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Volkov IV, Zemtsov VA, Erofeev AA, Babenko AS, Volkova AI, Callaghan TV. The dynamic land-cover of the Altai Mountains: Perspectives based on past and current environmental and biodiversity changes. AMBIO 2021; 50:1991-2008. [PMID: 34519957 PMCID: PMC8497672 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01605-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We present climate-dependent changes in the high-mountain forest ecotone, old-growth forests, alpine phytocenoses, and deglaciated forelands in the Aktru glacial basin (Altai Republic, Russia). A number of independent sources (variations in upper treeline altitude, dendrochronological data, analysis of lacustrine sediments and botanical and geographical studies linked with the dynamics of glacial-dammed lakes in the Chuya and Kurai intermountain depressions) suggest Holocene temperatures reached about 4 °C higher than today. Unlike the European Alps, glaciers in the continental Altai Mountains disappeared before forming again. Also, the upper altitudinal limit of mountain forests during the Holocene was greater than in the European Alps. The high variability of mountain ecosystems in southern Siberia suggests their potential instability in a currently changing climate. However, periglacial successions associated with the strong continental climate and glacier retreat represent an area of increasing biodiversity and plant cover. The historical and current sensitivity of the continental mountains to climate variations which exceeds that of the European Alps requires greater understanding, environmental protection, and increased social responsibility for the consequences of anthropogenic contributions to climate change: the isolated Altai areas contribute little to climate changes, but are greatly affected by them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V. Volkov
- Tomsk State Pedagogical University, 60 Kievskaya St., Tomsk, Russian Federation 634061
| | | | | | - Andrey S. Babenko
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenina Pr., Tomsk, Russian Federation 634050
| | - Anastasia I. Volkova
- Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography of Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 17 Lavrentieva Ave., Novosibirsk, Russian Federation 630090
| | - Terry V. Callaghan
- University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
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102
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Volkova II, Callaghan TV, Volkov IV, Chernova NA, Volkova AI. South-Siberian mountain mires: Perspectives on a potentially vulnerable remote source of biodiversity. AMBIO 2021; 50:1975-1990. [PMID: 34244968 PMCID: PMC8269984 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01596-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Changes in climate, land-use and pollution are having disproportionate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity of arctic and mountain ecosystems. While these impacts are well-documented for many areas of the Arctic and alpine regions, some isolated and inaccessible mountain areas are poorly studied. Furthermore, even in well-studied regions, assessments of biodiversity and species responses to environmental change are biased towards vascular plants and cryptogams, particularly bryophytes are far less represented. This paper aims to document the environments of the remote and inaccessible Altai-Sayan mountain mires and particularly their bryofloras where threatened species exist and species new to the regional flora are still being found. As these mountain mires are relatively inaccessible, changes in drivers of change and their ecosystem and biodiversity impacts have not been monitored. However, the remoteness of the mires has so far protected them and their species. In this study, we describe the mires, their bryophyte species and the expected impacts of environmental stressors to bring attention to the urgency of documenting change and conserving these pristine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Terry V. Callaghan
- University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Igor V. Volkov
- Tomsk State Pedagogical University, 60 Kievskaya St, Tomsk, Russia 634061
| | - Natalia A. Chernova
- Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 10/3 Akademichesky Pr, Tomsk, Russia 634021
| | - Anastasia I. Volkova
- Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography of Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 17 Lavrentieva Pr, Novosibirsk, Russia 630090
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103
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Walker RH, Ashton MJ, Cashman MJ, Fanelli RM, Krause KP, Noe GB, Maloney KO. Time marches on, but do the causal pathways driving instream habitat and biology remain consistent? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147985. [PMID: 34323823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stream ecosystems are complex networks of interacting terrestrial and aquatic drivers. To untangle these ecological networks, efforts evaluating the direct and indirect effects of landscape, climate, and instream predictors on biological condition through time are needed. We used structural equation modeling and leveraged a stream survey program to identify and compare important predictors driving condition of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages. We used data resampled 14 years apart at 252 locations across Maryland, USA. Sample locations covered a wide range of conditions that varied spatiotemporally. Overall, the relationship directions were consistent between sample periods, but their relative strength varied temporally. For benthic macroinvertebrates, we found that the total effect of natural landscape (e.g., elevation, longitude, latitude, geology) and land use (i.e., forest, development, agriculture) predictors was 1.4 and 1.5 times greater in the late 2010s compared to the 2000s. Moreover, the total effect of water quality (e.g., total nitrogen and conductivity) and habitat (e.g., embeddedness, riffle quality) was 1.2 and 4.8 times lower in the 2010s, respectively. For fish assemblage condition, the total effect of land use-land cover predictors was 2.3 times greater in the 2010s compared to the 2000s, while the total effect of local habitat was 1.4 times lower in the 2010s, respectively. As expected, we found biological assemblages in catchments with more agriculture and urban development were generally comprised of tolerant, generalist species, while assemblages in catchments with greater forest cover had more-specialized, less-tolerant species (e.g., Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa, clingers, benthic and lithophilic spawning fishes). Changes in the relative importance of landscape and land-use predictors suggest other correlated, yet unmeasured, proximal factors became more important over time. By untangling these ecological networks, stakeholders can gain a better understanding of the spatiotemporal relationships driving biological condition to implement management practices aimed at improving stream condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Walker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA.
| | - Matthew J Ashton
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - Matthew J Cashman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rosemary M Fanelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Kevin P Krause
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Gregory B Noe
- U.S. Geological Survey, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Kelly O Maloney
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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104
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MacDougall AS, Caplat P, Olofsson J, Siewert MB, Bonner C, Esch E, Lessard-Therrien M, Rosenzweig H, Schäfer AK, Raker P, Ridha H, Bolmgren K, Fries TCE, Larson K. Comparison of the distribution and phenology of Arctic Mountain plants between the early 20th and 21st centuries. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5070-5083. [PMID: 34297435 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Arctic plants are adapted to climatic variability, but their long-term responses to warming remain unclear. Responses may occur by range shifts, phenological adjustments in growth and reproduction, or both. Here, we compare distribution and phenology of 83 arctic and boreal mountain species, sampled identically in the early 20th (1917-1919) and 21st centuries (2017-2018) from a region of northern Sweden that has warmed significantly. We test two compensatory hypotheses to high-latitude warming-upward shifts in distribution, and earlier or extended growth and reproduction. For distribution, we show dramatic upward migration by 69% of species, averaging 6.1 m per decade, especially boreal woodland taxa whose upward expansion has reduced arctic montane habitat by 30%. Twenty percent of summit species showed distributional shifts but downward, especially moisture-associated snowbed flora. For phenology, we detected wide inter-annual variability in the onset of leafing and flowering in both eras. However, there was no detectable change in growing-season length, relating to two mechanisms. First, plot-level snow melt data starting in 1917 demonstrated that melt date, rather than vernal temperatures, better predicts plant emergence, with snow melt influenced by warmer years having greater snowfall-warmer springs did not always result in earlier emergence because snowbeds can persist longer. Second, the onset of reproductive senescence between eras was similar, even when plant emergence was earlier by a month, possibly due to intensified summer heat stress or hard-wired 'canalization' where senescence occurs regardless of summer temperature. Migrations in this system have possibly buffered arctic species against displacement by boreal expansion and warming, but ongoing temperature increases, woody plant invasion, and a potential lack of flexibility in timing of senescence may foreshadow challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S MacDougall
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Paul Caplat
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthias B Siewert
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Colin Bonner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Ellen Esch
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Pia Raker
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hassan Ridha
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kjell Bolmgren
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Keith Larson
- Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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105
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Duchicela SA, Cuesta F, Tovar C, Muriel P, Jaramillo R, Salazar E, Pinto E. Microclimatic Warming Leads to a Decrease in Species and Growth Form Diversity: Insights From a Tropical Alpine Grassland. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.673655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to warming, changes in microclimatic temperatures have shifted plant community structure and dynamics in tundra and alpine regions. The directionality and magnitude of these changes are less known for tropical alpine ecosystems. To understand the likely trajectory of these shifts in the Andes, we conducted a warming experiment in the northern Andes—using open-top chambers (OTC). In this study, we ask (1) how do OTCs affect air and soil temperatures in microclimates of tropical alpine regions, year-round and during the dry season? (2) What are the effects of 7 years of warming on (a) the aboveground biomass (AGB) and (b) the plant taxonomic and growth form diversity? We installed five monitoring blocks in 2012 at ca. 4,200 m asl with 20 OTCs and 50 control plots randomly distributed within each block. We measured AGB, plant community diversity, and growth form diversity between 2014 and 2019. After 7 years of warming, we found significant increases in mean monthly (+0.24°C), daily (+0.16°C), and night air temperatures (+0.33°C) inside the OTCs, and the OTCs intensified microclimatic conditions during the dry season. Additionally, OTCs attenuated extreme temperatures—particularly in the soil—and the number of freezing events. AGB significantly increased in OTCs, and by 2019, it was 27% higher in OTCs than in control. These changes were driven mainly by a progressive increment of tussock grasses such as Calamagrostis intermedia, typical of lower elevations. The increase of tussocks led to a significant decrease in species diversity and evenness inside OTCs, but not in species richness after accounting by sampling time. Furthermore, cushions and herbs decreased inside OTCs. Our results show that experimental warming using OTCs in equatorial regions leads to decreased daily thermal amplitude and night temperatures rather than the level of increase in mean temperatures observed in temperate regions. The increase of tussocks and decrease in diversity of species and growth forms due to prolonged modifications in microclimatic temperature might be a step toward shrub-dominated ecosystems. Further research on this topic would help understand shifts in growth form dominance and the direction and rate of change of the system.
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106
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Giannini TC, Acosta AL, Costa WF, Miranda L, Pinto CE, Watanabe MTC, Zappi DC, Giulietti AM, Imperatriz-Fonseca VL. Flora of Ferruginous Outcrops Under Climate Change: A Study in the Cangas of Carajás (Eastern Amazon). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:699034. [PMID: 34557210 PMCID: PMC8454948 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.699034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has impacted biodiversity, affecting species and altering their geographical distribution. Besides understanding the impact in the species, it has been advocated that answering if different traits will be differently impacted could allow refined predictions of how climate change will jeopardize biodiversity. Our aim was to evaluate if climate change will potentially impact plant species differently, considering their traits. We evaluated 608 plant species that occur in the naturally open areas of ferruginous outcrops (namely, cangas) in the National Forest of Carajás (Eastern Amazon). Firstly, we estimated the effects of climate change on each species using species distribution modeling, and analyzed this impact in the set containing all species. Secondly, we classified plant species considering the following traits: (i) pollination syndromes (melittophily, phalaenophily, psychophily, cantharophily, entomophily, ornithophily, chiropterophily, anemophily); (ii) habit (tree, shrub, herb, liana, parasite); and (iii) the main habitat of occurrence (open areas and forests). Thirdly, we investigated if the effects of climate change could be significantly more intense considering all the different traits quoted. Our results showed that most plant species will potentially face reduction of suitable habitats under future climate and the scenarios showed that 42% of them may not find suitable areas in the cangas of Carajás. We found no significant difference within each analyzed trait, considering the potential impact of climate change. The most climatically suitable areas (i.e., areas with high probability of species occurrence in the future) are those in the southwest of the study area. These areas can be considered as priority areas for species protection against climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Cristina Giannini
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | | | - Wilian França Costa
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Faculdade de Computação e Informática, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Miranda
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Pinto
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Daniela Cristina Zappi
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Giulietti
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | - Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Brazil
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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107
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Diagnostic Species Diversity Pattern Can Provide Key Information on Vegetation Change: An Insight into High Mountain Habitats in Central Apennines. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2030033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High mountain ecosystems are hotspots of biodiversity that are highly vulnerable to climate warming and land use change. In Europe, high mountain habitats are included in the EC Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) and the identification of practices facilitating effective monitoring is crucial for meeting HD goals. We analyzed the temporal changes in species composition and diversity on high mountain EU habitats and explored if the subgroup of diagnostic species was able to summarize the comprehensive information on plant community variations. We performed a re-visitation study, using a set of 30 georeferenced historical plots newly collected after 20 years on two EU habitats (Galium magellense community growing on screes (8120 EU) and Trifolium thalii community of snowbeds (6170 EU)) in the Maiella National Park (MNP), which is one of the most threatened Mediterranean mountains in Europe. The presence of several endangered species and the availability of a botanical garden, a seed bank, and a nursery, make the MNP an excellent training ground to explore in situ and ex situ conservation strategies. We compared overall and diagnostic species richness patterns over time by rarefaction curves and described the singular aspects of species diversity (e.g., richness, Shannon index, Simpson index, and Berger–Parker index), by Rènyi’s diversity profiles. Diversity values consistently varied over time and across EU habitat types, with increasing values on scree communities and decreasing values on snowbeds. These changes could be associated with both land use change, through the increase of grazing pressure of Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata), which determined a rise of nitrophilous species in the scree community, and an increase of grasses at the expense of forbs in snowbeds, and to climate change, which promoted a general expansion of thermophilous species. Despite the two opposite, ongoing processes on the two plant communities studied, our results evidenced that diagnostic species and overall species followed the same trend of variation, demonstrating the potential of diagnostics for EU habitat monitoring. Our observations suggested that the re-visitation of historical plots and the implementation of frequent monitoring campaigns on diagnostic species can provide important data on species abundance and distribution patterns in these vulnerable ecosystems, supporting optimized in situ and ex situ conservation actions.
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108
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Zhao W, Wang X, Li L, Li J, Yin H, Zhao Y, Chen X. Evaluation of environmental factors affecting the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and the potential distribution of Rhododendron aureum Georgi under changing climate. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12294-12306. [PMID: 34594500 PMCID: PMC8462154 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding genetic variation and structure, adaptive genetic variation, and its relationship with environmental factors is of great significance to understand how plants adapt to climate change and design effective conservation and management strategies. The objective of this study was to (I) investigate the genetic diversity and structure by AFLP markers in 36 populations of R. aureum from northeast China, (Ⅱ) reveal the relative contribution of geographical and environmental impacts on the distribution and genetic differentiation of R. aureum, (Ⅲ) identify outlier loci under selection and evaluate the association between outlier loci and environmental factors, and (Ⅳ) exactly calculate the development trend of population of R. aureum, as it is confronted with severe climate change and to provide information for designing effective conservation and management strategies. We found high genetic variation (I = 0.584) and differentiation among populations (ΦST = 0.703) and moderate levels of genetic diversity within populations of R. aureum. A significant relationship between genetic distance and environmental distance was identified, which suggested that the differentiation of different populations was caused by environmental factors. Using BayeScan and Dfdist, 42 outlier loci are identified and most of the outlier loci are associated with climate or relief factors, suggesting that these loci are linked to genes that are involved in the adaptability of R. aureum to the environment. Species distribution models (SDMs) showed that climate warming will cause a significant reduction in suitable areas for R. aureum, especially under the RCP 85 scenario. Our results help to understand the potential response of R. aureum to climatic changes and provide new perspectives for R. aureum resource management and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Medicine Breeding and CultivationJilin UniversityChangchunChina
- School of Life ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Medical Technology DepartmentQiqihar Medical UniversityQiqiharChina
| | - Lin Li
- Medical Technology DepartmentQiqihar Medical UniversityQiqiharChina
| | - Jiangnan Li
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Medicine Breeding and CultivationJilin UniversityChangchunChina
- School of Life ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Hang Yin
- Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Biocoenosis and BiodiversityAntuChina
- Academy of Sciences of Changbai MountainChangbaishanChina
| | - Ying Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Joint Key Laboratory of Changbai Mountain Biocoenosis and BiodiversityAntuChina
- Academy of Sciences of Changbai MountainChangbaishanChina
| | - Xia Chen
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory for Chinese Herbal Medicine Breeding and CultivationJilin UniversityChangchunChina
- School of Life ScienceJilin UniversityChangchunChina
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109
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Changjun G, Yanli T, Linshan L, Bo W, Yili Z, Haibin Y, Xilong W, Zhuoga Y, Binghua Z, Bohao C. Predicting the potential global distribution of Ageratina adenophora under current and future climate change scenarios. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12092-12113. [PMID: 34522363 PMCID: PMC8427655 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Invasive alien species (IAS) threaten ecosystems and humans worldwide, and future climate change may accelerate the expansion of IAS. Predicting the suitable areas of IAS can prevent their further expansion. Ageratina adenophora is an invasive weed over 30 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. However, the potential suitable areas of A. adenophora remain unclear along with its response to climate change. This study explored and mapped the current and future potential suitable areas of Ageratina adenophora. LOCATION Global. TAXA Asteraceae A. adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Commonly known as Crofton weed. METHODS Based on A. adenophora occurrence data and climate data, we predicted its suitable areas of this weed under current and future (four RCPs in 2050 and 2070) by MaxEnt model. We used ArcGIS 10.4 to explore the potential suitable area distribution characteristics of this weed and the "ecospat" package in R to analyze its altitudinal distribution changes. RESULTS The area under the curve (AUC) value (>0.9) and true skill statistics (TSS) value (>0.8) indicated excelled model performance. Among environment factors, mean temperature of coldest quarter contributed most to the model. Globally, the suitable areas for A. adenophora invasion decreased under climate change scenarios, although regional increases were observed, including in six biodiversity hotspot regions. The potential suitable areas of A. adenophora under climate change would expand in regions with higher elevation (3,000-3,500 m). MAIN CONCLUSIONS Mean temperature of coldest quarter was the most important variable influencing the potential suitable area of A. Adenophora. Under the background of a warming climate, the potential suitable area of A. adenophora will shrink globally but increase in six biodiversity hotspot regions. The potential suitable area of A. adenophora would expand at higher elevation (3,000-3,500 m) under climate change. Mountain ecosystems are of special concern as they are rich in biodiversity and sensitive to climate change, and increasing human activities provide more opportunities for IAS invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gu Changjun
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Tu Yanli
- Tibet Plateau Institute of BiologyLhasaChina
| | - Liu Linshan
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
| | - Wei Bo
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhang Yili
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yu Haibin
- School of Life SciencesGuangzhou UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wang Xilong
- Tibet Plateau Institute of BiologyLhasaChina
| | | | - Zhang Binghua
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Cui Bohao
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and SimulationInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchCASBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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110
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Schneiderbauer S, Fontanella Pisa P, Delves JL, Pedoth L, Rufat S, Erschbamer M, Thaler T, Carnelli F, Granados-Chahin S. Risk perception of climate change and natural hazards in global mountain regions: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 784:146957. [PMID: 33895507 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mountains are highly sensitive to climate change. Their elevated areas provide essential ecosystem services both for the surrounding mountainous regions and particularly for adjacent lowlands. Impacts of a warmer climate affect these services and have negative consequences on the supply of water, on biodiversity and on protection from natural hazards. Mountain social-ecological systems are affected by these changes, which also influence communities' risk perception and responses to changing climate conditions. Therefore, to understand individual and societal responses to climate change in mountain areas, aspects and drivers of risk perception need to be scrutinised. This article presents the findings of a literature review of recent English language publications on risk perception in connection to climate change and related natural hazards in mountain regions worldwide. Studies were selected from recorded entries in JSTOR, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science covering the period 2000-2019 and analysed in two steps (structured exploratory analysis, n = 249 and in-depth analysis, n = 72) with respect to the studies' research question, methodology, geographical scope and risk perception drivers. The review reveals that socio-demographic factors, like gender, age and personal experiences, have a crucial impact on individual risk perception. Some of the less tangible but nevertheless decisive factors are important in mountain regions such as place attachment and socio-cultural practices. In conclusion, there is however little information in the literature which addresses the specific situation of risk perception in mountain areas and its influence on communities' responses to environmental changes. Further, we observed a strong gap concerning the integration of indigenous knowledge in risk perception research. Many studies overlook or oversimplify local knowledge and the cultural dimensions of risk perception. Based on these results, the paper identifies several gaps in research and knowledge which may influence the design of climate risk management strategies as well as on their successful implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schneiderbauer
- United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany at Eurac Research, Centre for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy; Department of Geography, Qwaqwa Campus, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa; Institute for Earth Observation, Eurac Research, 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy.
| | - Paola Fontanella Pisa
- United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany at Eurac Research, Centre for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy.
| | - Jess L Delves
- United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany at Eurac Research, Centre for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy.
| | - Lydia Pedoth
- United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany at Eurac Research, Centre for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy; Institute for Earth Observation, Eurac Research, 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy.
| | - Samuel Rufat
- Department of Geography, CY Cergy Paris University, 33 Boulevard du Port, 95000 Cergy, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris, France.
| | - Marlene Erschbamer
- Institute for Indology and Tibetan Studies, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Ludwigstraße 31, 80539 Munich, Germany.
| | - Thomas Thaler
- Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Fabio Carnelli
- Institute for Earth Observation, Eurac Research, 1 Viale Druso, Bolzano 39100, Italy.
| | - Sergio Granados-Chahin
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Calle Camilo José Cela, s/n, 41018 Sevilla, Spain.
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Abstract
The alpine belt hosts the treeless vegetation above the high elevation climatic treeline. The way alpine plants manage to thrive in a climate that prevents tree growth is through small stature, apt seasonal development, and ‘managing’ the microclimate near the ground surface. Nested in a mosaic of micro-environmental conditions, these plants are in a unique position by a close-by neighborhood of strongly diverging microhabitats. The range of adjacent thermal niches that the alpine environment provides is exceeding the worst climate warming scenarios. The provided mountains are high and large enough, these are conditions that cause alpine plant species diversity to be robust against climatic change. However, the areal extent of certain habitat types will shrink as isotherms move upslope, with the potential areal loss by the advance of the treeline by far outranging the gain in new land by glacier retreat globally.
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112
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Zhumanova M, Wrage-Mönnig N, Jurasinski G. Long-term vegetation change in the Western Tien-Shan Mountain pastures, Central Asia, driven by a combination of changing precipitation patterns and grazing pressure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 781:146720. [PMID: 33798879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In mountain pastures worldwide, studies investigating vegetation changes due to long-term grazing and environmental changes are sparse, especially regarding the effects of changes in snowmelt patterns. The outstanding availability of historical vegetation data from Kyrgyz mountain pastures creates unique opportunities to study past and forecast future changes, making them ideal model ecosystems. Using a resurvey approach, we explored the response of mountain vegetation to management and environmental changes in the Western Tien-Shan to investigate whether plant communities of six vegetation types (ecozones) had changed over 42 years, whether changes were related to management or ecological causes and whether species' mean elevational ranges had changed. We assembled historic vegetation data (1973-1987) in six ecozones that were resurveyed annually from 2008 to 2015 and connected them with species' management-related traits and ecological indicator values. Overall, a homogenization of vegetation within and among ecozones was observed. Mountain steppe, meadow-steppe, and subalpine meadows showed the strongest convergence towards a dominance of mesic shrubs, related to increasing precipitation changing soil moisture and soil-salt regimes. In the high mountain steppe and the alpine ecozone, cushion dwarf shrubs increased, driven by increased soil moisture following faster snowmelt. Changes in the semidesert were related to highly variable spring soil moisture. Compositional changes accelerated over time. Mostly palatable species declined in abundance. More competitive unpalatable species replaced abundant (1973) unpalatable species. Mean elevation shifted significantly for 35 species (out of 136), with 60% shifting >100 m, more often upward (low and high elevations) than downward (mid-elevations). These mountain ecosystems seem more sensitive to changing precipitation than temperature- or grazing-induced changes, making climatic change a more important driver than management. Further adaptive management should consider the response of the vegetation to environmental changes and promote alternative land-use options to maintain ecosystem functioning. In mountain ecosystems worldwide, the observed acceleration of changes might go unnoticed, calling for long-term studies and global climate-vegetation-management interaction models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munavar Zhumanova
- University of Rostock, Grassland and Fodder Sciences, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 2, 18059 Rostock, Germany; Michigan State University, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, 48824 East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - Nicole Wrage-Mönnig
- University of Rostock, Grassland and Fodder Sciences, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 2, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Gerald Jurasinski
- University of Rostock, Landscape Ecology, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
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113
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Wambulwa MC, Milne R, Wu Z, Spicer RA, Provan J, Luo Y, Zhu G, Wang W, Wang H, Gao L, Li D, Liu J. Spatiotemporal maintenance of flora in the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot: Current knowledge and future perspectives. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:10794-10812. [PMID: 34429882 PMCID: PMC8366862 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mountain ecosystems support a significant one-third of all terrestrial biodiversity, but our understanding of the spatiotemporal maintenance of this high biodiversity remains poor, or at best controversial. The Himalaya hosts a complex mountain ecosystem with high topographic and climatic heterogeneity and harbors one of the world's richest floras. The high species endemism, together with increasing anthropogenic threats, has qualified the Himalaya as one of the most significant global biodiversity hotspots. The topographic and climatic complexity of the Himalaya makes it an ideal natural laboratory for studying the mechanisms of floral exchange, diversification, and spatiotemporal distributions. Here, we review literature pertaining to the Himalaya in order to generate a concise synthesis of the origin, distribution, and climate change responses of the Himalayan flora. We found that the Himalaya supports a rich biodiversity and that the Hengduan Mountains supplied the majority of the Himalayan floral elements, which subsequently diversified from the late Miocene onward, to create today's relatively high endemicity in the Himalaya. Further, we uncover links between this Miocene diversification and the joint effect of geological and climatic upheavals in the Himalaya. There is marked variance regarding species dispersal, elevational gradients, and impact of climate change among plant species in the Himalaya, and our review highlights some of the general trends and recent advances on these aspects. Finally, we provide some recommendations for conservation planning and future research. Our work could be useful in guiding future research in this important ecosystem and will also provide new insights into the maintenance mechanisms underpinning other mountain systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses C. Wambulwa
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- Department of Life SciencesSchool of Pure and Applied SciencesSouth Eastern Kenya UniversityKituiKenya
| | - Richard Milne
- Institute of Molecular Plant SciencesSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Zeng‐Yuan Wu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Robert A. Spicer
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest EcologyXishuangbanna Tropical Botanical GardenChinese Academy of SciencesXishuangbannaChina
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem SciencesThe Open UniversityMilton KeynesUK
| | - Jim Provan
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Ya‐Huang Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Guang‐Fu Zhu
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- University of the Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Kunming College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Wan‐Ting Wang
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- University of the Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Kunming College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Hong Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Lian‐Ming Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - De‐Zhu Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- Kunming College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Jie Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East AsiaKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
- Germplasm Bank of Wild SpeciesKunming Institute of BotanyChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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114
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Kaufmann R, Mayer R, Schallhart N, Erschbamer B. Effects of Climate Change vs. Grazing Exclusion on Species Diversity Over 18 Years Along an Elevation Gradient in the European Alps. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.640103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change was already shown to increase species numbers in high elevations. In contrast, grazing might interfere with climate change effects. To disentangle both the effects remains a major challenge of alpine ecology. The present study investigated both the effects on species diversity along an elevation gradient in the Austrian Central Alps. We aimed to answer the following questions: How do species diversity and frequency of subalpine–alpine–subnival plant communities change in grazed sites with time? Do competitive plant species increase in the communities? How does grazing exclusion affect species diversity, functional groups, and strategy types? Are environmental changes (temperature, sunshine duration, precipitation) responsible for diversity changes or does grazing override climate effects? The study was carried out for 18 years along an elevation gradient from 1,958 to 2,778 m a.s.l. at Obergurgl (Tyrol, Austria), including six different plant communities. A total of 11 grazing exclusions were established. At each community, the frequency of the species was counted in 1 m2 plots yearly or at least every 3–4 years. Environmental data were obtained from the weather station Obergurgl. Changes of the community parameters and the species composition were analyzed by partial redundancy analyses and mixed-effect models. Species diversity increased with time at all grazed sites, but this increase was suppressed under grazing exclusion. Grazing exclusion effects became pronounced after 5 years. The most consistent result was the increase of bryophytes throughout. At the subalpine grassland, tall-growing species expanded in the exclosures; at the upper alpine Carex curvula grassland, snow bed species decreased with grazing exclusion. Among the environmental factors, sunshine duration of the previous year’s autumn quartal was found to be the essential variable for the changes. We concluded that diversity increases in grazed communities of the Austrian Central Alps can be attributed to climate change. An indication of slightly reduced and altered weather effects under grazing exclusion was found.
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115
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Moret P, Muriel P, Jaramillo R, Bernardi A, Romoleroux K, Barragán Á, Pruna W, Sklenář P. Resurvey of vascular plants and soil arthropods on the summit of Mount Corazón (Andes of Ecuador) after 140 years. NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2021.1940056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Moret
- Laboratoire TRACES UMR5608, CNRS, Université Toulouse 2, Toulouse, France
| | - Priscilla Muriel
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ricardo Jaramillo
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Antonella Bernardi
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Katya Romoleroux
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Álvaro Barragán
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Washington Pruna
- Escuela De Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Petr Sklenář
- Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague 2, Czech Republic
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116
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Zhang Y, Qian L, Spalink D, Sun L, Chen J, Sun H. Spatial phylogenetics of two topographic extremes of the Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China and its implications for biodiversity conservation. PLANT DIVERSITY 2021; 43:181-191. [PMID: 34195502 PMCID: PMC8233532 DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Previous attempts to elucidate the drivers of speciation mechanisms and spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity in mountain regions have treated different floras within a single geological region as one flora, ignoring the potential contributions of high habitat/ecosystem heterogeneity. Furthermore, current conservation strategies largely focus on forest ecosystems and/or specific flagship species, ignoring marginal ecosystems, leaving species in these ecosystems at risk. Here, we compared the spatial patterns of biodiversity and the potential drivers of these patterns in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains region (HDM) in southwestern China. Specifically, we compared spatial patterns of diversity, endemism, and threatened species in these ecosystems based on both traditional measurements and recent phylogenetic approaches. We then examined how those patterns were related to environmental factors and human activity in these same regions. We found that the middle-southern HDM supports the highest diversity and endemism for the river valley and subnival ecosystems; however, the distribution patterns of neo- and paleo-endemism in these two ecosystems differ. Regression models indicate that habitat diversity and paleo-climatic fluctuation are important drivers of diversity and endemism for these two ecosystems. Temperature and precipitation, however, showed different influences on the spatial patterns in different ecosystems. Categorical analysis of neo- and paleo-endemism (CANAPE) indicated that most endemism centers are not covered by current nature reserves. Moreover, the intensity of human activity is highest in the southern and southeastern HDM, which coincides with the distribution patterns of diversity, mixed-endemism and high-priority (and threatened) species. These findings suggest that different floras within a single geographic/floristic region respond differently to environmental factors and show different spatial phylogenetic patterns. We, therefore, recommend that future research into the drivers of biodiversity consider the contributions of various ecosystem types within a single geological region. This study also provides a theoretical basis for protecting habitat diversity. Our work confirms that current conservation efforts are insufficient to protect ecosystem diversity in the river valley and subnival ecosystems of the Hengduan Mountains. Therefore, we recommend the establishment of nature reserves in the regions identified in this study; furthermore, we strongly recommend improving current and establishing new management policies for biodiversity conservation in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhou Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Lishen Qian
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Daniel Spalink
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2138, TX, USA
| | - Lu Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Jianguo Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Hang Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, PR China
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117
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Bjorkman AD, Wulff A. A reflection on four impactful Ambio papers: The biotic perspective : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Climate change impacts. AMBIO 2021; 50:1145-1149. [PMID: 33650069 PMCID: PMC8068746 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change represents one of the most pressing societal and scientific challenges of our time. While much of the current research on climate change focuses on future prediction, some of the strongest signals of warming can already be seen in Arctic and alpine areas, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average, and in the oceans, where the combination of rising temperatures and acidification due to increased CO2 concentrations has had catastrophic consequences for sensitive marine organisms inhabiting coral reefs. The scientific papers highlighted as part of this anniversary issue represent some of the most impactful advances in our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Here, we reflect on the legacy of these papers from the biotic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne D. Bjorkman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Angela Wulff
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
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118
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Liu D, Zhang C, Ogaya R, Fernández‐Martínez M, Pugh TAM, Peñuelas J. Increasing climatic sensitivity of global grassland vegetation biomass and species diversity correlates with water availability. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1761-1771. [PMID: 33577084 PMCID: PMC8252445 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Grasslands are key repositories of biodiversity and carbon storage and are heavily impacted by effects of global warming and changes in precipitation regimes. Patterns of grassland dynamics associated with variability in future climate conditions across spatiotemporal scales are yet to be adequately quantified. Here, we performed a global meta-analysis of year and growing season sensitivities of vegetation aboveground biomass (AGB), aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), and species richness (SR) and diversity (Shannon index, H) to experimental climate warming and precipitation shifts. All four variables were sensitive to climate change. Their sensitivities to shifts in precipitation were correlated with local background water availability, such as mean annual precipitation (MAP) and aridity, and AGB and ANPP sensitivities were greater in dry habitats than in nonwater-limited habitats. There was no effect of duration of experiment (short vs long term) on sensitivities. Temporal trends in ANPP and SR sensitivity depended on local water availability; ANPP sensitivity to warming increased over time and SR sensitivity to irrigation decreased over time. Our results provide a global overview of the sensitivities of grassland function and diversity to climate change that will improve the understanding of ecological responses across spatiotemporal scales and inform policies for conservation in dry climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daijun Liu
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity ResearchUniversity of ViennaRennweg 14Vienna1030Austria
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham,B15 2TTUK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest ResearchUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham,B15 2TTUK
- CSICGlobal Ecology UnitCREAF‐CSIC‐Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterra (Catalonia)08193Spain
| | - Chao Zhang
- CSICGlobal Ecology UnitCREAF‐CSIC‐Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterra (Catalonia)08193Spain
- Optics of Photosynthesis LaboratoryInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Forest SciencesViikki Plant Science CentreUniversity of HelsinkiPO Box 27Helsinki00014Finland
| | - Romà Ogaya
- CSICGlobal Ecology UnitCREAF‐CSIC‐Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterra (Catalonia)08193Spain
- CREAFCerdanyola del Vallès (Catalonia)08193Spain
| | | | - Thomas A. M. Pugh
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham,B15 2TTUK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest ResearchUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham,B15 2TTUK
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem ScienceLund UniversityLund22362Sweden
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSICGlobal Ecology UnitCREAF‐CSIC‐Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterra (Catalonia)08193Spain
- CREAFCerdanyola del Vallès (Catalonia)08193Spain
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119
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Discovery of cryptic plant diversity on the rooftops of the Alps. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11128. [PMID: 34045566 PMCID: PMC8159976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90612-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
High elevation temperate mountains have long been considered species poor owing to high extinction or low speciation rates during the Pleistocene. We performed a phylogenetic and population genomic investigation of an emblematic high-elevation plant clade (Androsace sect. Aretia, 31 currently recognized species), based on plant surveys conducted during alpinism expeditions. We inferred that this clade originated in the Miocene and continued diversifying through Pleistocene glaciations, and discovered three novel species of Androsace dwelling on different bedrock types on the rooftops of the Alps. This highlights that temperate high mountains have been cradles of plant diversity even during the Pleistocene, with in-situ speciation driven by the combined action of geography and geology. Our findings have an unexpected historical relevance: H.-B. de Saussure likely observed one of these species during his 1788 expedition to the Mont Blanc and we describe it here, over two hundred years after its first sighting.
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120
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Climate Change, Ecosystem Processes and Biological Diversity Responses in High Elevation Communities. CLIMATE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cli9050087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The populations, species, and communities in high elevation mountainous regions at or above tree line are being impacted by the changing climate. Mountain systems have been recognized as both resilient and extremely threatened by climate change, requiring a more nuanced understanding of potential trajectories of the biotic communities. For high elevation systems in particular, we need to consider how the interactions among climate drivers and topography currently structure the diversity, species composition, and life-history strategies of these communities. Further, predicting biotic responses to changing climate requires knowledge of intra- and inter-specific climate associations within the context of topographically heterogenous landscapes. Changes in temperature, snow, and rain characteristics at regional scales are amplified or attenuated by slope, aspect, and wind patterns occurring at local scales that are often under a hectare or even a meter in extent. Community assemblages are structured by the soil moisture and growing season duration at these local sites, and directional climate change has the potential to alter these two drivers together, independently, or in opposition to one another due to local, intervening variables. Changes threaten species whose water and growing season duration requirements are locally extirpated or species who may be outcompeted by nearby faster-growing, warmer/drier adapted species. However, barring non-analogue climate conditions, species may also be able to more easily track required resource regimes in topographically heterogenous landscapes. New species arrivals composed of competitors, predators and pathogens can further mediate the direct impacts of the changing climate. Plants are moving uphill, demonstrating primary succession with the emergence of new habitats from snow and rock, but these shifts are constrained over the short term by soil limitations and microbes and ultimately by the lack of colonizable terrestrial surfaces. Meanwhile, both subalpine herbaceous and woody species pose threats to more cold-adapted species. Overall, the multiple interacting direct and indirect effects of the changing climate on high elevation systems may lead to multiple potential trajectories for these systems.
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121
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Panitsa M, Kokkoris IP, Kougioumoutzis K, Kontopanou A, Bazos I, Strid A, Dimopoulos P. Linking Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Plant Diversity with Ecosystem Services of Cliffs and Screes in Greece. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10050992. [PMID: 34067537 PMCID: PMC8156371 DOI: 10.3390/plants10050992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sparsely vegetated habitats of cliffs and screes act as refugia for many regional and local endemic specialized plant taxa most of which have evolved precisely for that type of habitat. The interplay between taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional plant diversity on rock and scree habitats of extreme environmental conditions, enlightens the relations of plant communities and ecosystems and facilitates management planning for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The identification of biodiversity patterns and hotspots (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional) contributes to the integration of the ecosystem services (ES) approach for the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES) implementation in Greece and the creation of thematic maps based on the MAES reporting format. The overlap among the protected areas’ network revealed that almost all areas of cliffs and screes of medium, high, and very high taxonomic and phylogenetic plant endemism are included in the Natura 2000 area network. The results of this study provide the baseline information for ES assessments at sparsely vegetated land of cliffs and screes. Our results contribute to the implementation of certain indicators of the national set of MAES indicators in Greece such as (a) floristic diversity and (b) microrefugia of endemic diversity and support of decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Panitsa
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.P.K.); (K.K.); (A.K.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Ioannis P. Kokkoris
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.P.K.); (K.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Konstantinos Kougioumoutzis
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.P.K.); (K.K.); (A.K.)
- Section of Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens, Greece;
| | - Anna Kontopanou
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.P.K.); (K.K.); (A.K.)
| | - Ioannis Bazos
- Section of Ecology and Systematics, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784 Athens, Greece;
| | | | - Panayotis Dimopoulos
- Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, Division of Plant Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (I.P.K.); (K.K.); (A.K.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (P.D.)
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122
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Changes in the Greenness of Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo Turra) in the Subalpine Zone Related to the Winter Climate. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13091788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In the current alteration of temperature and snow cover regimes, the impacts of winter climate have received considerably less attention than those of the vegetation period. In this study, we present the results demonstrating the influence of the winter climate conditions on the Mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra) communities in High Tatra Mts (Western Carpathians). The changes in greenness in 2000–2020 were represented by the inter-annual differences of satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The winter climate conditions were characterized by climate indices calculated from the temperature and snow cover data measured at Skalnaté Pleso Observatory (1778 m a.s.l.) over the period between 1941–2020. Areas with P. mugo were classified into two density classes and five altitudinal zones of occurrence. The partial correlation analyses, which controlled the influence of summer climate, indicated that winter warm spells (WWS) caused a significant decrease in the greenness of the P. mugo thickets growing in the dense class D2 (R = −0.47) and in the altitudinal zones A2 (1600–1700 m a.s.l.) and A3 (1700–1800 m a.s.l.) with R = −0.54 for each zone. The changes in greenness were related to the average snow depth (ASD) as well, particularly in the dense class D2 (R = 0.45) and in the altitudinal zone A2 (R = 0.50). Here, in the summers following winters with the incidence of WWS or low ASD, we found decreased greenness following the injury of P. mugo shrubs, but NDVI after winters with higher ASD indicated more greenness. At lower altitudes, injuries may result in the loss of competition capacity of P. mugo near the timberline, where taller mountain tree species can utilize the conditions of warmer climate for expansion. We also found a significant positive effect of warmer winter seasons in the sparse P. mugo thickets (D1) with R = 0.50 and at higher altitudes (R = 0.49 in A4—1800–1900 m a.s.l.; R = 0.53 in A5—1900–2000 m a.s.l.). The increased temperatures in December correlated significantly with the increase of the greenness in all P. mugo pixels (R = 0.47), with the most pronounced effect in the sparse class D1 (R = 0.57) and in altitudinal zones A4 (R = 0.63) and A5 (R = 0.44), creating advantageous conditions for the thermophilisation of the alpine zone by P. mugo.
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123
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Lynn JS, Klanderud K, Telford RJ, Goldberg DE, Vandvik V. Macroecological context predicts species' responses to climate warming. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2088-2101. [PMID: 33511713 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Context-dependencies in species' responses to the same climate change frustrate attempts to generalize and make predictions based on experimental and observational approaches in biodiversity science. Here, we propose predictability may be enhanced by explicitly incorporating macroecological context into analyses of species' responses to climate manipulations. We combined vascular plant species' responses to an 8-year, 12-site turf transplant climate change experiment set in southwestern Norway with climate niche data from the observed 151 species. We used the difference between a species' mean climate across their range and climate conditions at the transplant site ("climate differences") to predict colonization probability, extinction probability, and change in abundance of a species at a site. In analyses across species that ignore species-specific patterns, colonization success increased as species' distribution optima were increasingly warmer than the experimental target site. Extinction probability increased as species' distribution optima were increasingly colder than the target site. These patterns were reflected in change in abundance analyses. We found weak responses to increased precipitation in these oceanic climates. Climate differences were better predictors of species' responses to climate manipulations than range size. Interestingly, similar patterns were found when analyses focused on variation in species-specific responses across sites. These results provide an experimental underpinning to observational studies that report thermophilization of communities and suggest that space-for-time substitutions may be valid for predicting species' responses to climate warming, given other conditions are accounted for (e.g., soil nutrients). Finally, we suggest that this method of putting climate change experiments into macroecological context has the potential to generalize and predict species' responses to climate manipulations globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Lynn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kari Klanderud
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Richard J Telford
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Deborah E Goldberg
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vigdis Vandvik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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124
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Höckendorff S, Peintinger M, Fiedler F, Stift M, van Kleunen M. Declines in occurrence of plants characteristic for a nutrient-poor meadow habitat are partly explained by their responses to nutrient addition and competition. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4058-4070. [PMID: 33976794 PMCID: PMC8093689 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Species losses and local extinctions are alarmingly common, frequently as a consequence of habitat destruction. Nevertheless, many intact habitats also face species losses, most likely due to environmental changes. However, the exact drivers, and why they affect some species more than others in apparently intact habitats, are still poorly understood. Addressing these questions requires data on changes in occurrence frequency of many species, and comparisons of the responses of those species to experimental manipulations of the environment. Here, we use historic (1911) and contemporary (2017) data on the presence-absence of 42 plant species in 14 seemingly intact Molinia meadows around Lower Lake Constance to quantify changes in occurrence frequency. Then, we performed a common-garden experiment to test whether occurrence frequencies in 1911 and changes therein by 2017 could be explained by responses of the 42 species to nutrient addition and competition with the acquisitive generalist grass Poa pratensis. Within the 14 still intact Molinia meadows, 36 of the 42 species had declined since 1911. As expected, nutrient addition generally led to increased biomass production of the 42 target species, and competition with P. pratensis had a negative effect. The latter was stronger at high nutrient availability. The more frequent species were in 1911 and the more they declined in frequency between 1911 and 2017, the less above-ground biomass they produced in our experiment. Competition with P. pratensis magnified this effect. Our work highlights that environmental change can contribute to local extinction of species in otherwise intact habitat remnants. Specifically, we showed that increased nutrient availability negatively affected formerly widespread Molinia-meadow species in competition with P. pratensis. Our study thus identified a likely mechanism for the decline in occurrence frequency of species in the remaining Molinia meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Peintinger
- Arbeitsgruppe Bodenseeufer (AGBU)RadolfzellGermany
- WSL Swiss Federal Research InstituteBirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | | | - Marc Stift
- Ecology, Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Ecology, Department of BiologyUniversity of KonstanzKonstanzGermany
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and ConservationTaizhou UniversityTaizhouChina
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Nogué S, Santos AMC, Birks HJB, Björck S, Castilla-Beltrán A, Connor S, de Boer EJ, de Nascimento L, Felde VA, Fernández-Palacios JM, Froyd CA, Haberle SG, Hooghiemstra H, Ljung K, Norder SJ, Peñuelas J, Prebble M, Stevenson J, Whittaker RJ, Willis KJ, Wilmshurst JM, Steinbauer MJ. The human dimension of biodiversity changes on islands. Science 2021; 372:488-491. [PMID: 33926949 DOI: 10.1126/science.abd6706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Islands are among the last regions on Earth settled and transformed by human activities, and they provide replicated model systems for analysis of how people affect ecological functions. By analyzing 27 representative fossil pollen sequences encompassing the past 5000 years from islands globally, we quantified the rates of vegetation compositional change before and after human arrival. After human arrival, rates of turnover accelerate by a median factor of 11, with faster rates on islands colonized in the past 1500 years than for those colonized earlier. This global anthropogenic acceleration in turnover suggests that islands are on trajectories of continuing change. Strategies for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration must acknowledge the long duration of human impacts and the degree to which ecological changes today differ from prehuman dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Nogué
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Ana M C Santos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal/Azores Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal.,Global Change Ecology and Evolution Group (GloCEE), Department of Life Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.,Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - H John B Birks
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway.,Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Svante Björck
- Department of Geology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Alvaro Castilla-Beltrán
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Simon Connor
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,Australian Research Center (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Erik J de Boer
- Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lea de Nascimento
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.,Long-term Ecology Laboratory, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, 7640 Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Vivian A Felde
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - José María Fernández-Palacios
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Cynthia A Froyd
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Simon G Haberle
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,Australian Research Center (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Henry Hooghiemstra
- Department of Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, 1098XH Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karl Ljung
- Department of Geology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sietze J Norder
- Leiden University Centre for Linguistics. 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Josep Peñuelas
- CSIC, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Matthew Prebble
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,School of Earth and Environment, College of Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Janelle Stevenson
- School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.,Australian Research Center (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Robert J Whittaker
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.,Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Kathy J Willis
- Oxford Long-Term Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Janet M Wilmshurst
- Long-term Ecology Laboratory, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, 7640 Lincoln, New Zealand.,School of Environment, University of Auckland, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Manuel J Steinbauer
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER) and Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
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Vitasse Y, Ursenbacher S, Klein G, Bohnenstengel T, Chittaro Y, Delestrade A, Monnerat C, Rebetez M, Rixen C, Strebel N, Schmidt BR, Wipf S, Wohlgemuth T, Yoccoz NG, Lenoir J. Phenological and elevational shifts of plants, animals and fungi under climate change in the European Alps. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1816-1835. [PMID: 33908168 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Mountain areas are biodiversity hotspots and provide a multitude of ecosystem services of irreplaceable socio-economic value. In the European Alps, air temperature has increased at a rate of about 0.36°C decade-1 since 1970, leading to glacier retreat and significant snowpack reduction. Due to these rapid environmental changes, this mountainous region is undergoing marked changes in spring phenology and elevational distribution of animals, plants and fungi. Long-term monitoring in the European Alps offers an excellent natural laboratory to synthetize climate-related changes in spring phenology and elevational distribution for a large array of taxonomic groups. This review assesses the climatic changes that have occurred across the European Alps during recent decades, spring phenological changes and upslope shifts of plants, animals and fungi from evidence in published papers and previously unpublished data. Our review provides evidence that spring phenology has been shifting earlier during the past four decades and distribution ranges show an upwards trend for most of the taxonomic groups for which there are sufficient data. The first observed activity of reptiles and terrestrial insects (e.g. butterflies) in spring has shifted significantly earlier, at an average rate of -5.7 and -6.0 days decade-1 , respectively. By contrast, the first observed spring activity of semi-aquatic insects (e.g. dragonflies and damselflies) and amphibians, as well as the singing activity or laying dates of resident birds, show smaller non-significant trends ranging from -1.0 to +1.3 days decade-1 . Leaf-out and flowering of woody and herbaceous plants showed intermediate trends with mean values of -2.4 and -2.8 days decade-1 , respectively. Regarding species distribution, plants, animals and fungi (N = 2133 species) shifted the elevation of maximum abundance (optimum elevation) upslope at a similar pace (on average between +18 and +25 m decade-1 ) but with substantial differences among taxa. For example, the optimum elevation shifted upward by +36.2 m decade-1 for terrestrial insects and +32.7 m decade-1 for woody plants, whereas it was estimated to range between -1.0 and +11 m decade-1 for semi-aquatic insects, ferns, birds and wood-decaying fungi. The upper range limit (leading edge) of most species also shifted upslope with a rate clearly higher for animals (from +47 to +91 m decade-1 ) than for plants (from +17 to +40 m decade-1 ), except for semi-aquatic insects (-4.7 m decade-1 ). Although regional land-use changes could partly explain some trends, the consistent upward shift found in almost all taxa all over the Alps is likely reflecting the strong warming and the receding of snow cover that has taken place across the European Alps over recent decades. However, with the possible exception of terrestrial insects, the upward shift of organisms seems currently too slow to track the pace of isotherm shifts induced by climate warming, estimated at about +62 to +71 m decade-1 since 1970. In the light of these results, species interactions are likely to change over multiple trophic levels through phenological and spatial mismatches. This nascent research field deserves greater attention to allow us to anticipate structural and functional changes better at the ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Vitasse
- WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Ursenbacher
- info fauna CSCF & karch, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.,Department of Environmental Sciences, Section of Conservation Biology, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Vorstadt 10, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey Klein
- WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.,Institute of Geography, University of Neuchâtel, Espace Tilo-Frey 1, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | - Yannick Chittaro
- info fauna CSCF & karch, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Anne Delestrade
- Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d'Altitude, 67 Lacets du Belvédère, 74400, Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France.,Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Savoie Technolac, 73376, Le Bourget du Lac Cedex, France
| | - Christian Monnerat
- info fauna CSCF & karch, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Martine Rebetez
- WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.,Institute of Geography, University of Neuchâtel, Espace Tilo-Frey 1, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Rixen
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Group Mountain Ecosystems, Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Strebel
- Schweizerische Vogelwarte, Seerose 1, CH-6204, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Benedikt R Schmidt
- info fauna CSCF & karch, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.,Institut für Evolutionsbiologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-6204, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Wipf
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Group Mountain Ecosystems, Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland.,Swiss National Park, Chastè Planta-Wildenberg, Runatsch 124, 7530, Zernez, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Wohlgemuth
- WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Nigel Gilles Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, PO Box 6050 Langnes, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058 « Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés » (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 Rue des Louvels, 80000, Amiens, France
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Huxley JD, Spasojevic MJ. Area Not Geographic Isolation Mediates Biodiversity Responses of Alpine Refugia to Climate Change. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.633697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate refugia, where local populations of species can persist through periods of unfavorable regional climate, play a key role in the maintenance of regional biodiversity during times of environmental change. However, the ability of refugia to buffer biodiversity change may be mediated by the landscape context of refugial habitats. Here, we examined how plant communities restricted to refugial sky islands of alpine tundra in the Colorado Rockies are changing in response to rapid climate change in the region (increased temperature, declining snowpack, and earlier snow melt-out) and if these biodiversity changes are mediated by the area or geographic isolation of the sky island. We resampled plant communities in 153 plots at seven sky islands distributed across the Colorado Rockies at two time points separated by 12 years (2007/2008–2019/2020) and found changes in taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity over time. Specifically, we found an increase in species richness, a trend toward increased phylogenetic diversity, a shift toward leaf traits associated with the stress-tolerant end of leaf economics spectrum (e.g., lower specific leaf area, higher leaf dry matter content), and a decrease in the functional dispersion of specific leaf area. Importantly, these changes were partially mediated by refugial area but not by geographic isolation, suggesting that dispersal from nearby areas of tundra does not play a strong role in mediating these changes, while site characteristics associated with a larger area (e.g., environmental heterogeneity, larger community size) may be relatively more important. Taken together, these results suggest that considering the landscape context (area and geographic isolation) of refugia may be critical for prioritizing the conservation of specific refugial sites that provide the most conservation value.
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128
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Nicklas L, Walde J, Wipf S, Lamprecht A, Mallaun M, Rixen C, Steinbauer K, Theurillat JP, Unterluggauer P, Vittoz P, Moser D, Gattringer A, Wessely J, Erschbamer B. Climate Change Affects Vegetation Differently on Siliceous and Calcareous Summits of the European Alps. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.642309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The alpine life zone is expected to undergo major changes with ongoing climate change. While an increase of plant species richness on mountain summits has generally been found, competitive displacement may result in the long term. Here, we explore how species richness and surface cover types (vascular plants, litter, bare ground, scree and rock) changed over time on different bedrocks on summits of the European Alps. We focus on how species richness and turnover (new and lost species) depended on the density of existing vegetation, namely vascular plant cover. We analyzed permanent plots (1 m × 1 m) in each cardinal direction on 24 summits (24 × 4 × 4), with always four summits distributed along elevation gradients in each of six regions (three siliceous, three calcareous) across the European Alps. Mean summer temperatures derived from downscaled climate data increased synchronously over the past 30 years in all six regions. During the investigated 14 years, vascular plant cover decreased on siliceous bedrock, coupled with an increase in litter, and it marginally increased on higher calcareous summits. Species richness showed a unimodal relationship with vascular plant cover. Richness increased over time on siliceous bedrock but slightly decreased on calcareous bedrock due to losses in plots with high plant cover. Our analyses suggest contrasting and complex processes on siliceous versus calcareous summits in the European Alps. The unimodal richness-cover relationship and species losses at high plant cover suggest competition as a driver for vegetation change on alpine summits.
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129
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Kemppinen J, Niittynen P, le Roux PC, Momberg M, Happonen K, Aalto J, Rautakoski H, Enquist BJ, Vandvik V, Halbritter AH, Maitner B, Luoto M. Consistent trait-environment relationships within and across tundra plant communities. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:458-467. [PMID: 33633373 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01396-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental assumption in trait-based ecology is that relationships between traits and environmental conditions are globally consistent. We use field-quantified microclimate and soil data to explore if trait-environment relationships are generalizable across plant communities and spatial scales. We collected data from 6,720 plots and 217 species across four distinct tundra regions from both hemispheres. We combined these data with over 76,000 database trait records to relate local plant community trait composition to broad gradients of key environmental drivers: soil moisture, soil temperature, soil pH and potential solar radiation. Results revealed strong, consistent trait-environment relationships across Arctic and Antarctic regions. This indicates that the detected relationships are transferable between tundra plant communities also when fine-scale environmental heterogeneity is accounted for, and that variation in local conditions heavily influences both structural and leaf economic traits. Our results strengthen the biological and mechanistic basis for climate change impact predictions of vulnerable high-latitude ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mia Momberg
- University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Juha Aalto
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
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Perez-Mon C, Qi W, Vikram S, Frossard A, Makhalanyane T, Cowan D, Frey B. Shotgun metagenomics reveals distinct functional diversity and metabolic capabilities between 12 000-year-old permafrost and active layers on Muot da Barba Peider (Swiss Alps). Microb Genom 2021; 7:000558. [PMID: 33848236 PMCID: PMC8208683 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The warming-induced thawing of permafrost promotes microbial activity, often resulting in enhanced greenhouse gas emissions. The ability of permafrost microorganisms to survive the in situ sub-zero temperatures, their energetic strategies and their metabolic versatility in using soil organic materials determine their growth and functionality upon thawing. Hence, functional characterization of the permafrost microbiome, particularly in the underexplored mid-latitudinal alpine regions, is a crucial first step in predicting its responses to the changing climate, and the consequences for soil-climate feedbacks. In this study, for the first time, the functional potential and metabolic capabilities of a temperate mountain permafrost microbiome from central Europe has been analysed using shotgun metagenomics. Permafrost and active layers from the summit of Muot da Barba Peider (MBP) [Swiss Alps, 2979 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] revealed a strikingly high functional diversity in the permafrost (north-facing soils at a depth of 160 cm). Permafrost metagenomes were enriched in stress-response genes (e.g. cold-shock genes, chaperones), as well as in genes involved in cell defence and competition (e.g. antiviral proteins, antibiotics, motility, nutrient-uptake ABC transporters), compared with active-layer metagenomes. Permafrost also showed a higher potential for the synthesis of carbohydrate-active enzymes, and an overrepresentation of genes involved in fermentation, carbon fixation, denitrification and nitrogen reduction reactions. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential capabilities of permafrost microorganisms to thrive in cold and oligotrophic conditions, and highlight their metabolic versatility in carbon and nitrogen cycling. Our study provides a first insight into the high functional gene diversity of the central European mountain permafrost microbiome. Our findings extend our understanding of the microbial ecology of permafrost and represent a baseline for future investigations comparing the functional profiles of permafrost microbial communities at different latitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Perez-Mon
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Carla Perez-Mon,
| | - Weihong Qi
- Functional Genomics Center of the University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Surendra Vikram
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Aline Frossard
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Thulani Makhalanyane
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Don Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Beat Frey
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Beat Frey,
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Charles KM, Stehlik I. Assisted species migration and hybridization to conserve cold-adapted plants under climate change. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:559-566. [PMID: 32643822 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Temperature rise due to climate change is putting many arctic and alpine plants at risk of extinction because their ability to react is outpaced by the speed of climate change. We considered assisted species migration (ASM) and hybridization as methods to conserve cold-adapted species (or the genes thereof) and to minimize the potential perturbation of ecosystems due to climate change. Assisted species migration is the deliberate movement of individuals from their current location to where the species' ecological requirements will be matched under climate projections. Hybridization refers to crossbreeding of closely related species, where for arctic and alpine plants, 1 parent is the threatened cold-adapted and the other its reproductively compatible, warm-adapted sibling. Traditionally, hybridization is viewed as negative and leading to a loss of biodiversity, even though hybridization has increased biodiversity over geological times. Furthermore, the incorporation of warm-adapted genes into a hybrid may be the only means for the persistence of increasingly more maladapted, cold-adapted species. If approached with thorough consideration of fitness-related parameters of the source population and acknowledgement of the important role hybridization has played in shaping current biodiversity, ASM and hybridization could help save partial or whole genomes of key cold-adapted species at risk due to climate change with minimal negative effects on ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M Charles
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Ivana Stehlik
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
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132
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Puchałka R, Dyderski MK, Vítková M, Sádlo J, Klisz M, Netsvetov M, Prokopuk Y, Matisons R, Mionskowski M, Wojda T, Koprowski M, Jagodziński AM. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) range contraction and expansion in Europe under changing climate. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1587-1600. [PMID: 33336522 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Robinia pseudoacacia is one of the most frequent non-native species in Europe. It is a fast-growing tree of high economic and cultural importance. On the other hand, it is an invasive species, causing changes in soil chemistry and light regime, and consequently altering the plant communities. Previously published models developed for the potential distribution of R. pseudoacacia concerned 2070, and were based mainly on data from Western and Central Europe; here we extended these findings and included additional data from Eastern Europe. To fill the gap in current knowledge of R. pseudoacacia distribution and improve the reliability of forecasts, we aimed to (i) determine the extent to which the outcome of range modeling will be affected by complementing R. pseudoacacia occurrence data with sites from Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe, (ii) identify and quantify the changes in the availability of climate niches for 2050 and 2070, and discuss their impacts on forest management and nature conservation. We showed that the majority of the range changes expected in 2070 will occur as early as 2050. In comparison to previous studies, we demonstrated a greater eastward shift of potential niches of this species and a greater decline of potential niches in Southern Europe. Consequently, future climatic conditions will likely favor the occurrence of R. pseudoacacia in Central and Northeastern Europe where this species is still absent or relatively rare. There, controlling the spread of R. pseudoacacia will require monitoring sources of invasion in the landscape and reducing the occurrence of this species. The expected effects of climate change will likely be observed 20 years earlier than previously forecasted. Hence we highlighted the urgent need for acceleration of policies aimed at climate change mitigation in Europe. Also, our results showed the need for using more complete distribution data to analyze potential niche models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Puchałka
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
- Centre for Climate Change Research, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
| | | | - Michaela Vítková
- Department of Invasion Ecology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Sádlo
- Department of Invasion Ecology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Marcin Klisz
- Department of Silviculture and Genetics, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Poland
| | - Maksym Netsvetov
- Department of Phytoecology, Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yulia Prokopuk
- Department of Phytoecology, Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Roberts Matisons
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute 'Silava', Salaspils, Latvia
| | - Marcin Mionskowski
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wojda
- Department of Silviculture and Genetics, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Poland
| | - Marcin Koprowski
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
- Centre for Climate Change Research, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
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133
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Nomoto HA, Alexander JM. Drivers of local extinction risk in alpine plants under warming climate. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:1157-1166. [PMID: 33780124 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The scarcity of local plant extinctions following recent climate change has been explained by demographic inertia and lags in the displacement of resident species by novel species, generating an 'extinction debt'. We established a transplant experiment to disentangle the contribution of these processes to the local extinction risk of four alpine plants in the Swiss Alps. Projected population growth (λ) derived from integral projection models was reduced by 0.07/°C of warming on average, whereas novel species additionally decreased λ by 0.15 across warming levels. Effects of novel species on predicted extinction time were greatest at warming < 2 °C for two species. Projected population declines under both warming and with novel species were primarily driven by increased mortality. Our results suggest that extinction debt can be explained by a combination of demographic inertia and lags in novel species establishment, with the latter being particularly important for some species under low levels of warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna A Nomoto
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Jake M Alexander
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
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134
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Dauphin B, Rellstab C, Schmid M, Zoller S, Karger DN, Brodbeck S, Guillaume F, Gugerli F. Genomic vulnerability to rapid climate warming in a tree species with a long generation time. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:1181-1195. [PMID: 33345407 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing increase in global temperature affects biodiversity, especially in mountain regions where climate change is exacerbated. As sessile, long-lived organisms, trees are especially challenged in terms of adapting to rapid climate change. Here, we show that low rates of allele frequency shifts in Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) occurring near the treeline result in high genomic vulnerability to future climate warming, presumably due to the species' long generation time. Using exome sequencing data from adult and juvenile cohorts in the Swiss Alps, we found an average rate of allele frequency shift of 1.23 × 10-2 /generation (i.e. 40 years) at presumably neutral loci, with similar rates for putatively adaptive loci associated with temperature (0.96 × 10-2 /generation) and precipitation (0.91 × 10-2 /generation). These recent shifts were corroborated by forward-in-time simulations at neutral and adaptive loci. Additionally, in juvenile trees at the colonisation front we detected alleles putatively beneficial under a future warmer and drier climate. Notably, the observed past rate of allele frequency shift in temperature-associated loci was decidedly lower than the estimated average rate of 6.29 × 10-2 /generation needed to match a moderate future climate scenario (RCP4.5). Our findings suggest that species with long generation times may have difficulty keeping up with the rapid climate change occurring in high mountain areas and thus are prone to local extinction in their current main elevation range.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Max Schmid
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Zoller
- Genetic Diversity Centre, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dirk N Karger
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Brodbeck
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Guillaume
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Felix Gugerli
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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135
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Arraiano-Castilho R, Bidartondo MI, Niskanen T, Clarkson JJ, Brunner I, Zimmermann S, Senn-Irlet B, Frey B, Peintner U, Mrak T, Suz LM. Habitat specialisation controls ectomycorrhizal fungi above the treeline in the European Alps. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:2901-2916. [PMID: 33107606 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Alpine habitats are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to environmental change, however, little information is known about the drivers of plant-fungal interactions in these ecosystems and their resilience to climate change. We investigated the influence of the main drivers of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal communities along elevation and environmental gradients in the alpine zone of the European Alps and measured their degree of specialisation using network analysis. We sampled ectomycorrhizas of Dryas octopetala, Bistorta vivipara and Salix herbacea, and soil fungal communities at 28 locations across five countries, from the treeline to the nival zone. We found that: (1) EM fungal community composition, but not richness, changes along elevation, (2) there is no strong evidence of host specialisation, however, EM fungal networks in the alpine zone and within these, EM fungi associated with snowbed communities, are more specialised than in other alpine habitats, (3) plant host population structure does not influence EM fungal communities, and (4) most variability in EM fungal communities is explained by fine-scale changes in edaphic properties, like soil pH and total nitrogen. The higher specialisation and narrower ecological niches of these plant-fungal interactions in snowbed habitats make these habitats particularly vulnerable to environmental change in alpine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Arraiano-Castilho
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Martin I Bidartondo
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Tuula Niskanen
- Identification and Naming, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK
| | - James J Clarkson
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Ivano Brunner
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Zimmermann
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Beatrice Senn-Irlet
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Beat Frey
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Ursula Peintner
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Tanja Mrak
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Laura M Suz
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK
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136
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Baker NJ, Pilotto F, Jourdan J, Beudert B, Haase P. Recovery from air pollution and subsequent acidification masks the effects of climate change on a freshwater macroinvertebrate community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 758:143685. [PMID: 33288265 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are dynamic, complex systems with a multitude of physical and ecological processes and stressors which drive fluctuations on the community-level. Disentangling the effects of different processes and stressors is challenging due to their interconnected nature. However, as protected areas (i.e. national parks) are less anthropogenically impacted, they are ideal for investigating single stressors. We focus on the Bavarian Forest National Park, a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Germany, where the major stressors are climate warming, air pollution (i.e. acidification) and bark beetle infestations. We investigated the effects of these stressors on freshwater macroinvertebrates using comprehensive long-term (1983-2014) datasets comprising high-resolution macroinvertebrate and physico-chemical data from a near-natural stream. Macroinvertebrate communities have undergone substantial changes over the past 32 years, highlighted by increases in overall community abundance (+173%) and richness (+51.6%) as well as taxonomic restructuring driven by a disproportional increase of dipterans. Prior to the year 2000, regression analyses revealed a decline in sulphate deposition and subsequent recovery from historical acidification as potential drivers of the increases in abundance and richness rather than to increases in water temperature (1.5 °C overall increase). Post 2000, however, alterations to nutrient cycling caused by bark beetle infestations coupled with warming temperatures were correlated to taxonomic restructuring and disproportional increases of dipterans at the expense of sensitive taxa such as plecopterans and trichopterans. Our results highlight the challenges when investigating the effects of climate change within a multi-stressor context. Even in conservation areas, recovery from previous disturbance might mask the effects of ongoing disturbances like climate change. Overall, we observed strong community restructuring, demonstrating that stenothermal headwater communities face additional stress due to emerging competition with tolerant taxa. Conservation efforts should consider the temporal variability of communities and their recovery from disturbances to adequately identify species vulnerable to local or widespread extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Jay Baker
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
| | - Francesca Pilotto
- Environmental Archaeology Lab, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jonas Jourdan
- Department of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Burkhard Beudert
- Department of Conservation and Research, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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137
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Chacón-Moreno E, Rodríguez-Morales M, Paredes D, Suárez del Moral P, Albarrán A. Impacts of Global Change on the Spatial Dynamics of Treeline in Venezuelan Andes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.615223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The treeline in the Andes is considered an essential ecotone between the Montane forest and Páramo. This treeline in the Venezuelan Andes corresponds with a transitional ecosystem defined as the Páramo forest. In this work, we identify and analyze the impact of climate warming and land transformation as agents altering the Páramo forest ecosystem’s spatial dynamics along the Venezuelan Andes’ altitudinal gradient. We carry out multitemporal studies of 57 years of the land transformation at different landscapes of the Cordillera de Mérida and made a detailed analysis to understand the replacement of the ecosystems potential distribution. We found that the main ecosystem transition is from Páramo to the Páramo forest and from Páramo to the Montane forest. Based on the difference between the current lower Páramo limit and the Forest upper limit for 1952, the treeline border’s displacement is 72.7 m in the 57 years of study, representing ∼12.8 m per decade. These changes are mainly driven by climate warming and are carried out through an ecological process of densification of the woody composition instead of the shrubland structure. We found that Páramo forest ecosystems practically have been replaced by the Pastures and fallow vegetation, and the Crops. We present a synthesis of the transition and displacement of the different ecosystems and vegetation types in the treeline zone. The impact of climate warming and deforestation on the Páramo forest as a representative ecosystem of the treeline shows us that this study is necessary for an integrated global change adaptation plan.
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138
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Notarnicola RF, Nicotra AB, Kruuk LEB, Arnold PA. Tolerance of Warmer Temperatures Does Not Confer Resilience to Heatwaves in an Alpine Herb. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.615119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is generating both sustained trends in average temperatures and higher frequency and intensity of extreme events. This poses a serious threat to biodiversity, especially in vulnerable environments, like alpine systems. Phenotypic plasticity is considered to be an adaptive mechanism to cope with climate change in situ, yet studies of the plastic responses of alpine plants to high temperature stress are scarce. Future weather extremes will occur against a background of warmer temperatures, but we do not know whether acclimation to warmer average temperatures confers tolerance to extreme heatwaves. Nor do we know whether populations on an elevational gradient differ in their tolerance or plasticity in response to warming and heatwave events. We investigated the responses of a suite of functional traits of an endemic Australian alpine herb, Wahlenbergia ceracea, to combinations of predicted future (warmer) temperatures and (relative) heatwaves. We also tested whether responses differed between high- vs. low-elevation populations. When grown under warmer temperatures, W. ceracea plants showed signs of acclimation by means of higher thermal tolerance (Tcrit, T50, and Tmax). They also invested more in flower production, despite showing a concurrent reduction in photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and suppression of seed production. Heatwaves reduced both photosynthetic efficiency and longevity. However, we found no evidence that acclimation to warmer temperatures conferred tolerance of the photosynthetic machinery to heatwaves. Instead, when exposed to heatwaves following warmer growth temperatures, plants had lower photosynthetic efficiency and underwent a severe reduction in seed production. High- and low-elevation populations and families exhibited limited genetic variation in trait means and plasticity in response to temperature. We conclude that W. ceracea shows some capacity to acclimate to warming conditions but there is no evidence that tolerance of warmer temperatures confers any resilience to heatwaves.
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139
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Predicting the Future Distribution of Ara rubrogenys, an Endemic Endangered Bird Species of the Andes, Taking into Account Trophic Interactions. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Species distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used with climate only to predict animal distribution changes. This approach however neglects the evolution of other components of the niche, like food resource availability. SDMs are also commonly used with plants. This also suffers limitations, notably an inability to capture the fertilizing effect of the rising CO2 concentration strengthening resilience to water stress. Alternatively, process-based dynamic vegetation models (DVMs) respond to CO2 concentration. To test the impact of the plant modelling method to model plant resources of animals, we studied the distribution of a Bolivian macaw, assuming that, under future climate, DVMs produce more conservative results than SDMs. We modelled the bird with an SDM driven by climate. For the plant, we used SDMs or a DVM. Under future climates, the macaw SDM showed increased probabilities of presence over the area of distribution and connected range extensions. For plants, SDMs did not forecast overall response. By contrast, the DVM produced increases of productivity, occupancy and diversity, also towards higher altitudes. The results offered positive perspectives for the macaw, more optimistic with the DVM than with the SDMs, than initially assumed. Nevertheless, major common threats remain, challenging the short-term survival of the macaw.
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140
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Lasso E, Matheus-Arbeláez P, Gallery RE, Garzón-López C, Cruz M, Leon-Garcia IV, Aragón L, Ayarza-Páez A, Curiel Yuste J. Homeostatic Response to Three Years of Experimental Warming Suggests High Intrinsic Natural Resistance in the Páramos to Warming in the Short Term. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.615006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Páramos, tropical alpine ecosystems, host one of the world’s most diverse alpine floras, account for the largest water reservoirs in the Andes, and some of the largest soil carbon pools worldwide. It is of global importance to understand the future of this extremely carbon-rich ecosystem in a warmer world and its role on global climate feedbacks. This study presents the result of the first in situ warming experiment in two Colombian páramos using Open-Top Chambers. We evaluated the response to warming of several ecosystem carbon balance-related processes, including decomposition, soil respiration, photosynthesis, plant productivity, and vegetation structure after 3 years of warming. We found that OTCs are an efficient warming method in the páramo, increasing mean air temperature by 1.7°C and mean daytime temperature by 3.4°C. The maximum air temperature differences between OTC and control was 23.1°C. Soil temperature increased only by 0.1°C. After 3 years of warming using 20 OTC (10 per páramo) in a randomized block design, we found no evidence that warming increased CO2 emissions from soil respiration, nor did it increase decomposition rate, photosynthesis or productivity in the two páramos studied. However, total C and N in the soil and vegetation structure are slowly changing as result of warming and changes are site dependent. In Sumapaz, shrubs, and graminoids cover increased in response to warming while in Matarredonda we observed an increase in lichen cover. Whether this change in vegetation might influence the carbon sequestration potential of the páramo needs to be further evaluated. Our results suggest that páramos ecosystems can resist an increase in temperature with no significant alteration of ecosystem carbon balance related processes in the short term. However, the long-term effect of warming could depend on the vegetation changes and how these changes alter the microbial soil composition and soil processes. The differential response among páramos suggest that the response to warming could be highly dependent on the initial conditions and therefore we urgently need more warming experiments in páramos to understand how specific site characteristics will affect their response to warming and their role in global climate feedbacks.
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141
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Drivers of Timberline Dynamics in Rodna Montains, Northern Carpathians, Romania, over the Last 131 Years. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13042089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there is little information regarding the recent spatiotemporal dynamics of upper timberline in the Carpathian Mountains. We reconstructed the temporal (1887–2018) and spatial dynamics of upper timberline in the Rodna Mountains (Eastern Carpathians) based on seven sets of maps and aerial photographs and explained its variability in relation to three main drivers: air temperature, land morphometry and anthropogenic pressure. The impact of natural drivers (temperature, morphometry) on timberline position was evaluated using a high-resolution digital elevation model, local and regional instrumental and modelled climate databases. The impact of anthropogenic factors on timberline position was documented from published sources such as local paleolimnological studies and historical documents. Results show that timberline rose on average with 113 ± 2 m on the northern slope of the Rodna Mts (currently reaching 1640 m above sea level (a.s.l.)) and with 182 ± 2 m on the southern slope (up to an elevation of 1539 m a.s.l.). Our results suggest that this pattern might be connected with the rising temperature over the recent decades. On the northern slope where land morphometry restricts anthropogenic activities, timberline reached the highest elevation. On the more accessible southern slope, anthropogenic land-use changes likely moderated timberline elevational rise under increasing temperatures.
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142
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Oldfather MF, Koontz MJ, Doak DF, Ackerly DD. Range dynamics mediated by compensatory life stage responses to experimental climate manipulations. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:772-780. [PMID: 33559296 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The expectations of polar or upslope distributional shifts of species ranges in response to warming climate conditions have been recently questioned. Diverse responses of different life stages to changing temperature and moisture regimes may alter these predicted range dynamics. Furthermore, the climate driver(s) influencing demographic rates, and the contribution of each demographic rate to population growth rate (λ), may shift across a species range. We investigated these demographic effects by experimentally manipulating climate and measuring responses of λ in nine populations spanning the elevation range of an alpine plant (Ivesia lycopodioides). Populations exhibited stable growth rates (λ ~ 1) under naturally wet conditions and declining rates (λ < 1) under naturally dry conditions. However, opposing vital rate responses to experimental heating and watering lead to negligible or negative effects on population stability. These findings indicate that life stage-specific responses to changing climate can disrupt the current relationships between population stability and climate across species ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan F Oldfather
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Michael J Koontz
- Earth Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Daniel F Doak
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - David D Ackerly
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Jepson Herbarium, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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143
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A research framework for projecting ecosystem change in highly diverse tropical mountain ecosystems. Oecologia 2021; 195:589-600. [PMID: 33515062 PMCID: PMC7940296 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04852-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tropical mountain ecosystems are threatened by climate and land-use changes. Their diversity and complexity make projections how they respond to environmental changes challenging. A suitable way are trait-based approaches, by distinguishing between response traits that determine the resistance of species to environmental changes and effect traits that are relevant for species' interactions, biotic processes, and ecosystem functions. The combination of those approaches with land surface models (LSM) linking the functional community composition to ecosystem functions provides new ways to project the response of ecosystems to environmental changes. With the interdisciplinary project RESPECT, we propose a research framework that uses a trait-based response-effect-framework (REF) to quantify relationships between abiotic conditions, the diversity of functional traits in communities, and associated biotic processes, informing a biodiversity-LSM. We apply the framework to a megadiverse tropical mountain forest. We use a plot design along an elevation and a land-use gradient to collect data on abiotic drivers, functional traits, and biotic processes. We integrate these data to build the biodiversity-LSM and illustrate how to test the model. REF results show that aboveground biomass production is not directly related to changing climatic conditions, but indirectly through associated changes in functional traits. Herbivory is directly related to changing abiotic conditions. The biodiversity-LSM informed by local functional trait and soil data improved the simulation of biomass production substantially. We conclude that local data, also derived from previous projects (platform Ecuador), are key elements of the research framework. We specify essential datasets to apply this framework to other mountain ecosystems.
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144
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Losapio G, Cerabolini BEL, Maffioletti C, Tampucci D, Gobbi M, Caccianiga M. The Consequences of Glacier Retreat Are Uneven Between Plant Species. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.616562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glaciers are retreating worldwide, exposing new terrain to colonization by plants. Recently-deglaciated terrains have been a subject of ecological studies for a long time, as they represent a unique natural model system for examining the effects of global warming associated with glacier retreat on biodiversity and the spatio-temporal dynamic of communities. However, we still have a limited understanding of how physical and biotic factors interactively influence species persistence and community dynamics after glacier retreat and glacier extinction. Using hierarchical joint species distribution models, we integrated data on plant species occurrence at fine spatial scale, spatio-temporal context, environmental conditions, leaf traits, and species-to-species associations in plant communities spanning 0 to c 5,000 years on average after glacier retreat. Our results show that plant diversity initially increases with glacier retreat, but ultimately decreases after glacier extinction. The 22% of plant species non-linearly respond to glacier retreat and will locally disappear with glacier extinction. At the local scale, soil carbon enrichment and reduction of physical (topographic) disturbance positively contribute to distribution patterns in 66% of the species, indicating a strong impact of community-level environmental conditions. Furthermore, positive and negative associations among species play a relevant role (up to 34% of variance) in driving the spatio-temporal dynamic of plant communities. Global warming prompts a shift from facilitation to competition: positive associations prevail among pioneer species, whereas negative associations are relatively more common among late species. This pattern suggests a role of facilitation for enhancing plant diversity in recently ice-free terrains and of competition for decreasing species persistence in late stages. Associated to that, species persisting the most show more “conservative” traits than species of concern. In summary, although plant diversity initially increases with glacier retreat, more than a fifth of plant species are substantially declining and will disappear with glacier extinction. Even for the “winners,” the “victory” is not to be taken for granted due to the negative impact of rising competition. Integrating survey data with hierarchical and network models can help to forecast biodiversity change and anticipate cascading effects of glacier retreat on mountain ecosystems. These effects include the reduction of ecosystem services and benefits to humans, including food production from the pioneer species Artemisia genipi.
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Lu S, Zhou S, Yin X, Zhang C, Li R, Chen J, Ma D, Wang Y, Yu Z, Chen Y. Patterns of tree species richness in Southwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:97. [PMID: 33511429 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-08872-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As a region known for its high species richness, southwest China plays an important role in preserving global biodiversity and ensuring ecological security in the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween river basins. However, relatively few studies focus on the response of tree species richness to climate change in this part of China. This study determined the main tree species in southwest China using the Vegetation Map of China and the Flora of China. From simulations of 1970 to 2000 and three forecasts of future benign, moderate, and extreme climate warming anticipated during 2061 to 2080, this study used a maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to simulate main tree species richness in southwest China. Regions with a peak species richness at intermediate elevations were typically dominated by complex mountainous terrain, such as in the Hengduan Mountains. Likewise, regions with the smallest richness were low-elevation areas, including the Sichuan Basin, and the high-elevation Sichuan-Tibet region. Annual precipitation, minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature seasonality, and elevation were the most critical factors in estimating tree species richness in southwest China. During future 2061 to 2080 climate scenarios, tree species tended to migrate towards higher elevations as mean temperatures increased. For climate change scenarios RCP2.6-2070 (benign) and RCP4.5-2070 (moderate), the main tree species richness in the study area changed little. During the RCP8.5-2070 extreme scenario, tree species richness decreased. This study provides useful guidance to plan and implement measures to conserve biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangfei Lu
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Siyi Zhou
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Xiaojie Yin
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China.
| | - Chao Zhang
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Rongliang Li
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Jiahui Chen
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Dongxu Ma
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Zhexiu Yu
- College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, 300 Bailongsi, Qingyun, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Yuheng Chen
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan, Nanjing, 210037, China
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Hu X, Zhou W, Li X, Niklas KJ, Sun S. Changes in Community Composition Induced by Experimental Warming in an Alpine Meadow: Beyond Plant Functional Type. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.569422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate warming exerts profound effects on plant community composition. However, responses to climate warming are often reported at the community and functional type levels, but not at the species level. To test whether warming-induced changes are consistent among community, functional type, and species levels, we examined the warming-induced changes at different levels in an alpine meadow from 2015 to 2018. The warming was achieved by deploying six (open top) chambers [including three non-warmed chambers and three warmed chambers; 15 × 15 × 2.5 m (height) for each] that resulted in a small increase in mean annual temperature (0.3–0.5°C, varying with years) with a higher increase during the non-growing season (0.4–0.6°C) than in the growing season (0.03–0.47°C). The results show that warming increased plant aboveground biomass but did not change species richness, or Shannon diversity and evenness at the community level. At the functional type level, warming increased the relative abundance of grasses from 3 to 16%, but decreased the relative abundance of forbs from 89 to 79%; relative abundances of sedges and legumes were unchanged. However, for a given functional type, warming could result in contrasting effects on the relative abundance among species, e.g., the abundances of the forb species Geranium pylzowianum, Potentilla anserine, Euphrasia pectinate, and the sedge species Carex atrofusca increased in the warmed (compared to the non-warmed) chambers. More importantly, the difference in species identity between warmed and non-warmed chambers revealed warming-induced species loss. Specifically, four forb species were lost in both types of chambers, one additional forb species (Angelica apaensis) was lost in the non-warmed chambers, and two additional species (one forb species Saussurea stella and one sedge species Blysmus sinocompressus) were lost in the warmed chambers. Consequently, changes at the species level could not be deduced from the results at the community or functional type levels. These data indicate that species-level responses to climate changes must be more intensively studied. This work also highlights the importance of examining species identity (and not only species number) to study changes of community composition in response to climate warming.
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Elevational Movement of Vegetation Greenness on the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from the Landsat Satellite Observations during the Last Three Decades. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Tibetan Plateau, the highest plateau in the world, has experienced strong climate warming during the last few decades. The greater increase of temperature at higher elevations may have strong impacts on the vertical movement of vegetation activities on the plateau. Although satellite-based observations have explored this issue, these observations were normally provided by the coarse satellite data with a spatial resolution of more than hundreds of meters (e.g., GIMMS and MODIS), which could lead to serious mixed-pixel effects in the analyses. In this study, we employed the medium-spatial-resolution Landsat NDVI data (30 m) during 1990–2019 and investigated the relationship between temperature and the elevation-dependent vegetation changes in six mountainous regions on the Tibetan Plateau. Particularly, we focused on the elevational movement of the vegetation greenness isoline to clarify whether the vegetation greenness isoline moves upward during the past three decades because of climate warming. Results show that vegetation greening occurred in all six mountainous regions during the last three decades. Increasing temperatures caused the upward movement of greenness isoline at the middle and high elevations (>4000 m) but led to the downward movement at lower elevations for the six mountainous regions except for Nyainqentanglha. Furthermore, the temperature sensitivity of greenness isoline movement changes from the positive value to negative value by decreasing elevations, suggesting that vegetation growth on the plateau is strongly regulated by other factors such as water availability. As a result, the greenness isoline showed upward movement with the increase of temperature for about 59% pixels. Moreover, the greenness isoline movement increased with the slope angles over the six mountainous regions, suggesting the influence of terrain effects on the vegetation activities. Our analyses improve understandings of the diverse response of elevation-dependent vegetation activities on the Tibetan Plateau.
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Hamid M, Khuroo AA, Malik AH, Ahmad R, Singh CP. Elevation and aspect determine the differences in soil properties and plant species diversity on Himalayan mountain summits. Ecol Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maroof Hamid
- Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
| | - Anzar Ahmad Khuroo
- Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
| | - Akhtar Hussain Malik
- Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
| | - Rameez Ahmad
- Centre for Biodiversity and Taxonomy, Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
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Adamczyk M, Rüthi J, Frey B. Root exudates increase soil respiration and alter microbial community structure in alpine permafrost and active layer soils. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:2152-2168. [PMID: 33393203 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Due to climate warming, alpine ecosystems are changing rapidly. Ongoing upward migrations of plants and thus an increase of easily decomposable substrates will strongly affect the soil microbiome. To understand how belowground communities will respond to such changes, we set up an incubation experiment with permafrost and active soil layers from northern (NW) and southern (SE) slopes of a mountain ridge on Muot da Barba Peider in the Swiss Alps and incubated them with or without artificial root exudates (AREs) at two temperatures, 4°C or 15°C. The addition of AREs resulted in elevated respiration across all soil types. Bacterial and fungal alpha diversity decreased significantly, coinciding with strong shifts in microbial community structure in ARE-treated soils. These shifts in bacterial community structure were driven by an increased abundance of fast-growing copiotrophic taxa. Fungal communities were predominantly affected by AREs in SE active layer soils and shifted towards fast-growing opportunistic yeast. In contrast, in the colder NW facing active layer and permafrost soils fungal communities were more influenced by temperature changes. These findings demonstrate the sensitivity of soil microbial communities in high alpine ecosystems to climate change and how shifts in these communities may lead to functional changes impacting biogeochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalene Adamczyk
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Joel Rüthi
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Beat Frey
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
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Surface Tradeoffs and Elevational Shifts at the Largest Italian Glacier: A Thirty-Years Time Series of Remotely-Sensed Images. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13010134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss occurring in mountain ecosystems calls for integrative approaches to improve monitoring processes in the face of human-induced changes. With a combination of vegetation and remotely-sensed time series data, we quantitatively identify the responses of land-cover types and their associated vegetation between 1987 and 2016. Fuzzy clustering of 11 Landsat images was used to identify main land-cover types. Vegetation belts corresponding to such land-cover types were identified by using species indicator analysis performed on 80 vegetation plots. A post-classification evaluation of trends, magnitude, and elevational shifts was done using fuzzy membership values as a proxy of the occupied surfaces by land-cover types. Our findings show that forests and scrublands expanded upward as much as the glacier retreated, i.e., by 24% and 23% since 1987, respectively. While lower alpine grassland shifted upward, the upper alpine grassland lost 10% of its originally occupied surface showing no elevational shift. Moreover, an increase of suitable sites for the expansion of the subnival vegetation belt has been observed, due to the increasing availability of new ice-free areas. The consistent findings suggest a general expansion of forest and scrubland to the detriment of alpine grasslands, which in turn are shifting upwards or declining in area. In conclusion, alpine grasslands need urgent and appropriate monitoring processes ranging from the species to the landscape level that integrates remotely-sensed and field data.
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