Italian flora. Species richness increased across most summits, except for three summits of the Apennines, where net species loss was observed. Species enrichment was higher in the upper and less densely vegetated areas. Floristic homogenization occurred at both mountain range and summit levels. Species evenness decreased at all vegetation belts, while increment in dominant species was more emphasized in the lower belts. Several gaining and losing species-specific trends were found in all regions, which overall led to significant shifts in the ecologic indicators. The study yielded a complex picture of the ongoing dynamics in the vascular plant assemblages monitored in the Italian GLORIA network. Species evaluated in the Alps’ sites proved to be generally more resistant showing less abundance reduction. The widespread homogenization observed suggests higher success for larger-range species, while overall diversity loss warns of increased threat to locally rarest species, which usually determine the alpine high floristic diversity. Moreover, the more frequent species-specific shifts of temperature, nutrient and humidity indicators observed in Northern and Central Apennines, compared to the Alps, suggests that plant species of mountain regions influenced by Mediterranean climate, respond more sensitively to climate change.

ID: 3.12158

An update on the condition, threats and future of Australian alpine snowpatch plant communities

Susanna Venn

Abstract/Description

Alpine snowpatch plant communities (synonymous with snowbank or snowbed communities) are re-occurring assemblages of plants that exist where snow lies late into the summer. On the Australian mainland, these occur on the south-east side of high elevation ridges and mountain sides, in the lee of the prevailing north-westerly winds. The highest elevation snowpatches can develop impressive cornices of snow that may be up to 10 m deep. Snowpatches are one of the rarest communities in the Australian alpine landscape due to topographical constraints and the restricted nature of the alpine zone in general, and are listed as critically endangered ecological communities. Snow is the primary environmental driver in a snowpatch community, creating a repeating pattern of melt every year and thus predictable zones of growing season length across the snowpatch. Soil water availability is also determined by the regular pattern of melting snow, and this affects nutrient cycling and litter decomposition processes. Many species time their growth and phenology to these snowmelt patterns. Snow also determines the type and function of species that grow in different snowmelt zones; those which are relatively taller and larger-leaved (competitive and productive) tend to be around the perimeter of a snowpatch where snow melts earlier, compared to the shorter and smaller leaved species which grow in the centre of the snowpatch where snow melts last. Shrub species are also more abundant around the perimeter of some lower-elevation snowpatches, as they are restricted by their requirements for relatively longer growing seasons. However, lasting snow cover is dwindling and species abundances are changing…

In this update, I will present some recent research on how the inter-linked threatening processes of snow cover duration and warming temperatures have been driving changes in the composition of snowpatch communities and how this has led to ecological collapse in some areas. I will also describe some potential mechanisms for snowpatch plant regeneration from the soil seed bank and outline some options for how these communities might be managed into the future.

ID: 3.12167

The effects of reduced air pressure on plant ecophysiology

Bouchra El Omari
Niedrist, Georg; El Omari, Bouchra; Lembo, Silvia; Dainese, Matteo; Illmer, Paul; Praeg, Nadine; Meul, Andreas; Asensio, Dolores

Abstract/Description

One consequence of climate change on plant distribution in alpine areas is the observed shift of plants towards higher elevations as they track their thermal niches. As plants migrate, they encounter new environmental conditions that could represent a challenge for their growth and survival. One less-studied factor at higher elevations is the reduced air pressure. Our objective was to elucidate the direct effect of reduced air pressure on the ecophysiology of plant species across an elevation gradient ranging from 1500 m to 4000 m, corresponding to air pressures of 85 kPa and 60 kPa, respectively. We selected two plant species, Hieracium pilosella (Asteraceae) and Trifolium pratense (Fabaceae), that we collected from a perennial montane grassland at 1500 m within the Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) site in Matsch/Mazia, Italy. Our study was conducted in an extreme climate simulation infrastructure capable of controlling crucial environmental parameters (TerraXcube center). The experiment lasted for one month, after which we determined photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, growth, carbohydrates, carbon stable isotopes, and plant nitrogen concentrations. Generally, reduced air pressure leads to a decrease in the partial pressure of all atmospheric gases, potentially depriving plants of CO₂ and O₂. Our results showed a decrease in growth parameters and chlorophyll content at lower air pressure, along with a higher abundance of ¹³C, higher photosynthetic efficiency and an accumulation of total non-structural carbohydrates in the leaves of both plant species. These findings suggest that plants at high elevations could suffer from low O₂, and that carbon is not a limiting factor for their growth and performance under our experimental conditions. The magnitude of these effects varies depending on the plant species. We conclude that reduced air pressure could specifically influence the distribution pattern of plant species in alpine areas.

ID: 3.12255

Physiological Responses of Alpine and Montane Plants to Climate Manipulation: A Meta-Analysis of Ecophysiological Resilience

Marta De Giuli
Dainese, Matteo; Niedrist, Georg

Abstract/Description

Climate warming and changing precipitation regimes are affecting mountains at a faster pace than other terrestrial habitats globally. Cold adapted species in these regions are at the forefront of this change. While the microclimate they experience (and often create) can act as a buffer, their physiologic response to these changes remains contradictory. The opposite effects of warming and drought on productivity and photosynthetic efficiency highlight the potential complexity of a long-term response in these systems. Using a global meta-analysis of climate manipulation experiments, we explore the eco-physiological resilience of grassland and meadow species to shifting temperature and precipitation regimes. By analyzing relative changes in key physiological metrics—including photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and productivity—our study assesses how functional types respond to environmental change and whether certain growth forms may be more buffered by microclimatic variability. We synthesize over 100 observations from 20 studies to explore the driving physiological factors of the productivity responses observed. Our results will provide insight into how microclimates may mediate species performance and contribute to forecasting vegetation shifts in a warming world. By linking physiological responses to broader ecological trends, we highlight the importance of integrating fine-scale climatic variation into predictions of alpine biodiversity resilience.

ID: 3.12377

Population growth models indicate a strong disequilibrium between climate and the distribution of high mountain plant species in the Austrian Alps

Norbert Helm
Wessely, Johannes; Chytrý, Kryštof; Hülber, Karl; Moser, Dietmar; Gattringer, Andreas; Hausharter, Johannes; Pauli, Harald; Winkler, Manuela; Kagerl, Katharina; Saccone, Patrick; Kollert, Andreas; Mayr, Andreas; Rutzinger, Martin; Dullinger, Stefan

Abstract/Description

Mountain ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change and experience temperature increases that are above the global average. The recent warming has already led to an upward shift in plant species’ elevational ranges, but these shifts are much slower than expected based on elevational temperature lapse rates. It is unclear, however, whether the lag times indicate the inability of species to track the changing climate, and hence an accumulating extinction debt and colonization credit, or whether they hide micro-scale adaptation, with species shifting to nearby cooler microhabitats that buffer them against warming. In this study, we analysed performance data from more than 7,000 individuals of 42 high-mountain plant species, combined with microclimatic measurements at 1 m spatial resolution. Using this data, we built population growth models, which we then projected onto 853 1 m-vegetation plots spanning a 1,700 m elevational gradient in an alpine landscape of the Austrian Alps. Comparing projected population growth rates with current species distributions, we found that species perform best on sites that are, on average, 1.3 °C cooler and 16 days less snow covered than at their current centre of occurrence. This discrepancy suggests that there has been very limited adaptation of species’ distributions to climatic changes of the past decades even when microclimatic variability of alpine terrain is appropriately accounted for. Therefore, even if temperature increase would cease immediately, we would see considerable species turn-over in the long run, with most sampling sites experiencing a potential species turnover of more than 50 % until the end of the century. Predicted lag times to local extinctions vary considerably among species and sites and can extend over several centuries. Our findings highlight that a strong disequilibrium between current climatic conditions and fine-scale distribution of species has emerged in this alpine model landscape over the last decades, even at a very fine spatial resolution. Microclimatic variation has hence hardly helped alpine species to cope with climate warming so far.

ID: 3.12524

Can plant functional traits explain recent change in mountain summits?

Feline Peters
Lamprecht, Andrea; Neuner, Gilbert; Paetzolt, Mariana; Pauli, Harald; Winkler, Manuela; Hietz, Peter

Abstract/Description

Climate change has profound impact on biodiversity in alpine ecosystems and significant change in species composition and diversity have been documented. Such observed changes alone, however, do not explain what makes species winners or losers under various drivers of global change, which is necessary to predict future effects. To test if specific adaptations can explain observed changes in cover and frequency, we collected morphological functional traits and ecophysiological traits related to frost and drought resistance and test if these are related to observed changes from long-term monitoring at two GLORIA sites in Austria. We found that mainly morphological traits, such as leaf area and plant height, as well as leaf carbon content, can explain changes in plant abundance. Consistent trends were observed across different measures of change at both sites, though the explanatory power was moderate. Frost tolerance or drought resistance alone did not explain increase or decrease in abundance, but carbon content emerges as a trait that warrants further research. Since that these traits are easy to collect, we encourage sample more species at different sites and test if the relevant traits are the same in different climate and communities.

ID: 3.12621

Recruitment characteristics of threatened wetland alpine plants

Daniel White
Hirst, Megan; Hoyle, Gemma; Venn, Susanna

Abstract/Description

Globally, alpine ecosystems are experiencing increasing temperatures, earlier snowmelt, and extreme water deficits in summer. The rapid hydrological changes that are taking place in alpine environments are a major threat to plants that require stable water supply to survive. In the Australian alps, groundwater-fed ecosystems support a unique suite of plant species, many of which are rare and/or threatened. Such areas may become uninhabitable as hydrological regimes change, leading to the loss of potentially important populations through recruitment failure. Intraspecific variation in germination characteristics and seedling establishment traits may provide species with greater resilience to environmental change and help to mitigate extinction risk. Identifying patterns of variation in recruitment traits at the population level can inform conservation efforts by highlighting important insurance populations. In two experiments we examine intraspecific variation in recruitment traits relating to duration of snow cover (using 0-12 week treatments in moist cold stratification), water availability (using sand saturated with polyethylene glycol solutions of different concentrations) and warming in Psychrophila introloba (Ranunculaceae), Drosera arcturi (Droseraceae) and Oreobolus pumilio subsp. pumilio (Cyperaceae) all of which are foundational to high elevation gravelly herbfields – a rare and range-restricted spring-fed plant community found in the Australian alps. Between populations of the same taxa we found considerable variation in germination rates following different cold stratification periods. Overall, seed germination was delayed under drier treatment, faster in the warmer treatment and seedling biomass was reduced under drought. Germination strategies and seedling establishment traits varied considerably in response to drying and warming both between and within species, thus indicating that certain populations may be better adapted to future conditions and deserve special attention in conservation actions.

ID: 3.12708

Effects of Reduced Atmospheric Pressure on Upwards-Shifting Alpine Plant-Soil-Microbe Associations

Paul Illmer
Rzehak, Theresa; Meul, Andreas; De Giuli, Marta; Lembo, Silvia; El Omari, Bouchra; Dainese, Matteo; Niedrist, Georg; Praeg, Nadine

Abstract/Description

In alpine ecosystems, climate change forces species to respond by either adapting their life strategies to the new conditions or migrating upwards to higher elevations to match their thermal preferences. While migrating upward allows organisms to maintain stable temperature, it exposes them to reduced atmospheric pressure, affecting key physical parameters such as vapor pressure deficit, CO2 partial pressure, and gas diffusion. These changes can impact not only plant physiology but also microbial communities that interact with plants. Within the international project ‘Upshift’ we investigate the direct and indirect effects of reduced atmospheric pressure on upward-migrating plants and soil microorganisms. Three test plants (Brachypodium rupestre (grass), Hieracium pilosella (forb), and Trifolium pratense (legume)) were collected from a perennial montane grassland at 1500 m within the Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research site (LTSER) Matsch/Mazia (Italy) and transferred to the terraXcube device, which allows to disentangle altered atmospheric pressure from other parameters like temperature and humidity. Plants were exposed to pressures simulating 260, 1500, 2500, and 4000 m a.s.l. After several weeks and alongside eco-physiological plant measurements, rhizosphere soil was collected and analyzed for microbial composition and activity. Our results prove plant-specific effects of atmospheric pressure on microbial parameters. Whereas reduced air pressure caused an increase in microbial biomass in the rhizosphere of B. rupestre and T. pratense a decrease was observed with H. pilosella. For B. rupestre and H. pilosella these results were confirmed for the activity of dehydrogenase in the rhizosphere. Also, microbial communities were affected by atmospheric pressure. The rhizosphere community of B. rupestre grown under the highest atmospheric pressure (lowest elevation) differed most from all other samples, whereas T. pratense showed the strongest divergence at the lowest pressure (highest elevation). H. pilosella exhibited significant differences between prokaryote communities at the two high vs. the two low pressures. All proven effects were independent from possible changes of plant physiology and growth. These findings represent the first evidence of isolated atmospheric pressure effects on soil microbial communities under controlled conditions.

ID: 3.12839

Asexual reproduction by the fungus-breeding ant Lasius fuliginosus in the eastern Alps

Salvatore Brunetti
Kerschbaumer, Nora; Lampl, Romana; Steiner, Florian M.; Steiner, Birgit C

Abstract/Description

The vast majority of individuals in an ant colony are sterile females, that is, workers. Normally, exclusively queens and males are the fertile individuals. After mating, queens can lay eggs, from which female individuals (diploids) and/or males (haploids) will hatch. Nevertheless, under specific ecological circumstances, workers can lay eggs, from which haploid males or diploid females, that is, cloned workers, can originate by asexual reproduction. Lasius fuliginosus is a well-studied ant species because of its peculiar ecology that occurs up to the timber line and plays an important role in mountain ecosystems. This fungus breeding ant is famous for building its paper-nests using shredded wood, honey dew, and the hyphae of symbiotic fungi. The breeding system is peculiar (queens must penetrate the nests of other Lasius species to reproduce), and many details still await discovery. The aim of this study was to investigate within-nest relatedness between individuals in several L. fuliginosus as a basis to evaluate the occurrence of asexual reproduction. We sampled 744 individuals from 62 different nests in five populations in Austria and Germany along elevational transects and used 12 nuclear microsatellite loci for evaluating genetic diversity. We estimated the linkage disequilibrium, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, heterozygosity, allele frequency, allelic richness, probability of identity, and genetic relatedness inside each nest. We found clones originating from asexual reproduction in nearly half of the L. fuliginosus nests analyzed. This now opens up questions about proximate causations, such as if clonal individuals are produced by workers and / or queens. The latter would mean that sexual and asexual reproduction by the same individual coexists. Our findings also open up questions about ultimate causations, such as the dependence of asexuality in this ant on environmental conditions. In more detail, as environmental conditions become more extreme at higher altitudes, ant populations may benefit from increasing colony size through asexual reproduction, while avoiding the risks associated with sexual reproduction. The presence of asexual reproduction in L. fuliginosus provides new insights into the reproductive mode and social structure of ants generally as it does into mountain ecosystems.

ID: 3.12955

Carbon and water fluxes relationship with vegetation on high altitude habitat in the context of Climate change: a case study in the Northern Apennines

Francesco Porro
Goiran, Silvana; Baudena, Mara; Provenzale, Antonello

Abstract/Description

The Earth Critical Zone comprises the continuum of weathering material, soil, vegetation, microbiota, water and lower atmosphere, where fundamental physical, chemical and biological processes occur. Here photosynthesis and respiration play a crucial role in determining the exchange of carbon and water with the atmosphere and, in turn, water fluxes can affect plant species survival. Climate change impacts, especially in high-elevation habitats, could alter this balance, leading to shifts in plant communities’ composition, and potentially turning ecosystems from carbon sinks to sources. As such, understanding and modelling the relationship between fluxes, vegetation, and environmental factors in climate-threatened natural environments with a multi-faceted approach is crucial. This study investigates the relationship between CO2 and water fluxes with plants, soil and atmosphere in a climate change driven evolving ecosystem, in the Northern Apennines site of the GLORIA network. Data on Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), Ecosystem Respiration (ER), Gross Primary Production (GPP), and Evapotranspiration (ET) were collected in a high elevation grassland with portable dynamic flux chambers and an infrared gas analyser during the summers of 2024 and 2025. Flux measurements focused on homogeneous patches of the four most dominant plant species (thirty replicates per species in three different time periods), with simultaneous measurement of soil and environmental variables to statistically relate flux measurements to the potential environmental and climatic control variables. Plant species abundance changes data were obtained from the GLORIA network. Preliminary results show a positive relation between evapotranspiration and GPP with solar radiation and soil water content. Evapotranspiration differs significantly between plant species and aspects, while GPP were more similar between plant species, although with different seasonal dynamics. These preliminary results reveal a complex relationship among plant species, fluxes and environmental variables, enhancing our understanding of the fine-scale variability of carbon fluxes and evapotranspiration in high-elevation habitats. These data will facilitate the development of empirical models to project the impacts of future climate change scenarios on carbon storage, water fluxes, and vegetation dynamics. This study is part of the SENTINEL project (The reSponsEs of italian mouNTaIN Ecosystems to cLimate change), funded by MUR.

ID: 3.12983

How long and complex Can I sing?: monologue repertories of Yellow-bridled Finch (Melanodera xanthogramma) at different spatial scales in the Temperate Andes

Juan Joannon López
Altamirano, Tomás; Malige, Franck; Soto, Mauricio

Abstract/Description

Acoustic communication in birds has been widely studied in terms of acoustic complexity and ecological and evolutionary processes. Extensive monologues’ syntaxy patterns and time spent singing could be a strategy to send a precise message, facilitating individual recognition, mate attraction, and territory defense. This strategy might play a strong role in harsh environments such as high mountain ecosystems. For instance, time spent in the monologues could be an indicator of males’ quality. We studied the song elements (combinations of syllables, repetition of combinations, sequence of repetitions, and duration of the song) of the Yellow-bridled Finch (Melanodera xanthogramma), an endemic passerine of the temperate Andes. We hypothesized that its vocalizations are not random but follow specific syntactic rules that combine fixed and variable elements adapted to extreme conditions. We installed Autonomous recording units (ARU) in high Andean habitats of volcanoes, Chile. During the breeding season 2023-2024, we recorded the first 30 minutes of each hour between 5 and 10 am of 90 days. The recordings were segmented into monologues and syllables were identified and coded for each song elements. We compared the monologues at three spatial scales: site, volcano, and between volcanoes . Results showed that transitions between song elements occurred systematically, and the substitutions were not random. We did not observe variation in song duration. These findings suggest that the monologues of the Yellow-bridled Finch are organized according to syntactic rules that balance stability and flexibility, potentially optimizing the transmission of messages in mountainous environments. These findings provide new insights into the vocal organization of species in extreme habitats, laying the groundwork for future comparative research in acoustic communication of mountain birds.

ID: 3.13166

Patterns of vegetation development and species composition in glacier forefields of the Northern Limestone Alps

Christian Hecht
Hensen, Isabell; Knapp, Sonja; Kühn, Ingolf

Abstract/Description

Glaciers have retreated since the maximum extent of the “Little Ice Age”. The barren forefields offer a unique opportunity to study the development of an emerging ecosystem from its beginning, providing valuable insights into successional mechanisms and underlying filtering processes. While previous studies have primarily focused on the Central Alps, there remains a knowledge gap regarding succession for the forefields in the Northern Limestone Alps.
The aim of a newly established longterm monitoring platform is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of vegetation dynamics within the context of ecosystem succession in glacier forefields of this region. To this end, the chronosequence approach (i.e., age classes time since deglaciation) is applied across four glacier forefields, namely Hallstätter Glacier, Great Gosau Glacier (both in Dachstein Mountains, Austria), Watzmann Glacier and Blaueis (both in Berchtesgaden Alps, Germany). Vegetation monitoring for the 52 permanent plots follows the GLORIA guidelines, with selected plant traits being measured, abiotic site characterization (such as substrate sampling, temperature recordings) being conducted, and remote sensing methods being applied.
Plant communities change with the age since deglaciation in all study areas, but less distinctly for the plots in Berchtesgaden than for Dachstein Mountains. Beta-total-Diversity is split into Beta-replacement (substitution of one taxon by another) and Beta-richness (species addition) to quantify the relative importance of these two components, with Beta-richness contributing more to Beta-total than Beta-replacement in the present study. A higher proportion of exclusive late colonizers was predominantly detected than of exclusive early species. Species richness (Alpha-Diversity), total plant cover and frequency increase with the age. However, these trends occur at a much slower rate than reported in the Central Alps.
Moreover, as part of ongoing research, initial trait analyses based on database entries have so far revealed only a few clear patterns, while in-depth analyses using trait field measurements are still underway. The influence of environmental parameters on shaping succession is also actively being investigated.

ID: 3.13508

Pattern in alpine summit vegetation in the Northern Alps (Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, Germany) explained by variation in microclimate, soil temp and soil moisture

Anke Jentsch
Kudernatsch, Thomas; Brune, Maike; DiMusciano, Michele; Deola, Thomas; Eder, Fritz; Huber, Doris; Wanke, Svenja; Wolff, Peter

Abstract/Description

In recent decades, the rate of change in species richness in European mountain summits has increased and been correlated with rising temperatures. However, evidence of seasonal soil moisture deficit as a potentially emerging driver has rarely been discussed. In fact, species richness changes have been strongest on calcareous bedrock, so that limestone mountain summits with their shallow soils might serve as early warning signals of species redistributions.

Here, we present plant species diversity patterns on mountain summits between 2.203 m and 2513 m asl. in the National Park Berchtesgaden in Germany (GLORIA site DE-NPB, resurveyed between 2007 and 2024) along with in situ measured microclimate (growing degree days, snow cover), soil temperature and soil moisture data (Geoprecision+TOMST). For understanding details on species-specific leading and trailing edges, we further draw on recently recorded field data representing three different local species pools, summit (GLORIA NPB), alpine (AlpVeg NPB) and subalpine (Almenkartierung NPB), as well as species occurrence data from other calcareous GLORIA sites across the European Alps.

ID: 3.13617

Hearing the grass grow: advances in alpine grassland phenology

Christian Rixen
Zehnder, Michael; Pfund, Beat; Svoboda, Jan; Christoph, Marty; Vitasse, Jan; Jake, Alexander; HilleRisLambers, Janneke

Abstract/Description

Abstract. Long-term phenological data in alpine regions are often limited to a few locations and thus, little is known about climate-change induced plant phenological shifts above the treeline. Because plant growth initiation in seasonally snow-covered regions is largely driven by snowmelt timing and local temperature, it is essential to simultaneously track phenological shifts, snowmelt, and near-ground temperatures. In this study, we make use of ultrasonic snow height sensors installed at climate stations in the Swiss Alps to reveal phenological advance of grassland ecosystems and relate them to climatic changes over 25 years (1998 – 2023). When snow is absent, these snow height sensors additionally provide information on plant growth at a uniquely fine temporal scale. We applied a two-step machine learning algorithm to separate snow- from plant-height measurements, allowing us to determine melt-out for 122 stations between 1560-2950 m a.s.l., and to extract seasonal plant growth signals for a subset of 40 stations used for phenological analyses. We identified the start of growth, and calculated temperature trends, focusing particularly on thermal conditions between melt-out and growth initiation. We observed an advance of green-up by -2.4 days/decade coinciding with strong warming of up to +0.8°C/decade. Although the timing of snowmelt has not changed significantly over the study period in this focal region, phenological responses to early melt-out years varied due to differing influences of photoperiodic and thermal constraints, which were not equally important across elevations and communities. Phenological shifts of alpine grasslands are thus likely to become even more pronounced if snowmelt timing advances in the future as predicted. As climate change continues to reshape mountain ecosystems, understanding the interplay between phenological changes and species turnover will be essential for predicting future biodiversity patterns and informing conservation strategies in alpine regions.

ID: 3.13821

Thermal benefits of breeding inside rock cavities for high elevation songbirds

Gabriela Biscarra
Joannon, Juan; De Zwaan, Devin; Martin, Kathy; Corti, Paulo; Altamirano, Tomás

Abstract/Description

Mountain environments pose significant climatic challenges for breeding birds, including strong temperature fluctuations and exposure to harsh weather. Nest-site selection can help mitigate these stressors and improve fitness. Rock cavities may offer thermal advantages by buffering external temperature variation. We monitored alpine bird nests in two volcanoes of the temperate Andes during the 2024–2025 breeding season in southern Chile (~39°S, 71°W). A total of 40 nests from six treeline-breeding species were studied: Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca, n = 23), White-browed Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albilora, n = 8), Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola flavinucha, n = 1), Buff-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes fuscus, n = 7), Plumbeous Sierra Finch (Geospizopsis unicolor, n = 1), and Upucerthia saturatior (n = 1). To assess microclimatic conditions, thermal sensors (Hobo Temp) were placed inside and outside 20 nest cavities (n = 40). External sensors were positioned in stone stacks, facing north, and shielded from direct sunlight, up to 130 cm from cavity entrances. Temperature was recorded every 10 minutes for 42 hours per cavity. Temperature differences between interior and exterior were analyzed for four species: P. cyanoleuca (n = 9), M. albilora (n = 6), C. fuscus (n = 4), and U. saturatior (n = 1). Across species, temperatures were generally higher inside at night and lower in the evening. However, variation in magnitude and direction was species-specific. For M. albilora, all cavities were warmer inside at night and cooler in the evening, while three were warmer outside at twilight and one in the morning. C. fuscus followed the same pattern, with two cavities warmer outside at twilight and one in the morning. P. cyanoleuca showed significant nighttime differences, with higher temperatures inside. Five cavities differed at twilight, only one being warmer inside. Additionally, four cavities were warmer in the morning. U. saturatior showed temperature differences in all periods except the morning. These findings suggest that mountain-top species may select rock cavities for their microclimatic benefits, indicating an adaptive response to thermal conditions.

ID: 3.13977

Changes in species distribution throughout the snowmelt gradient in 20 years in Pyrenean snowbed patches

Estela Illa
Lluch, Oriol; Ninot, Josep M.; Carrillo, Empar

Abstract/Description

In temperate high mountains, snowbeds are those environments covered by snow until mid-summer, where only a set of specialised species, which depend on the particular microclimatic conditions found in snowbed patches, are able to thrive. The Pyrenees represent one of the southernmost refugia for many of them, but the reduced dimensions of snowbed patches and their scattered distribution throughout the range make them extremely sensitive to climatic changes. Indeed, the rising temperatures and the reduction of winter snowfall related to climate change are causing an earlier snowmelt, favourable to the growth of the more competitive generalist species from the neighbouring alpine grasslands. Within this context, between years 2003-2005 we established permanent transects in 9 acidic Pyrenean snowbed patches, and resampled them the periods 2013-2015 and 2023-2024. Transects cover the short but steep snowmelt gradient, beginning in an alpine grassland and ending in the snowiest part of the snowbed. In each transect we sampled species composition and coverage in plots of 10 x 50 cm distributed at regular 20 cm-intervals throughout the snowmelt gradient. To analyse the data, for each period and transect we grouped the plots into different vegetation groups based on their floristic similarity by means of fuzzy-c-means non-hierarchical clustering. After that, we analysed the changes in species richness in each vegetation group, as well as the changes in species frequencies and distribution, considering snowbed specialists and a set of the main grassland generalists found in neighbouring grasslands. Preliminary results evidence the rapid colonisation of snowbed patches by a set of competitive grassland species in 20 years. Concerning snowbed specialists, we observe two contrasted responses depending on their specificity on the snow cover duration. Those species characteristic of the snowiest part of snowbeds show a contraction of the area occupied, whereas those characteristic of the periphery show an increase towards the snowiest part of the snowbed. Overall, these results show rapid composition changes in 20 years related to the changing micro-environmental conditions throughout the snowmelt gradient, and evidencing the vulnerability of some snowbed specialists within the context of climate change.

ID: 3.21201

Patterns of plant species diversity and composition in alpine summits of central Japan

Nobuo Imai
Hashimoto, Shunsuke; Kamiyama, Yuura; Hirano, Yu; Obana, Yosuke; Sato, Toshiyuki

Abstract/Description

In recent decades it has become clear that some alpine plants are spreading to higher altitudes as a result of climate change. However, there are still uncertainties about the response of alpine plants to climate change. For example, how do alpine plants respond when both temperature and snowfall patterns change simultaneously? How do responses differ between regions with very different species composition? Central Japan has many high mountains above 3,000 m, characterised by heavy snowfall, and a complex geological history, resulting in a rich diversity of endemic and rare alpine plants.
Here we present the changes in plant species diversity and composition with altitude and slope aspect on Mt. Norikura (GLORIA site JP-HNO) in the Hida mountain range of Japan, ranging from 2,751 m to the summit of 3,014 m. This is the first GLORIA site in Japan and, more generally, in the coastal regions of East Asia. Although Mt. Norikura is an old volcano, we also present plans to establish the second GLORIA site on sedimentary rocks in the nearby Akaishi mountain range, which will allow us to verify the effects of parent material.

FS 3.164: Andean glaciers and their role in the high mountain water cycle

FS 3.167: Advancements in monitoring snow and glaciers in mountain regions using satellite data

FS 3.166

Alpine microclimates, biodiversity, and climate change

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