Above- and belowground linkages shape responses of mountain vegetation to climate change

Abstract

Upward shifts of mountain vegetation lag behind rates of climate warming, partly related to interconnected changes belowground. Here, we unravel above- and belowground linkages by drawing insights from short-term experimental manipulations and elevation gradient studies. Soils will likely gain carbon in early successional ecosystems, while losing carbon as forest expands upward, and the slow, high-elevation soil development will constrain warming-induced vegetation shifts. Current approaches fail to predict the pace of these changes and how much they will be modified by interactions among plants and soil biota. Integrating mountain soils and their biota into monitoring programs, combined with innovative comparative and experimental approaches, will be crucial to overcome the paucity of belowground data and to better understand mountain ecosystem dynamics and their feedbacks to climate.

Mountain treelines climb slowly despite rapid climate warming

“…As multiple lines of evidence are demonstrating, global climate change is re‐shaping the distribution of many terrestrial organisms and ecosystems, including forests (Bhatta et al, 2018; Büntgen et al., 2015; Chen et al, 2011; Dial et al., 2016; Hagedorn et al, 2019; Lenoir et al, 2008). Cold biomes such as alpine treelines are thus regarded as relevant ecological indicators of climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems.…”

Moderate phosphorus additions consistently affect community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in tropical montane forests in southern Ecuador

“…Despite the large contribution of these forests to preserve Earth's biodiversity, many aspects of their ecology remain unresolved. Most notably, the role that soils -and soil dwelling organisms-play in shaping these ecosystems' response to global change drivers (Baez et al, 2015;Hagedorn et al, 2019). This is particularly relevant for tropical Andes, as montane forest soils store considerable amounts of carbon (C) (Girardin et al, 2010;Moser et al, 2011;Spracklen & Righelato, 2014), yet the drivers controlling C fluxes are shifting in this region.…”

A systematic review of participatory scenario planning to envision mountain social-ecological systems futures

“…Central to the well-being and survival of much of humanity, MtSES are confronted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land use conversion, and other long-term social-economic challenges (Cuni-Sanchez et al 2018, Hagedorn et al 2019, Klein et al 2019a, b, Rahbek et al 2019b, Steger et al 2020. For instance, the rate of warming is amplified as elevation increases (Hagedorn et al 2019), resulting in higher exposure to climate change in MtSES than the global average or in lower elevation regions (Pepin et al 2015, IPCC 2018.…”

“…Central to the well-being and survival of much of humanity, MtSES are confronted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land use conversion, and other long-term social-economic challenges (Cuni-Sanchez et al 2018, Hagedorn et al 2019, Klein et al 2019a, b, Rahbek et al 2019b, Steger et al 2020. For instance, the rate of warming is amplified as elevation increases (Hagedorn et al 2019), resulting in higher exposure to climate change in MtSES than the global average or in lower elevation regions (Pepin et al 2015, IPCC 2018. Such warming can lead to rising cloud bases or reduced overall cloud immersion, which plays an important ecological role in many tropical montane cloud forests by creating isolated patches of habitat with more fog and mist, high soil moisture and carbon storage, and unique species (Bruijnzeel et al 2011, Helmer et al 2019.…”