Recent changes in high-mountain plant community functional composition in contrasting climate regimes

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 829, P. 154541 - 154541

Published: March 15, 2022

High-mountain plant communities are strongly determined by abiotic conditions, especially low temperature, and therefore susceptible to effects of climate warming. Rising temperatures, however, also lead increased evapotranspiration, which, together with projected shifts in seasonal precipitation patterns, could prolonged, detrimental water deficiencies. The current study aims at comparing alpine along elevation availability gradients from humid conditions (north-eastern Alps) a moderate (Central Apennines) pronounced dry period during summer (Lefka Ori, Crete) the Mediterranean area. We do this order (1) detect relationships between community-based indices (plant functional leaf growth traits, thermic vegetation indicator, life forms, cover diversity) soil temperature snow duration (2) assess if climatic changes have already affected vegetation, determining directional over time (14-year period; 2001-2015) these three regions. Plant community responded decreasing temperatures gradient NE-Alps Apennines, but effect almost disappeared summer-dry mountains Crete. This suggests shift low-temperature drought-dominated ecological filters. Leaf trait (Leaf Dry Matter Content Specific Area) responses changed direction Alps indicating that drought become discernible northern margin Mediterranean. Over time, slight increase was found all regions, thermophilisation occurred only accompanied decline cold-adapted cushion plants Alps. On Crete, xeromorphic shrubs were increasing abundance. Although critical biodiversity losses not yet been observed, an intensified monitoring combined warming-drought impacts will be required view threatened either locally restricted south or weakly adapted north.

Language: Английский

---

Community assembly along climatic gradient: Contrasting pattern between- and within- species

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 56, P. 125675 - 125675

Published: May 13, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Altitudinal patterns of plant diversity, cover, and life forms in a warm arid mountain: Insights from Sierra de Velasco, Argentina

Journal of Mountain Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 22(3), P. 873 - 887

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Floristic Morpho-Ecological Strategies: Methodological Approach to Characterize Robustness of Vegetation

IntechOpen eBooks, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Resistance and resilience are usually applied to discuss the functionality of systems, once both describe responses biological units environmental alterations. With this purpose, an analytical methodology focused on description functional vegetation, their potential correlation with matrices, was elaborated in present work. Comparison between amplitudes averages morpho-ecological variables, here analyzed by Fluctuation Asymmetries (FAs), fundament methodology, three different areas Portugal similar extensions from north, center, south (designed as MB, CP, FS). The results obtained described very for these study areas. discussion explained them high resistance areas, lower one (CP), recently exposed intensive forest fires. So, robustness will be sustained relevant resistance, where variability (geomorphology climatology) cause associated. In context, increases production pressions higher frequencies fires climate changes trigger significant vegetation. Changes necessary order maintain

Language: Английский

---

Patterns of Functional Diversity, Species Diversity, and Endemicity Driven by Elevation and Topographic Complexity in a Mediterranean Mountain Refuge

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

ABSTRACT This study investigates the variation in functional diversity (FD), species (SD), and endemicity across all Mediterranean‐type vegetation belts (MVB) within a topographically complex mountainous refuge, focusing on their relationships with topographic climatic factors. Microclimatic processes mosaic habitats caused by complexity increase plant of area. is reflected our through representation different habitat types. The relationship environmental parameters was also modeled mapped this conducted approximately 5550 records 1017 taxa from 136 plots. Functional measured using Rao's quadratic entropy, alpha values were calculated Shannon‐Wiener index. Various regression models trained evaluated, assessed based several statistical metrics. final model selection, Generalized Additive Model (GAM), chosen its superior performance, ensuring not only fits data well but accurately predicts new data, thus optimizing both validity practical utility model. Our GAM results indicated that elevation most influential factor values, curves show trends increasing elevation. Additionally, position index identified as significant process affecting terms “habitat filtering”. In context, diversity, endemism creates diversity. emphasize importance maintaining biodiversity highlight need for targeted conservation strategies prioritize areas high such Meso‐, Thermo‐, Supra‐ Mediterranean belts, alongside endemicity, particularly Oro‐ Cryoro‐ belts.

Language: Английский

---

Ellenberg Indicator Values Disclose Complex Environmental Filtering Processes in Plant Communities along an Elevational Gradient

Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 161 - 161

Published: Jan. 19, 2023

Ellenberg indicator values (EIVs) express plant preferences for temperature, light, continentality, soil moisture, pH, and nutrients, have been largely used to deduce environmental characteristics from communities. However, EIVs might also be investigate the importance of filtering mechanisms in shaping communities according species ecological preferences, a so far overlooked use EIVs. In this paper, we investigated how community-weighted means (CWM), calculated with EIVs, varied along an elevational gradient small mountain Central Italy. We tested if abundances their preferences. found that prevalence thermophilous declines elevation, being progressively replaced by cold-adapted species. Heliophilous prevail at low high elevations (characterized presence open habitats), whereas middle (occupied beech forest), sciophilous predominate. Variations moisture nutrient followed similar pattern, probably because levels forest soils lot humus. No distinct pattern was detected pH continentality since these factors are subject more local variations. These results highlight possible role gradients shape

Language: Английский

---

Structural shifts in plant functional diversity during biogeomorphic succession: Moving beyond taxonomic investigations in an alpine glacier foreland

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(8), P. 2458 - 2474

Published: April 11, 2024

Abstract The complex interrelation between plants and geomorphic processes is described in the concept of biogeomorphic succession. While ecological research on succession community assembly has transitioned towards functional approaches, studies diversity settings, particularly glacier forelands, remain limited. In this study, we investigated abundance vascular plant species traits an alpine foreland using data from 199 plots. Our objective was to unravel development during Specifically, study determined whether structural shifts are associated with stability thresholds related cover, influence, examined trait spectra for stages findings revealed a nonlinear trajectory along cover gradient, marked by two distinct at 30% 74% corresponding established thresholds. Along gradient observed increase until 54% plot area affected, beyond which declined below initial level. analysis community‐weighted means across four absence presence influence significant differences values. transition stage, identified shift, there shift prevalence above‐ground adaptation reproductive traits, such as leaf longevity, structure, growth form mixed strategies, increased dominance competitor below‐ground structures, including root type well vegetative reproduction. results contribute understanding relationship vegetation linking them traits. This advances traditional taxonomic investigations emphasizing approaches Moreover, used easily downloadable public repository, can serve valuable template future (bio)geomorphology, employed methodologies.

Language: Английский

---

The role of dominant prairie species ecotypes on plant diversity patterns of restored grasslands across a rainfall gradient in the US Great Plains

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(2)

Published: April 1, 2023

Abstract Questions A robust ecosystem requires a functionally heterogeneous community of organisms with ecological traits that permit broad resource partitioning. Understanding diversity patterns can help investigate drivers assembly and assess restoration success. Do biodiversity differ among grassland communities sown different ecotypes dominant species during along rainfall gradient in the tallgrass prairie central US Great Plains? Location Four field sites across within North American Plains: Colby, Kansas (39°23′17.8″N, 101°04′57.4″W), Hays, (38°51′13.2″N, 99°19′08.6″W), Manhattan, (39°08′22.3″N, 96°38′23.3″W), Carbondale, Illinois (IL, 37°41′47.0″N, 89°14′19.2″W). Methods We applied linear mixed models to effect ecotype, year, location on taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional diversity. Results The non‐local grass ecotype (compared local ecotype) promoted richness. In contrast, phylogenetic or was site‐specific over 10‐year restoration. Richness decreased from dry moist sites, wettest site had highest Conclusions Our results suggest abiotic filtering by is key mechanism could predict changes early phases. Given response prairie, practitioners should consider impact regional sources used when goal. It recommended for future detect gaps limitations evolutionary trait structure will reveal which components evaluate.

Language: Английский

---

Site dependence of local variations in taxonomic and functional diversity of plant communities in semi-natural dry grasslands

Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 224(1), P. 95 - 111

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Acquisitive to conservative resource use strategy and increased site-specific trait variance contribute to Sophora moorcroftiana dominance along an altitudinal gradient in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 224(12), P. 1075 - 1087

Published: Oct. 25, 2023

Language: Английский

---