Private

FS 3.500

Ecological impacts of droughts

Details

Full Title
FS 3.500: Ecological impacts of droughts: present and future
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Alex Tunas
Co-Conveners
Laura Barraclough, Carlotta Schlosser,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
No focus defined
Keywords
Art, Forests, Ecology, Creativity, Communication

Description

In the face of ongoing climate change, extreme weather events such as droughts are becoming more frequent and intense, exposing species to an ever-increasing physiological stress and causing multiple ecological problems all around the globe. Mountain areas, where the rise in temperature exceeds the global average, are some of the most affected. This makes alpine and subalpine ecosystems a subject of major concern. Indeed, we know that many species are shifting their distribution ranges uphill, sometimes being driven to an inevitable extinction. In addition, some ecosystems, such as mountain forests, are at a particularly high risk of suffering from drought-related stress, as trees tend to lack adaptations to low water availability at high altitudes. Given the unique species richness of these regions, with forests, wetlands and grasslands hosting around half of the biodiversity hotspots of our planet, understanding the ongoing and upcoming ecological impacts of drought remains a topic of maximum relevance.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.9680

Drought effects on alpine conifers: a xylogenetic approach

Tamara Bibbò
Obojes, Nikolaus; Fonti, Patrick

Abstract/Description

Drought is increasingly impacting forests, even in mountainous regions. The Matsch valley, one of the driest areas in South-Tyrol, may serve as a model for future conditions in broader Alpine regions. Xylogenetic analysis can assess the precise impact of climate on wood formation. This study aims to understand the relationship between xylem formation and environmental factors to predict the effect of climate change on tree growth. To this end, we sampled four plots along an elevation transect, including four species and 40 trees in total: 20 Larix decidua Mill., 10 Pinus cembra L., 5 Pinus nigra Arnold, and 5 Picea abies L. .These were distributed as follow: 1070 (F1, low elevation), 1715 (F2, mid- elevation), 2100 (F5, high elevation) and 2250 (FL, forest line) meters during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. Based on temperature alone, we would expect growing season length – defined as the difference between the start of the enlarging phase and the end of the secondary cell wall thickening-to decrease with increasing elevation. However, lower elevations may experience drought-induced premature growth cessation. We also expected deciduous larch begin growing later than the evergreen spruce or pines as it must first leaf out before growth. Preliminary results from 2023 support these hypotheses. At F1 and F5, larches exhibited a 135-day growing season, though their start and end dates differed by 20 days. Surprisingly, at F2 – where growth was expected to continue longer than at F5 and FL-the growing season ended earlier, suggesting that drought impacts extend up to 1700 m. As expected, the shortest growing season was observed at FL, mainly due to a delayed start of cell enlargement. Pines initiated growth earlier than larches at all sites. However, in F2,the onset difference between larch and spruce was only two days. Black pine has the longest growing season, while Swiss stone pine at FL had the shortest. Across all sites, the start of the growing season showed less variability than its end. To validate these preliminary findings, we conducted a second xylogenesis campaign in 2024 and we will correlate our results with dendrometers, sap flow and wood anatomy data.

ID: 3.9765

Response of Glacierized Mountains to Droughts in the Anthropocene

Martina Leone

Abstract/Description

Alpine glaciers are experiencing dramatic downwasting in the face of an unprecedented climate crisis characteristic of the Anthropocene, remaining vital components of glacio-hydrological systems, ecological systems, and broader socio-economic activities. This research investigates the role of glaciers in sustaining water security within the Anthropocene, focusing on the question: “What is the response of glacierized mountain regions to droughts?” To address this, we will establish a comprehensive drought inventory for Italian mountain regions from 2000 to the present. Subsequently, we will quantify the impacts of these drought events on key components of the mountain environment: hydrological response (through analysis of streamflow and soil moisture), glacier dynamics (using mass balance measurements and glacial melt simulation models), ecological health (measured through vegetation indices such as Gross Primary Productivity, or GPP), and impacts on human systems (assessed via field surveys and web-based media analysis). By integrating these multi-faceted impact assessments with climate change scenarios, we aim to project the future vulnerability of glacierized mountain regions to drought, thereby elucidating the complex interplay between climate change, drought events, and the long-term resilience of these critical water resources.

ID: 3.9833

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, lower summer rainfall, and increased temperatures in the Australian Alps are likely to lead to drier future conditions, and alpine plants are likely to endure drought conditions over the summer months. Given these future climate conditions, slow growth rate 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. Past studies have less used in-situ experiments to study the impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems. Utilising in-situ experimental infrastructure that simulate a drier future climate provide accurate reflection of the 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 the rainout shelters installed across alpine regions of Australian Alps, designed to restrict precipitation without altering other microclimatic conditions. These infrastructures 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: 3.9941

Responses of montane conifers to drought stress: unravelling metabolic pathways of adaptation

Moritz Stegner
de Vries, Anna; Schmack, Judith; Spielmann, Felix; Wohlfahrt, Georg; Jud, Werner; Karl, Thomas; Schnitler, Jörg-Peter; Winkler, Barbro; Arc, Erwann; Roach, Thomas; Kranner, Ilse

Abstract/Description

Forest dieback due to increasingly frequent extreme climatic events, including droughts, poses a threat to ecosystem services provided by mountain forests. Yet, which biochemical pathways confer drought resilience or sensitivity in montane conifers is not fully understood. We analysed needles from 3-year-old Pinus sylvestris and Juniperus communis plants under a controlled, drought gradient, using untargeted GC-MS-based metabolite profiling, and targeted LC-MS/MS and HPLC analyses of hormones, antioxidants and lipid peroxidation products. In both species, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and glutathione (GSH) increased with drought intensity, peaking at moderate drought in pine, but not until severe drought in juniper. Increasing drought severity was accompanied by increased glutathione disulphide (GSSG) concentrations in both species, and a decrease in GSH:GSSG ratio in pine. Lipid peroxidation markers, including trans-2-hexenal and 4-hydroxyhexenal, peaked under moderate drought in pine but accumulated progressively in juniper up to severe drought. Drought induced a steady increase in osmoregulatory sugars and proline in juniper, whereas pine predominantly accumulated amino acids, including serine, leucine and gamma-aminobutyric acid. In addition, drought induced species-specific responses in organic acids linked to the TCA cycle. Under severe drought, citrate and aconitic acid decreased, whereas fumarate and malic acid accumulated in juniper, while no significant changes occurred in pine. Our analysis reveals distinct species-specific metabolic responses to drought intensity, highlighting the complex biochemical mechanisms that may underlie differential resilience to water scarcity in montane conifers. Further effects of drought on primary metabolites and their downstream consequences for tree health are discussed.

ID: 3.10456

Participatory Characterization of Hydro-Social Territories: Identifying Territorial Patterns and Power Relations in the Upper Valdivia River Sub-basin

Jose Felipe Fernández Ocampo

Abstract/Description

This study adopts a participatory approach to characterize Hydrosocial Territories (HST) in the Upper Valdivia River Sub-basin, aiming to identify territorial patterns and power relations that shape water governance. By integrating hydrosocial theory with geospatial and social network analysis, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of the socio-ecological dimensions of water systems in a context of megadrought and climate change. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, including content analysis, review of legal frameworks, geospatial and geoeconomic analysis, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders—including community leaders, indigenous groups, and women’s organizations—focus groups, and participatory workshops using the World Café methodology. Direct field observations and engagement in local events further enrich the data collection process. This research identifies key governance structures, institutional norms, and negotiation spaces that influence water access and distribution, facilitating the development of socially acceptable, cost-effective, and contextually relevant adaptation strategies. By emphasizing the role of local knowledge and community participation, this approach enhances informed decision-making and promotes more equitable and sustainable water management practices. Additionally, the findings contribute to policy recommendations that strengthen territorial planning and resilience strategies in hydrologically vulnerable areas.

ID: 3.10592

Understanding the resilience of Australian alpine plants to climate change: Insights from population genomics and germination trials

Lukiel Dos Santos Oliveira
Venn, Susanna

Abstract/Description

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.

ID: 3.11700

The carbon dynamics of a sub-alpine grassland under a future climate

James King
Arnold, Pieter; Brown, Zach; Venn, Susanna; Nicotra, Adrienne

Abstract/Description

Grasslands across the globe account for approximately 34% of terrestrial carbon stores. Increases in temperature and decreases in soil moisture have the potential to turn these carbon sinks into sources, further driving climate change. However, the effects of these climatic factors are largely unknown for Australia’s sub-alpine grasslands. Here, we conducted a global systematic review and meta-analysis to understand the effects of combined warming and drought in situ on grassland carbon dynamics. We complemented this with our own field experiment in Kosciuszko National Park to test the effects of a future climate on a sub-alpine grassland through a long term in situ experiment that factorially elevated temperatures and reduced precipitation, simulating future drought conditions (2070-2100). The soil profile was warmed with soil heating rods while rain-out shelters were used to reduce incident precipitation. We measured CO₂ efflux using a closed path chamber system as well as above and belowground biomass. Results from the field experiment suggest that drought caused significant declines in soil respiration while there was evidence of acclimation to warming treatments. Soil moisture, more so than temperature, is likely the dominant driver of soil respiration with seasonal drying affecting all treatments. Aboveground biomass appears largely unchanged while heat and drought in combination may be driving an increase in belowground biomass. The results of this study will have relevance to understanding the carbon dynamics of Australia’s alpine grasslands and can be used to draw comparisons with grasslands globally.

ID: 3.11720

Heat and drought in the Australian subalpine: testing for plasticity and co-ordination among above and below ground traits

Thomas Hanley
Arnold, Pieter; Pandey, Mohan; venn, sussusanna; Nicotra, Adrienne

Abstract/Description

Australia’s relatively low elevation alpine and subalpine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change factors, particularly warming and drying. The capacity for plants to respond to both heat and drought stress through phenotypic plasticity is important in the face of anthropogenic climate change. Both aboveground and belowground traits respond to the environmental conditions, potentially in co-ordination, but belowground traits are often neglected in ecophysiological studies. Here, we applied factorial heat and drought treatments using the Australian Mountain Research Facility’s FutureClim experiment: 20 future climate simulation plots with active heating (+4°C) and Drought Net-style shelters that reduce incident precipitation by 80%. We transplanted 600 plants (5 species and 3 growth habits: 1 graminoid, 2 forbs, 2 shrubs) in the FutureClim experiment and measured plant survival, growth, and performance over 19 months before destructive harvesting. Total mortality was 144 plants (24%), 94 of which occurred in drought and heat+drought treatments. Growth measures and water potentials were strongly impacted by treatment effects, but consistent trait plasticity across growth forms was only observed in leaf area and root-to-shoot ratio. Generally, forbs showed some negative responses to drought and mixed responses to heat+drought treatments but were unaffected by heat alone. Shrubs that survived the initial transplant, however, responded favourably and vigorously to heat and heat+drought treatments while largely not responding to drought alone. Across both aboveground and belowground traits, we observed strong species-specific differences in traits and their responses to treatments over time. Overall, our results from this field manipulation experiment show that different species have vastly different responses to heat and drought, alone and in combination, which potentially has consequences for community compositional change with ongoing climate change.

ID: 3.12857

Impacts of drought events on Mountain Forests: from individual tree responses to satellite-based assessment

Emanuela Patriarca
Patriarca, Emanuela; Bibbò, Tamara; Bartkowiak, Paulina; Maines, Elena; Cabon, Antoine; Wang, Wenjin; Crespi, Alice; Obojes, Nikolaus; Sonnenschein, Ruth; Notarnicola, Claudia; Tognetti, Roberto; Fonti, Patrick; Castelli, Mariapina

Abstract/Description

Drought events are anticipated to become more frequent and intense in the future, resulting in consequences for forest productivity, water use strategies, and ecosystem services. As forests play a crucial role in climate regulation, assessing the impact of droughts on these ecosystems is essential for improving the accuracy of climate change projections. Remote sensing (RS) techniques have been widely used to evaluate droughts impacts over large areas, but their effectiveness is often limited by the lack of ground-data for calibration and validation. This study aims to address this gap by integrating RS data with a unique, extensive time series of ground-based observations. We focus on the drought events of the years 2015, 2018 and 2022 in two alpine valleys: Lötschental, in Switzerland, and Mazia Valley, in South Tyrol, Italy. The RS dataset consists of time series of spectral indices derived from MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and HLS (Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2) imagery, estimates of Gross Primary Production (GPP) and other biophysical variables. The ground-based dataset includes physiological observations on coniferous species collected from 2007 to 2023 over our two study areas, such as xylogenesis imagery, dendrometer series, and wood anatomical data. First, we plan to identify RS indicators that are most sensitive to tree-level carbon dynamics in response to meteorological drought conditions. Multivariate modeling will be employed to quantify the relationships between ground-based and RS data. Next, a model will be developed to estimate tree-level carbon impacts based on RS indicators and auxiliary datasets, such as topography and climate data. With this work, funded by the CALEIDOSCOPE project, we aim to provide new insights on the relationships between ground-based carbon sink quantifications and broad-scale, carbon source-derived RS estimates during and after drought events.

ID: 3.13080

Alpine ecosystems under pressure: visitor use and climate change in Andean Patagonia

Alondra Crego
Barros, Agustina; Gowda, Juan

Abstract/Description

The Patagonian Andes, particularly alpine meadows, face growing threats from climate change, including drought and glacier retreat, which reduce water availability and alter ecosystem structure. Additionally, growing tourism exacerbates these ecological impacts, as high-altitude ecosystems suffer from trail erosion, campsite expansion, and off-trail trampling, compromising their ecological integrity. Nahuel Huapi National Park (NHNP), one of Latin America’s most visited mountain parks, contains trails networks traversing sensitive ecosystems such as alpine meadows, riparian habitats, and treelines. While Frey Hut sees high visitation, remote backcountry areas are also experiencing increased use. However, the lack of visitor use regulations poses a rising threat to these ecosystems. My research examines how visitor use patterns impact NHNP’s alpine ecosystems, considering sites with varying popularity. I also analyze visitor behavior and distribution using a socio-ecological approach, recognizing that conservation requires addressing both biophysical and recreational factors. In Frey, I examined vegetation impacts and recovery after trail closures as part of the conservation project Walk the Trail, analyzing trails with varying past use and microenvironments along a moisture gradient. I also conducted unobtrusive observations to assess visitor behaviors linked to these recovery efforts. In the backcountry, I surveyed a 40 km trail network and 20 campsites, assessing trail and campsite conditions in alpine meadows using standardized methods, alongside visitor perceptions by online surveys. In Frey, 80% of visitors used the new trail, facilitating vegetation recovery. In the backcountry, I found a direct relationship between campsite proximity to trails and vegetation loss, fire pits, litter, and informal toilets. Alpine meadow campsites were more dispersed than treeline sites, but both showed greater impact near to trails. Surveys showed visitors prioritized adventure and noticed only obvious recreational impacts, overlooking vegetation and soil degradation. These results highlight the need to assess visitor impacts in alpine ecosystems, considering use patterns, behavior, and their ecological effect on campsites and trails. Management strategies should prioritize visitor education, campsite upgrades, and enhanced trail design to reduce dispersed use. This is especially crucial in alpine meadows, where climate change weakens their resilience to human impacts.

ID: 3.13087

Highlights of the 2024 drought event in the headwater of the Southern Ecuadorian Tropical Andes

Adrián Sucozhañay
Timbe, Luis; Urgiles, Cindy; Boll, Jan; Célleri, Rolando

Abstract/Description

In 2024, South America experienced a severe drought that extended from the Amazon to the Andes. The most pronounced effects were observed in the Amazon, where it was classified as the most extreme drought in the past 100 years. In the Andes, significant impacts were reported in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. However, the reliability of global modeling data decreases as it approaches the Tropical Andes due to the high variability of these ecosystems and the scarcity of observed data. Consequently, the effects of this drought on headwater basins in this region remain poorly documented. This study describes the drought conditions experienced by the Páramo ecosystem in a headwater basin located Southern Ecuadorian Andes. Precipitation, streamflow, and vegetation data were analyzed to characterize drought conditions. Prior to 2024, the average duration of streamflow droughts was 29 days, with a maximum of 95 days, while precipitation droughts averaged 19 days, with a maximum of 53 days. In this region, there was minimal lag between the onset the streamflow droughts. During 2024, both precipitation and streamflow droughts persisted for approximately 150 days. On the other hand, the vegetation cover, mainly tussock grass and cushion plants, showed a substantial change. Nevertheless, tussock grass showed a rapid recovery after the first rainfall events. The drought also led to severe downstream water rationing, and at the national level, power outages lasting up to 18 hours due to critically low water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs. In regions with limited historical drought information, this study provides a crucial reference for understanding the impacts of an extreme drought event on both ecosystems and human populations.

ID: 3.13349

Rare and vulnerable: Sphagnum-dominated mire changes under climate threats in the Western Alps

Alessandra Pollo

Abstract/Description

Sphagnum-dominated mires are rare and highly vulnerable ecosystems, particularly at the southern edge of their distribution, where climatic conditions are less favorable. Mires have traditionally been considered relatively stable, exhibiting little to no change in floristic composition over several decades. This research aimed to contribute to challenging this perspective by analysing the changes in Sphagnum-dominated mires in the Western Alps over just a decade. We resurveyed 139 plots across 14 sites, comparing historical data from 1998 and 2011 with new surveys conducted in 2023. Our results revealed significant shifts in plant composition, structure, and ecological conditions over just 12 years, largely driven by climate change. Analysis of climate data confirmed increasing temperatures, declining precipitation, and increasing evaporation across the study sites. Under these climatic trends, an increase in species richness and diversity was observed, particularly in vascular plants. Woody and generalist species expanded at the expense of mire specialists, including Sphagnum species, suggesting both a generalisation of the vegetation and an ongoing drying process. The local extinction of species with the phytosociological optimum in mires was also detected. The impact of climate change was confirmed by the higher increase in species richness in mires that experienced higher decline in precipitation over the past three decades. Beyond these changes observed over just 12 years, long-term resurvey spanning 25 years revealed emerging signs of acidification and eutrophication. Mires at the southern edge of their distribution exhibited climate-driven changes occurring at a much faster rate than natural succession and than the higher-latitude mires previously monitored through resurveys. The rapid decline of mires poses a severe threat to the ecological integrity of these ecosystems, which play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation. In particular, the Wester Alps risk losing glacial relict species hosted in the mires. Urgent conservation measures are necessary to mitigate further degradation and preserve the ecosystem services these ecosystems provided.

ID: 3.13574

Evaluating Aridity Trends and Climatic Influences in a Warming Climate: Insights from Himachal Pradesh, India

Ankur Yadav

Abstract/Description

Himalayan cold deserts, including Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, and Ladakh, are highly sensitive to climate change, particularly rising temperatures. These high-altitude arid regions experience harsh climatic conditions with minimal precipitation, making them highly vulnerable to variations in dryness. Understanding long-term changes in aridity is crucial for evaluating climate change impacts and designing effective conservation strategies. This study investigates shifts in aridity across Indian cold deserts from 1901 to 2022 using the Aridity Index (AI), calculated as the ratio of annual precipitation (P) to potential evapotranspiration (PET). Climate data were sourced from CRU TS v4.08, a high-resolution dataset. The study classified the region into climatic zones based on AI values and examined seasonal variations, including pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, winter, and agricultural seasons. Results indicate a notable decrease in aridity across cold desert regions, with northeastern areas becoming increasingly hyper-arid. Seasonal fluctuations were observed, with the most significant decline in aridity occurring during winter, influenced by western disturbances. The overall trend suggests a reduction in dryness, as indicated by a positive AI trend slope over time. While cold deserts in the rain shadow zone of Himachal Pradesh are well adapted to low precipitation, increasing rainfall may trigger negative consequences. These include soil erosion, landscape destabilization, and landslides. Excessive moisture can also harm vegetation adapted to arid conditions, leading to root rot and declining plant health. Changes in precipitation patterns may disrupt delicate ecosystems, shift species compositions, and threaten biodiversity. Drought conditions, both present and future, pose additional ecological risks, including reduced water availability, habitat degradation, and heightened stress on already scarce vegetation and wildlife. Prolonged dryness can limit plant growth, reduce primary productivity, and intensify desertification, further threatening local flora and fauna. Communities in these regions face increased risks from climate-driven changes, such as damage to infrastructure, altered agricultural productivity, and greater susceptibility to natural disasters. To safeguard these fragile ecosystems, long-term monitoring and adaptive management are essential. Sustainable land-use policies, climate-resilient farming methods, and enhanced disaster preparedness will be key to maintaining ecological and socio-econ

ID: 3.13885

Mixed forest stand and site conditions buffer effects of recurring drought on ectomycorrhizal and soil bacterial and fungal communities in a subalpine spruce and larch forest

Markus Neurauter

Abstract/Description

Climate change is leading to increased frequency and intensity of drought events. It is crucial to understand how they impact mountain ecosystems, which are disproportionally affected by global warming. Here, we sampled soil cores at the end of a long-term experiment with recurring summer drought (8 years) to investigate the soil microbial communities in a subalpine forest (2000 m a.s.l.) in the Austrian Central Alps, which is dominated by spruce and larch. We investigated ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities by morphotyping of colonized root tips and molecular identification by Sanger sequencing. Additionally, fungal and bacterial soil communities were investigated by amplicon sequencing and relevant soil parameters were measured to obtain a comprehensive, and inclusive, understanding of cumulative effects of drought on soil microbial communities. We hypothesized a decrease in species richness and diversity for drought plots compared to control, as well as changes in the community structure due to the establishment of a more drought tolerant community. Interestingly, for none of the three communities (ECM, bacteria and fungi) declines in richness or diversity were detected. We found significant differences in beta-diversity for bacterial and fungal communities between control and drought plots, however, little variance between communities was explained by the factor drought. For example, random variation in pH across the plots had a larger influence on communities and for ECM no significant effect of drought on beta-diversity at all was detected. The drought also led to significant changes in soil parameters, mainly decreases in nitrogen availability, which indirectly influenced the decline of certain bacterial taxa. Overall, these findings suggest, that soil microbial communities at the site are largely resilient to recurring drought, likely a result of the site being at the upper distribution limit of these forest types and due to buffering effects of mixed forest stands.

FS 3.105: Modeling Transformations of Mountain Landscapes: Opportunities and Threats

FS 3.501: Societal strategies to solve conflicts over water use(s)

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.500

Ecological impacts of droughts

Details

Full Title

Scheduled

Location

Convener

Co-Conveners

Assigned to Synthesis Workshop

Thematic Focus

Keywords

Description

Submitted Abstracts

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

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