Climate change impacts on the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean grassland systems of Italy: A review

Abstract

The ongoing climate change, which is threatening grassland agroecosystems throughout Europe, is also evident in the Italian grasslands. These systems, often located in marginal areas, are species-rich ecosystems characterized by variable, and often unreliable, grass and forage production and strongly dependent on interactions between climate, soil and agricultural management practices (e.g. land abandonment, lack of investments on innovation, stocking rates reduction, etc.), making them very sensitive and vulnerable to climate change. This review draws from the scientific literature the impacts of current and expected climatic changes on grassland and forage crop systems framed in three different bio-climatic zones of Italy, namely the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean, and focussing on i) grassland biodiversity and vegetation and ii) forage production and quality. The main aims of this review are to i) revise the existing literature in the domain, highlighting different or common trends among different Italian biogeographical regions, ii) provide information on the main climatic impacts analysed and drivers involved in the studied evolutions, and iii) point out the knowledge gaps currently pending in order to hypothesize the future scenarios of research in this sector.
 Even if this review has pointed out differences in approaches, adopted methodologies and purposes of conducted researches, some common trends can be highlighted, though located in three different environments. Expected warming and modification on rainfall pattern will produce deep changes in vegetation of grassland types, with reduction or the disappearance of cold tolerant species and a spread of xeric/termophilous ones and shrubby vegetation and with a general upward shift of vegetation types in mountain areas. Moreover, a general reduction of aboveground biomass is expected, as summer droughts is considered a main driver able to force grassland productivity. Finally, warming and rainfall reduction are considered the main factors able to reduce forage quality and palatability of grasslands, as a consequence of reduction of nitrogen content in the available biomass and of the higher spread of less unpalatable species and shrubs. The hypothesis is that the information gained from this review can provide insights on the current level of knowledge on the expected impacts of climate change on Italian grassland systems, and support the development of policy strategies for adaptation at national level.

Putting permanent grassland at the heart of a European agroecological transition: Findings and questions arising from the ‘Ten Years for Agroecology’ (TYFA) scenario

“…This assumption is meant to reflect a not too high average taking into account a loss of production as compared with currently fertilized PG and potential losses due to climate change (e.g. (Dibari et al, 2021) for Italy). Long term processes have made PG critical for biodiversity conservation in Europe (Pärtel et al, 2005), and just under 30% of all habitats the EU has set to conserve as per the Biodiversity Convention today depends upon extensive livestock systems—and thus on PG (Halada et al, 2011). As PG contribute to maintain high levels of biodiversity within agroecosystems, they are thus instrumental in the provision of fundamental ecosystem services, amongst which pollination and pest control (Dainese et al, 2019).…”

“…This assumption is meant to reflect a not too high average taking into account a loss of production as compared with currently fertilized PG and potential losses due to climate change (e.g. (Dibari et al, 2021) for Italy).…”

A multidisciplinary approach unveils the distribution of the Alpine long-eared bat Plecotus macrobullaris in Italy

“…From a legal point of view, our ndings also include a novel administrative region within the area of presence of P. macrobullaris i.e., expand the responsibility of the species monitoring and implementation of conservation measures -as expected by the Habitats Directive -to additional authorities. Furthermore, the species was con rmed to occur in all the biogeographical regions of Italy, i.e., the Alpine, the Continental and the Mediterranean ones (Dibari et al 2021).…”

Uncertainties in the adaptation of alpine pastures to climate change based on remote sensing products and modelling

“…The response of European mountain plant assemblages to increasing temperatures (thermophilisation) also suggests a progressive decline of cold-tolerant high-altitude grassland communities (Gottfried et al, 2012) and landscape modifications with warming-induced upward range shifts (Engler et al, 2011). This may lead to both a decrease in areas suitable for pasture and a reduction in pasture diversity driven by low-4 quality vegetation types in the Alpine chain (Dibari et al, 2020), together with changes in grazing practices (Dibari et al, 2021). This is critical because most impacts on grassland ecosystems can be related to overgrazing and changes in the timing of livestock transhumance, with high stocking densities in particular causing a range of negative impacts on plant and animal communities, as observed in central France (Dumont et al, 2009) and in the Italian Maritime Alps (Negro et al, 2011).…”