Influence of warming on timberline rising: a case study on Pinus peuce Griseb. in Bulgaria

Meshinev, Tenyo; Apostolova, Iva; Koleva, E.

doi:10.1127/phyto/30/2000/431

Cited by 70 publications

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“…Contemporary plant range shifts are most frequently reported from mountain regions, with elevational shifts of the mountain treeline being the most commonly documented response to increasing temperatures [8][9][10][11][12]. The distributions of species in mountain regions are typically restricted to relatively narrow and well-delineated altitudinal bands, in comparison with often broad and poorly defined latitudinal distributions in the lowlands.…”

Section: Climate Change and Shifting Plant Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Minimum temperatures are particularly important in limiting the poleward (see Glossary) expansion of plant species, whereas limited water availability interacts with high temperatures to exert a direct climatic limitation on their expansion in the opposite, or equatorial, direction in many regions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Changes in climate are, therefore, predicted to alter the geographic distribution of plant species at global to local scales.Contemporary plant range shifts are most frequently reported from mountain regions, with elevational shifts of the mountain treeline being the most commonly documented response to increasing temperatures [8][9][10][11][12]. The distributions of species in mountain regions are typically restricted to relatively narrow and well-delineated altitudinal bands, in comparison with often broad and poorly defined latitudinal distributions in the lowlands.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species

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Mátyás

Peñuelas

2009

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

427

369

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Increasing temperatures are driving rapid upward range shifts of species in mountains. An altitudinal range retreat of 10 m is predicted to translate into a $10-km latitudinal retreat based on the rate at which temperatures decline with increasing altitude and latitude, yet reports of latitudinal range retractions are sparse. Here, we examine potential climatic, biological, anthropogenic and methodological explanations for this disparity. We argue that the lack of reported latitudinal range retractions stems more from a lack of research effort, compounded by methodological difficulties, rather than from their absence. Given the predicted negative impacts of increasing temperatures on wide areas of the latitudinal distributions of species, the investigation of range retractions should become a priority in biogeographical research.Climate change and shifting plant distribution The geographical distribution of plants is strongly influenced by climate [1]. Minimum temperatures are particularly important in limiting the poleward (see Glossary) expansion of plant species, whereas limited water availability interacts with high temperatures to exert a direct climatic limitation on their expansion in the opposite, or equatorial, direction in many regions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Changes in climate are, therefore, predicted to alter the geographic distribution of plant species at global to local scales.Contemporary plant range shifts are most frequently reported from mountain regions, with elevational shifts of the mountain treeline being the most commonly documented response to increasing temperatures [8][9][10][11][12]. The distributions of species in mountain regions are typically restricted to relatively narrow and well-delineated altitudinal bands, in comparison with often broad and poorly defined latitudinal distributions in the lowlands. This strong altitudinal zonation of mountain vegetation, and its climatic sensitivity [13], makes mountains ideal 'natural laboratories' and favoured locations for the study of climate change impacts worldwide [13][14][15].The altitudinal compression of montane vegetation zones is due to a rapid decrease in temperature with increasing elevation ($5-6.5 8C per 1000 m) [3,14], which contrasts with a similar temperature decline occurring over $1000 km of latitude (6.9 8C at 458 N or S) [3]. An implication of this altitude-for-latitude temperature model is that general biogeographical patterns resulting from the climatic limitations imposed on plants in mountains should also be observed in neighbouring lowland regions with similar temperature and moisture regimes. Distributional shifts already observed in mountain plants [8,[16][17][18] should, therefore, be mirrored by lowland range changes occurring over distances that are several orders of magnitude larger (Figure 1).Here, we discuss the implications of the altitude-forlatitude model for shifts in plant distributions and examine why lowland range shifts, particularly range retractions, are rarely reported. We discuss potential climati...

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Section: Climate Change and Shifting Plant Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species

Jump

Mátyás

Peñuelas

2009

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

427

369

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“…This process is quantitatively paralleled elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere (Kremenetski et al, 1999;Meshinev et al, 2000;Butler and Dechano, 2001;Munroe, 2003) as a plausible manifestation of broad-scale climate change. Obviously for the same reason, emergence of new stems within the advance zone (between the old and new treelines) is now a conspicuous process in many instances (Butler and Dechano, 2001;Kullman, 2001Kullman, , 2004dLloyd and Fastie, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Wind-Conditioned 20th Century Decline of Birch Treeline Vegetation in the Swedish Scandes

Kullman¹

2010

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. The study focused on a frequent, although not dominant, mode of treeline change in the Swedish Scandes over the past century. Monitoring of stand density decline in a wind-exposed subalpine birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) population was carried out over the past 30 years. The overall result included substantial and unbalanced individual mortality and a drastic reduction in stature of surviving birches. Radiocarbon dating of in situ subfossil birch-tree remains in an adjoining but windier site revealed complete stand demise over the past century or so. It is inferred that the extant and extinct birch populations represent different phases in an unbroken process of stand-level demise, hypothetically initiated in response to reindeer disturbance during the final phase of the Little Ice Age. This process was subsequently communicated more or less autogenically in a leeward direction as a consequence of the exposed and drought-prone nature of the site. Increasing westerly wind circulation and decreasing soil moisture (earlier snowmelt) during the past century may have contributed in this respect, although these aspects require further study. Within strongly wind-exposed terrain, a century of substantial warming has not sufficed to offset the birch decline. The results highlight the conclusion that under certain circumstances, wind and associated ecological and physiological effects are the overriding determinants of treeline position and structure. These are fundamental insights for generating realistic landscape-scale models of treeline change in a hypothetically warmer future.Key words: Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa, deflation, drought, models, reindeer, retrogression, Swedish Scandes, treeline, warming, wind RÉSUMÉ. Cette étude porte sur un mode fréquent, bien que non dominant, de changement de la limite des arbres dans les Scandes suédoises au cours du siècle précédent. Durant les 30 dernières années, on a suivi le déclin dans la densité d'un peuplement de bouleaux pubescents subalpins (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) qui étaient exposés au vent. Le résultat global comprenait une importante mortalité individuelle non compensée ainsi qu'une baisse radicale dans la taille des bouleaux survivants. La datation au radiocarbone de restes subfossiles de bouleaux trouvés in situ dans un lieu voisin mais plus venteux a révélé qu'un peuplement s'était complètement effondré au cours du siècle dernier ou à peu près. On en déduit que les peuplements de bouleaux existants et disparus représentent différentes phases d'un processus ininterrompu d'effondrement du niveau de peuplement, qui aurait son origine dans la perturbation causée par le renne durant l'ultime phase du petit âge glaciaire. Ce processus s'est ensuite poursuivi de façon plus ou moins autogène dans la direction du vent en raison de la nature du site qui était exposé au vent et à la sécheresse. Un accroissement de la circulation du vent d'ouest et une diminution de l'humidité du sol (fonte des neiges précoce) au cours du siècle dernier pourraient...

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“…There is already evidence that such changes in species ranges have occurred during the 20th century, e.g. the tree line has advanced towards higher altitudes in Europe (Meshinev et al, 2000;Kullman 2001), and alpine plants have shown elevational shifts of 1-4 m per decade certain biomes only, and not the future distribution of biomes. Little change is foreseen for tropical rain forests, for the Sahara as well as for warm grass and xerophytic woods south of it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Climate Change on Vegetation Distribution No. 1 -- Climate Change Induced Vegetation Shifts in the Palearctic Region

Garamvölgyi¹

2013

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. Global average temperature has increased and precipitation pattern has altered over the past 100 years due to increases in greenhouse gases. These changes will alter numerous site factors and biochemical processes of vegetative communities such as nutrient and water availability, permafrost thawing, fire regime, biotic interactions and invasion. As a consequence, climate change is expected to alter distribution ranges of many species and communities as well as boundaries of biomes. Shifting of species and vegetation zones northwards and upwards in elevation has already been observed. Besides, several experiments have been conducted and simulations have been run all over the world in order to predict possible range shifts and ecological risks. In this paper, we review literature available in Web of Science on Europe and boreal Eurasia and give an overview of observed and predicted changes in vegetation in these regions. The main trends include advance of the tree line, reduction of the alpine vegetation belt, drought risk, forest diebacks, a shift from coniferous forests to deciduous forests and invasion. It is still controversial if species migration will be able to keep pace with climate change.

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Influence of warming on timberline rising: a case study on Pinus peuce Griseb. in Bulgaria

Cited by 70 publications

References 0 publications

The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species

The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species

Wind-Conditioned 20th Century Decline of Birch Treeline Vegetation in the Swedish Scandes

Impacts of Climate Change on Vegetation Distribution No. 1 -- Climate Change Induced Vegetation Shifts in the Palearctic Region

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