scholarly journals Thirty years of ecological research at the Gran Sasso d’Italia LTER site: climate change in action

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 9-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Petriccione ◽  
Alessandro Bricca
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mesic Grassland ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Competitive Species

Since 1986, vegetation monitoring of alpine plant communities has been performed at the Gran Sasso d’Italia LTER site (https://deims.org/c0738b00-854c-418f-8d4f-69b03486e9fd) in the Central Apennines, through phytosociological relevés and abundance and coverage estimation of the vascular flora at fine scale. The monitoring activities for abiotic parameters regard air and soil temperatures, rainfall, snowfall and snow cover persistence. A comparative analysis of changes in species composition, life forms, life strategies and morpho-functional types allowed recognition of dynamical processes (fluctuation and degeneration) and an increase in stress- and drought-tolerant and ruderal species, probably linked to a general process of climate change. A trend of variation forced by increasing drought was recorded in high-mountain plant communities, normally within a dynamic fluctuation process. There has been a 50–80% change in species composition with respect to the total number of species observed over the years. Whereas the total number of species has increased in all communities, in high-mountain mesic grassland 20% of sensitive species have completely disappeared. Early signs of a degeneration process were already discernible after seven years: such signs are more evident in snow-dependent communities, with a quantitative increase in more thermophilic and drought-tolerant species and a parallel decrease in more mesic, cryophilic and competitive species. In particular, the following phenomena have been recorded in high-mountain mesic grassland, in agreement with predicted or observed phenomena in other Alpine or Arctic areas: (a) coverage increase (or appearance) of ruderal and stress- and drought-tolerant species; (b) coverage decrease (or disappearance) of cryophilic, mesic and competitive species. These short-term changes could lead, in the medium- or long-term, to a disgregation process affecting the high elevation plant communities of the Apennines (including the local extinction of most of the cold-adapted species), due to their very low resilience. The phenomena described may be linked to the observed climate change which occurred during the last century (in particular in the last 50 years) in the Apennines, consisting mainly, in the mountains, of a strong reduction in the duration of snow-cover and an increase in mean and minimum annual temperatures.

Burial by sand

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Anwar Maun
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Salt Spray ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Woody Perennials ◽  
Physiological Limits ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Sand Deposition

In coastal dune systems, plant communities are fundamentally the product of interaction between disturbance of the substrate, impact of high wind velocities, salt spray episodes, sand accretion levels and other factors of the environmental complex. Burial by sand is probably the most important physical stress that alters species diversity by eliminating disturbance-prone species (Maun 1998). There is a close correlation between sand movement and species composition, coverage and density (Moreno-Casasola 1986; Perumal 1994; Martínez et al. 2001). Sand accretion kills intolerant species, reduces the relative abundance of less tolerant species and increases the abundance of tolerant species. It filters out species as the level of burial starts to exceed their levels of tolerance. For example, lichens and mosses are the first to be eliminated, then the annuals and biennials and finally the herbaceous and woody perennials. Again within each life form and genus there are significant differences in survivability. Burial imposes a strong stress on production by altering normal growth conditions and exposing plants to extreme physiological limits of tolerance. Do plant communities occurring in different locations within a dune system correspond to the amount of sand deposition? Several studies (Birse et al. 1957; Moreno- Casasola 1986; Perumal 1994) show that the species composition and their distribution are strongly related to the long-term average sand deposition. The evolution of a plant community in coastal foredunes requires frequent and persistent predictable burial events specific to a particular coast. In a large majority of sea coasts burial occurrences are of relatively low magnitude and species occupying the coasts are well adapted to withstand the stress imposed by burial. This recurring event within the generation times of plant species allows them to acquire genes of resistance over time and evolution of adaptations to live in this habitat. A prerequisite to survive in this habitat happens to be the ability to withstand partial inundation by sand. To survive the dynamic substrate movement a plant species must be a perennial, be able to withstand burial, endure xerophytic environment, spread radially and vertically, and adapt to exposure on deflation and coverage on burial (Cowles 1899).

scholarly journals Climate change in the High Mountain Asia in CMIP6

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1061-1098
Author(s):  
Mickaël Lalande ◽  
Martin Ménégoz ◽  
Gerhard Krinner ◽  
Kathrin Naegeli ◽  
Stefan Wunderle
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Relative Bias ◽  
The Other ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Model Biases ◽  
Snow Cover Extent

Abstract. Climate change over High Mountain Asia (HMA, including the Tibetan Plateau) is investigated over the period 1979–2014 and in future projections following the four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5. The skill of 26 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) models is estimated for near-surface air temperature, snow cover extent and total precipitation, and 10 of them are used to describe their projections until 2100. Similarly to previous CMIP models, this new generation of general circulation models (GCMs) shows a mean cold bias over this area reaching −1.9 [−8.2 to 2.9] ∘C (90 % confidence interval) in comparison with the Climate Research Unit (CRU) observational dataset, associated with a snow cover mean overestimation of 12 % [−13 % to 43 %], corresponding to a relative bias of 52 % [−53 % to 183 %] in comparison with the NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) satellite dataset. The temperature and snow cover model biases are more pronounced in winter. Simulated precipitation rates are overestimated by 1.5 [0.3 to 2.9] mm d−1, corresponding to a relative bias of 143 % [31 % to 281 %], but this might be an apparent bias caused by the undercatch of solid precipitation in the APHRODITE (Asian Precipitation-Highly-Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water Resources) observational reference. For most models, the cold surface bias is associated with an overestimation of snow cover extent, but this relationship does not hold for all models, suggesting that the processes of the origin of the biases can differ from one model to another. A significant correlation between snow cover bias and surface elevation is found, and to a lesser extent between temperature bias and surface elevation, highlighting the model weaknesses at high elevation. The models with the best performance for temperature are not necessarily the most skillful for the other variables, and there is no clear relationship between model resolution and model skill. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the physical processes driving the climate in this complex topographic area, as well as for further parameterization developments adapted to such areas. A dependency of the simulated past trends on the model biases is found for some variables and seasons; however, some highly biased models fall within the range of observed trends, suggesting that model bias is not a robust criterion to discard models in trend analysis. The HMA median warming simulated over 2081–2100 with respect to 1995–2014 ranges from 1.9 [1.2 to 2.7] ∘C for SSP1-2.6 to 6.5 [4.9 to 9.0] ∘C for SSP5-8.5. This general warming is associated with a relative median snow cover extent decrease from −9.4 % [−16.4 % to −5.0 %] to −32.2 % [−49.1 % to −25.0 %] and a relative median precipitation increase from 8.5 % [4.8 % to 18.2 %] to 24.9 % [14.4 % to 48.1 %] by the end of the century in these respective scenarios. The warming is 11 % higher over HMA than over the other Northern Hemisphere continental surfaces, excluding the Arctic area. Seasonal temperature, snow cover and precipitation changes over HMA show a linear relationship with the global surface air temperature (GSAT), except for summer snow cover which shows a slower decrease at strong levels of GSAT.

scholarly journals Modeling the forest dynamics of the Sierra Nevada under climate change using SORTIE-ND

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily V. Moran ◽  
Nikole Vannest ◽  
Mélaine Aubry-Kientz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Tolerant Species

Abstract Key message Model simulation results suggest that forests in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California will tend to increase in density and basal area in the absence of fire over the next century, and that climate change will favor increases in drought-tolerant species. Context Climate change is projected to intensify the natural summer drought period for Mediterranean-climate forests. Such changes may increase tree mortality, change species interactions and composition, and impact ecosystem services. Aims To parameterize SORTIE-ND, an individual-based, spatially explicit forest model, for forests in the Sierra Nevada, and to model forest responses to climate change. Methods We use 3 downscaled GCM projections (RCP 8.5) to project forest dynamics for 7 sites at different elevations. Results Basal area and stem density tended to increase in the absence of fire. Climate change effects differed by species, with more drought-tolerant species such as Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi A.Murray bis) and black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newb.) exhibiting increases in basal area and/or density. Conclusion Increasing forest density may favor carbon sequestration but could increase the risk of high-severity fires. Future analyses should include improved parameterization of reproduction and interactions of disturbance with climate effects.

scholarly journals Climate change in the High Mountain Asia in CMIP6

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mickaël Lalande ◽  
Martin Ménégoz ◽  
Gerhard Krinner ◽  
Kathrin Naegeli ◽  
Stefan Wunderle
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Relative Bias ◽  
The Other ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Model Biases ◽  
Snow Cover Extent

Abstract. Climate change over High Mountain Asia (HMA, including the Tibetan Plateau) is investigated over the period 1979–2014 and in future projections following the four shared socioeconomic pathways SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5. The skill of 26 CMIP6 models is estimated for near-surface air temperature, snow cover extent and total precipitation, and 10 of them are used to describe their projections until 2100. Similarly to previous CMIP models, this new generation of GCMs shows a mean cold bias over this area reaching −1.9 [−8.2 to 2.9] °C (90 % confidence interval) in comparison with the CRU observational dataset, associated with a snow cover mean overestimation of 12 [−13 to 43] %, corresponding to a relative bias of 52 [−53 to 183] % in comparison with the NOAA CDR satellite dataset. The temperature and snow cover model biases are more pronounced in winter. Simulated precipitation rates are overestimated by 1.5 [0.3 to 2.9] mm day−1, corresponding to a relative bias of 143 [31 to 281] %, but this might be an apparent bias caused by the undercatch of solid precipitation in the APHRODITE observational reference. For most models, the cold surface bias is associated with an overestimation of snow cover extent, but this relationship does not hold for all models, suggesting that the processes of the origin of the biases can differ from one model to another one. A significant correlation between snow cover bias and surface elevation is found, and to a lesser extent between temperature bias and surface elevation, highlighting the model weaknesses at high elevation. The models performing the best for temperature are not necessarily the most skillful for the other variables, and there is no clear relationship between model resolution and model skill. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the physical processes driving the climate in this complex topographic area, as well as for further parameterization developments adapted to such areas. A dependency of the simulated past trends to the model biases is found for some variables and seasons, however, some highly biased models fall within the range of observed trends suggesting that model bias is not a robust criterion to discard models in trend analysis. The HMA median warming simulated over 2081–2100 with respect to 1995–2014 ranges from 1.9 [1.2 to 2.7] °C for SSP1-2.6 to 6.5 [4.9 to 9.0] °C for SSP5-8.5. This general warming is associated with a relative median snow cover extent decrease from −9.4 [−16.4 to −5.0] % to −32.2 [−49.1 to −25.0] % and a relative median precipitation increase from 8.5 [4.8 to 18.2] % to 24.9 [14.4 to 48.1] % by the end of the century in these respective scenarios. The warming is 11 % higher over HMA than over the other Northern Hemisphere continental surfaces excluding the Arctic area. Seasonal temperature, snow cover and precipitation changes over HMA show a linear relationship with the Global Surface Air Temperature (GSAT), except for summer snow cover that shows a slower decrease at strong levels of GSAT.

scholarly journals Plant Phenology Dynamics and Pollination Networks in Summits of the High Tropical Andes: A Baseline for Monitoring Climate Change Impacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxibell C. Pelayo ◽  
Luis D. Llambí ◽  
Luis E. Gámez ◽  
Yeni C. Barrios ◽  
Lirey A. Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Plant Phenology ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Alpine Plant ◽  
Alpine Plant Communities ◽  
Plant Pollinator

Analyzing plant phenology and plant–animal interaction networks can provide sensitive mechanistic indicators to understand the response of alpine plant communities to climate change. However, monitoring data to analyze these processes is scarce in alpine ecosystems, particularly in the highland tropics. The Andean páramos constitute the coldest biodiversity hotspot on Earth, and their species and ecosystems are among the most exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Here, we analyze for the first time baseline data for monitoring plant phenological dynamics and plant–pollinator networks along an elevation gradient between 4,200 and 4,600 m asl in three mountain summits of the Venezuelan Andes, which are part of the GLORIA monitoring network. We estimated the presence and density of plants with flowers in all the summits and in permanent plots, every month for 1 year. Additionally, we identified pollinators. We calculated a phenological overlap index between species. We summarized the plant–pollinator interactions as a bipartite matrix and represented a quantitative plant–pollinator network, calculating structural properties (grade, connectance, nestedness, and specialization). We also evaluated whether the overall network structure was influenced by differences in sampling effort, changes in species composition between summits, and phenology of the plant species. Finally, we characterized the pollination syndrome of all species. Flowering showed a marked seasonality, with a peak toward the end of the wet season. The overall phenological overlap index was low (0.32), suggesting little synchrony in flowering among species. Species richness of both plants and pollinators decreased along the elevation gradient. Flies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds were the most frequent pollinators in the network, while entomophily and anemophily were the prevailing pollination syndromes. The interaction network in all summits showed high connectance values, significant specialization (H2), and low nestedness. We did not find a significant effect of sampling effort, summit plant species composition, or plant phenology on network structure. Our results indicate that these high tropical alpine plant communities and their plant-pollination networks could be particularly vulnerable to the loss of species in climate change scenarios, given their low species richness and functional redundancy coupled with a high degree of specialization and endemism.

scholarly journals Consideration of climatic factors in the operating mode of hydraulic facilities in the Amudarya river basin

2021 ◽  
Vol 264 ◽  
pp. 03068
Author(s):  
Farrukh Kattakulov ◽  
Fotima Artikbekova ◽  
Zafar Gafurov ◽  
Gulnora Jumabaeva ◽  
Furqat Musulmanov
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Hydraulic Structures ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Amu Darya ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Amu Darya River

This research is devoted to the analysis of the dynamics of climate change in the Amu Darya river basin using the global climate model and observational data. And also, the purpose of the study is to scale down and correct the offset of the GCF and adaptation to the Amu Darya river basin and assess the dynamic climate change and its future predictions of the impact on the hydraulic structures of the Amu Darya river basin. The offset correction was carried out on the basis of data from open sources from the archives of the world meteorological organizations and the analysis performed for the next 100 years. The article analyzes the results of the regions affected by the climate [1] from the point of view of the reduction of water resources, the disappearance of glaciers, an increase in temperature, and a decrease in precipitation. An increase in temperature leads to a steady decrease in the area of large glaciers, while small glaciers gradually completely disappear and a change in the ratio of solid and liquid precipitation alternately, which leads to a reduction in snow cover and is also accompanied by degradation and melting of snow cover permafrost in high mountain areas. For future projections of glacier area and melt water release, glacier volume is required. Climate change affects the hydrological regime of the river; this process worsens the operational regime of hydraulic structures in the Amu Darya basin. Such changes in glaciation, snow cover, and permafrost negatively affect the change in river flow and its distribution and the ecological assessment of the quality of the environment. Therefore, the study of changes in climatic conditions in the region and the development of climate change scenarios for the XXI century is carried out following the recommendations of the IPCC using the necessary programs.

scholarly journals The modern species composition of the family Chenopodiaceae Vent. (Amaranthaceae Juss.) of the flora of the desert part of the Syrdarya river valley

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 336-340
Author(s):  
B. B Osmonali ◽  
P. V Vesselova ◽  
G. M. Kudabayeva
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Research Process ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
The North ◽  
Modern Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
River Valleys ◽  
Current Species

Representatives of the Chenopodiaceae Vent. family are the hallmark of the flora of the desert regionsof Kazakhstan, as they far outnumber other leading families. Moreover, this applies not only to the flora of the mountainousterritories, but also to the flora of the river valleys, in particular, the flora of the wide valley of the Syrdarya river. Thepredominance of Chenopodiaceae is due to the excellent adaptability of its species to desert conditions. Quite a few speciesof Chenopodiaceae are dominant plant communities, especially in the middle deserts of the North Turan province. Amongthem there are many species that have useful properties (forage, landscape, medicinal, etc.). The aim of the work was toidentify the current species composition of the Chenopodiaceae family (Amaranthaceae Juss.) of the flora of the desertpart of the Syrdarya river valley. Classical botanical methods were used in the research process. As a result of the conductedstudies, the modern species composition of the Chenopodiaceae family of the studied territory, consisting of 112 speciesfrom 38 genera, was revealed. The three largest genera include genera: Salsola–17 species, Atriplex–15 species, Suaeda–11species. The remaining genera contain from 6 to 1 species. Genera represented by a small number of species predominate(26 genera of 1–2 species each).

Long-term dynamics and destruction of marsh vegetation in the Kolokolkova Bay of the Barents Sea

2012 ◽  
pp. 66-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Lavrinenko ◽  
O. V. Lavrinenko ◽  
D. V. Dobrynin
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Marsh Vegetation ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Species Composition And Structure

The satellite images show that the area of marshes in the Kolokolkova bay was notstable during the period from 1973 up to 2011. Until 2010 it varied from 357 to 636 ha. After a severe storm happened on July 24–25, 2010 the total area of marshes was reduced up to 43–50 ha. The mean value of NDVI for studied marshes, reflecting the green biomass, varied from 0.13 to 0.32 before the storm in 2010, after the storm the NDVI decreased to 0.10, in 2011 — 0.03. A comparative analysis of species composition and structure of plant communities described in 2002 and 2011, allowed to evaluate the vegetation changes of marshes of the different topographic levels. They are fol­lowing: a total destruction of plant communities of the ass. Puccinellietum phryganodis and ass. Caricetum subspathaceae on low and middle marches; increasing role of halophytic species in plant communities of the ass. Caricetum glareosae vic. Calamagrostis deschampsioides subass. typicum on middle marches; some changes in species composition and structure of plant communities of the ass. Caricetum glareosae vic. Calamagrostis deschampsioides subass. festucetosum rubrae on high marches and ass. Parnassio palustris–Salicetum reptantis in transition zone between marches and tundra without changes of their syntaxonomy; a death of moss cover in plant communities of the ass. Caricetum mackenziei var. Warnstorfia exannulata on brackish coastal bogs. The possible reasons of dramatic vegetation dynamics are discussed. The dating of the storm makes it possible to observe the directions and rates of the succession of marches vegetation.

Alpine vegetation of the Ivanovskiy, Prokhodnoy and Rossypnoy Ridges (Western Altai)

2015 ◽  
pp. 96-124
Author(s):  
E. G. Zibzeev ◽  
T. A. Nedovesova
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Climate Forcing ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
Mountain Systems ◽  
Mountain Vegetation ◽  
Coenotic Diversity

The mountain systems are characterized by diverse ecological conditions (climate, geomorphological, soil, etc.). The wide spectrum of environmental conditions entails a rich diversity of plant communities growing on the small territory and determines the different flora and vegetation geneses. The uniqueness of floristic and coenotic diversities of the high-mountain vegetation of the south of Western Altai (Ivanovskiy, Prokhodnoi, and Rossypnoi Ranges) are associated with the effect of two climate-forcing factors such as the westerly humid air mass and dry warm airflow from the inner Kazakhstan regions. The paper summarizes the data on coenotic diversity (Zibzeev, 2010, 2012) and gives a syntaxonomic analysis of the high-mountain vege­tation in the Ivanovskii, Prokhodnoi, and Rossypnoi Ranges (Western Altai, Kazakhstan). The classification of plant communities was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet approach (Westhoff, van der Maarel, 1973). The relevés records were stored in the TURBOVEG database and classified by ­TWINSPAN (Hill 1979).

scholarly journals Responses and Indicators of Composition, Diversity, and Productivity of Plant Communities at Different Levels of Disturbance in a Wetland Ecosystem

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Tingting Duan ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Zhengjun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Grazing Tolerance ◽  
Organic Matter Concentration ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Different Levels

Grassland tourism is a very popular leisure activity in many parts of the world. However, the presence of people in these areas causes disturbance to the local environment and grassland resources. This study analyzes the composition, diversity, and productivity under different levels of disturbance of the plant communities in the Kangxi Grassland Tourist Area and the Yeyahu Wetland Nature Reserve of Beijing, China. It aims to identify indicators of plant communities and their responses to different levels of disturbance. Our analysis shows that the plant community density and coverage have a certain compensatory increase under disturbed conditions. With the increase in disturbances, more drought-tolerant species have appeared (increased by 5.7%), some of which have become the grazing-tolerance indicator species in the trampled grazed area (TGA). For plant community productivity, biomass and height are good indicators for distinguishing different disturbances (p < 0.05). In addition, several diversity indices reveal the change of plant communities from different perspectives (three of the four indices were significant at the p < 0.05 level). For soil parameters, soil water content and organic matter concentration help to indicate different disturbance levels (the former has a 64% change). Moreover, the standard deviation of the plant community and soil parameters is also a good indicator of their spatial variability and disturbance levels, especially for the TGA. Our analysis confirms that the indicators of productivity, diversity, and soil parameters can indicate the disturbance level in each subarea from different perspectives. However, under disturbed conditions, a comprehensive analysis of these indicators is needed before we can accurately understand the state of health of the plant community.

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