Potential warm-stage microrefugia for alpine plants: Feedback between geomorphological and biological processes

Gentili, Rodolfo; Baroni, Carlo; Caccianiga, Marco; Armiraglio, Stefano; Ghiani, A.; Citterio, Sandra

doi:10.1016/j.ecocom.2014.11.006

Cited by 72 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 107 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Heterogeneity of conditions may also explain why butterflies developing on herbs advanced their phenology with altitude, whereas those developing on woody plants delayed it. High mountain forbs and associated herbivores may also occur in low‐elevated climatically inverse gorges and valleys, where the season may in fact be postponed relative to higher elevations (Gentili et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenology responses of temperate butterflies to latitude depend on ecological traits

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Global change influences species’ seasonal occurrence, or phenology. In cold‐adapted insects, the activity is expected to start earlier with a warming climate, but contradictory evidence exists, and the reactions may be linked to species‐specific traits. Using data from the GBIF database, we selected 105 single‐brooded Holarctic butterflies inhabiting broad latitudinal ranges. We regressed patterns of an adult flight against latitudes of the records, controlling for altitude and year effects. Species with delayed flight periods towards the high latitudes, or stable flight periods across latitudes, prevailed over those that advanced their flight towards the high latitudes. The responses corresponded with the species’ seasonality (flight of early season species was delayed and flight of summer species was advanced at high latitudes) and oceanic vs. continental climatic niches (delays in oceanic, stability in continental species). Future restructuring of butterfly seasonal patterns in high latitudes will reflect climatic niches, and hence the evolutionary history of participating species.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenology responses of temperate butterflies to latitude depend on ecological traits

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, recently it has been proposed that some populations may be able to survive in microhabitat conditions called warm-stage microrefugia present in high mountains (Gentili et al 2015). Geomorphological variation such as aspect, slope, moraine ridge, ice caves in high mountains are likely to create these microrefusia, which may vary in temperature, soil moisture content, light, and wind exposure and may favor the survival of high altitude plants during warm period (Gentili et al 2013).…”

Section: Altitudinal Shifts Of Manang Species and Global Warmingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution pattern of vascular plant species of mountains in Nepal and their fate against global warming

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In fact, extinction rates on mountain summits have been low over the past century of warming (Grabherr et al, 1994;Jurasinski & Kreyling, 2007;Matteodo et al, 2013;Walther et al, 2005;Wipf, Stöckli, Herz, & Rixen, 2013), and to the best of our knowledge, no clear observational evidence for competitive exclusion of species in alpine plant communities is published to date. Microscale conditions such as microtopography, microclimate or substrate type can be far more important for species persistence than macroclimatic conditions (Gentili et al, 2015;Körner, 2003;Randin et al, 2009;Scherrer & Körner, 2011). For instance, the rich diversity of temperature conditions on mountain tops could shorten dispersal distances to suitable habitat, such as between aspects at the same elevation (Opedal, Armbruster, & Graae, 2015;Scherrer & Körner, 2011;Winkler et al, 2016) and provide microrefugia with suitable habitat conditions within a generally unfavourable regional climate (Dobrowski, 2011;Hannah et al, 2014;Patsiou, Conti, Zimmermann, Theodoridis, & Randin, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enough space in a warmer world? Microhabitat diversity and small‐scale distribution of alpine plants on mountain summits

Kulonen

Imboden

Rixen³

et al. 2017

Diversity and Distributions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim Global warming is predicted to shift distributions of mountain species upwards, driven by a release from climatic restrictions at their upper distribution limit and increased biotic pressure at their lower distribution limit. In alpine ecosystems, which are characterized by large microclimatic diversity and sparse vegetation cover, the relative importance of abiotic and biotic drivers for species distribution is poorly understood. To disentangle abiotic and biotic mechanisms affecting distributions of alpine species, we investigated how alpine plant species with differing elevational ranges and frequency trends over the past century differ in their microhabitat distribution, and how they respond to neighbouring vegetation. Location A total of 11 summits (2635—3410 m a.s.l.) in SE‐Switzerland. Methods We quantified the microscale abundance of 12 species in relation to biogeographic (frequency trend, i.e., change in occurrences over the past century, and elevational range on summits) and local microhabitat characteristics (temperature, substrate type). We assessed species size traits in relation to neighbouring vegetation characteristics to investigate possible neighbour interactions. Results Species with increasing frequency on summits over the past century were most abundant on scree and warmer slopes. Species with negative or stable frequency trends on summits were more abundant on organic soil and colder slopes. The preferred microhabitats of the latter were rarest overall, decreased with increasing elevation, and had the most competitive neighbours. Size of one high‐alpine specialist, Ranunculus glacialis was negatively related to cover of neighbouring vegetation, whereas other species showed no response to neighbours. Main conclusions Long‐term frequency trends of species correlate with their microhabitat association. Species with most negative frequency trends show preferences for the rarest microhabitat conditions, where they likely experience higher competitive pressure in a warming climate. This finding emphasizes the importance of characterizing microhabitat associations and microclimatic diversity to assess present and future distributions of alpine plant species.

show abstract

Potential warm-stage microrefugia for alpine plants: Feedback between geomorphological and biological processes

Cited by 72 publications

References 107 publications

Phenology responses of temperate butterflies to latitude depend on ecological traits

Phenology responses of temperate butterflies to latitude depend on ecological traits

Distribution pattern of vascular plant species of mountains in Nepal and their fate against global warming

Enough space in a warmer world? Microhabitat diversity and small‐scale distribution of alpine plants on mountain summits

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About