8800 years of high-altitude vegetation and climate history at the Rutor Glacier forefield, Italian Alps. Evidence of middle Holocene timberline rise and glacier contraction

Badino, Federica; Ravazzi, Cesare; Vallé, Francesca; Pini, Roberta; Aceti, A; Brunetti, Michele; Champvillair, Elena; Maggi, Valter; Maspero, Francesco; Perego, Renata; Orombelli, G.

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.01.022

Cited by 32 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Both timberline and tree line were also higher in the Carpathians and the Scandes during the HTM until c . 5,000–4,500 cal year bp (e.g., Badino et al, ; Barnekow, ; Bergman, Hammarlund, Hannon, Barnekow, & Wohlfarth, ; Eide et al, ; Feurdean et al, ; Orbán et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…−100 to 200 m) was mainly controlled by climate (e.g., Heiri et al, ; Tinner & Theurillat, ). However, climate has been interpreted as the main driver modifying vegetation dynamics in the La Thuile Valley (Northern Italian Alps; Badino et al, ). Likewise, human impact already amplified the effects of the regional cooling since c .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding site-specific variations, both tree line and timberline in the Alps show highest positions at c. 10,000-4,500 cal year bp (Heiri et al, 2014;Tinner & Theurillat, 2003 (Figure 7). Both timberline and tree line were also higher in the Carpathians and the Scandes during the HTM until c. 5,000-4,500 cal year bp (e.g., Badino et al, 2018;Barnekow, 1999;Bergman, Hammarlund, Hannon, Barnekow, & Wohlfarth, 2005;Eide et al, 2006;Feurdean et al, 2016;Orbán et al, 2017). (Elkington, 1971 After the HTM northern hemisphere summer temperatures declined during the NGC (Davis, Menounos, & Osborn, 2009;Kumar, 2011).…”

Section: Altitudinal Tree Range Fluctuations At the End Of The Htmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Theurillat, 2003). However, climate has been interpreted as the main driver modifying vegetation dynamics in the La Thuile Valley (Northern Italian Alps;Badino et al, 2018). Likewise, human impact already amplified the effects of the regional cooling since c. 4,200 cal year bp in the Retezat Mountains (Southern Carpathians;Orbán et al, 2017) whereas in the Rodna Mountains, the lowering of the timberline and tree line ecotone was not strongly impacted by humans until c. 3,500 cal year bp…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ice cave reveals environmental forcing of long‐term Pyrenean tree line dynamics

et al. 2018

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Tree lines are supposed to react sensitively to the current global change. However, the lack of a long‐term (millennial) perspective on tree line shifts in the Pyrenees prevents understanding the underlying ecosystem dynamics and processes. We combine multiproxy palaeoecological analyses (fossil pollen, spores, conifer stomata, plant macrofossils, and ordination) from an outstanding ice cave deposit located in the alpine belt c. 200 m above current tree line (Armeña‐A294 Ice Cave, 2,238 m a.s.l.), to assess for the first time in the Pyrenees, tree line dynamics, and ecosystem resilience to climate changes 5,700–2,200 (cal.) years ago. The tree line ecotone was located at the cave altitude from 5,700 to 4,650 cal year bp, when vegetation consisted of open Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC and Betula spp. Woodlands and timberline were very close to the site. Subsequently, tree line slightly raised and timberline reached the ice cave altitude, exceeding its today's uppermost limit by c. 300–400 m during more than four centuries (4,650 and 4,200 cal year bp) at the end of the Holocene Thermal Maximum. After 4,200 cal year bp, alpine tundra communities dominated by Dryas octopetala L. expanded while tree line descended, most likely as a consequence of the Neoglacial cooling. Prehistoric livestock raising likely reinforced climate cooling impacts at 3,450–3,250 cal year bp. Finally, a tree line ecotone developed around the cave that was on its turn replaced by alpine communities during the past 2,000 years. Synthesis. The long‐term Pyrenean tree line ecotone sensitivity suggests that rising temperatures will trigger future P. uncinata and Betula expansions to higher elevations, replacing arctic–alpine plant species. Climate change is causing the rapid melting of the cave ice; rescue investigations would be urgently needed to exploit its unique ecological information.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Altitudinal Tree Range Fluctuations At the End Of The Htmmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Ice cave reveals environmental forcing of long‐term Pyrenean tree line dynamics

et al. 2018

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“…During the last three decades, especially since the 1990s, publications on this topic have rapidly increased (by about 90%), partly in a broader context with the change of vegetation and biodiversity, and the expected implications for the ecosystem functions and services of high-elevation forests (e.g., [88,134,167,) ( Figure 3). Dendrochronology, pollen analysis, sediment analysis, and radiocarbon-dating of fossil wood remains (mega fossils) have provided a profound insight into Holocene treeline fluctuations (e.g., [203,[206][207][208][209][210][211][212][213][214][215][216][217][218][219][220][221][222][223][224]). In not a few cases their after-effects have lastingly influenced the current treeline position and spatial patterns (e.g., [1,2] and references therein).…”

Section: Treeline Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treeline Research—From the Roots of the Past to Present Time. A Review

Holtmeier¹,

Broll

2019

Forests

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Elevational and polar treelines have been studied for more than two centuries. The aim of the present article is to highlight in retrospect the scope of treeline research, scientific approaches and hypotheses on treeline causation, its spatial structures and temporal change. Systematic treeline research dates back to the end of the 19th century. The abundance of global, regional, and local studies has provided a complex picture of the great variety and heterogeneity of both altitudinal and polar treelines. Modern treeline research started in the 1930s, with experimental field and laboratory studies on the trees’ physiological response to the treeline environment. During the following decades, researchers’ interest increasingly focused on the altitudinal and polar treeline dynamics to climate warming since the Little Ice Age. Since the 1970s interest in treeline dynamics again increased and has considerably intensified from the 1990s to today. At the same time, remote sensing techniques and GIS application have essentially supported previous analyses of treeline spatial patterns and temporal variation. Simultaneously, the modelling of treeline has been rapidly increasing, often related to the current treeline shift and and its implications for biodiversity, and the ecosystem function and services of high-elevation forests. It appears, that many seemingly ‘new ideas’ already originated many decades ago and just confirm what has been known for a long time. Suggestions for further research are outlined.

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Quantifying glacial erosion on a limestone bed and the relevance for landscape development in the Alps

Steinemann

Ivy‐Ochs

Grazioli

et al. 2020

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Glacial erosion is the basic process that has shaped the landscapes of the Alps. Despite intense research over centuries, and the use of various techniques, determination of glacial erosion rates remains challenging. This is not only because the location where the process occurs is almost inaccessible, but also because it is dependent on many different factors, including ice thickness and velocity, glacier thermal regime and lithology. Reported glacial erosion rates range over several orders of magnitude (0.01 to >10 mm a−1). Most studies focus on crystalline bedrock, whereas few researchers have investigated glacial erosion on limestone. Here we analyse glacially polished bedrock surfaces at the recently deglaciated forefield of the Tsanfleuron glacier, Swiss Alps. The nearly horizontally bedded limestone hosts a well‐developed karst system. Meltwater from the glacier drains into the subsurface within a few metres of the ice margin. By combining geomorphological mapping, measurement of cosmogenic 36Cl concentrations of glacially eroded bedrock surfaces and a numerical model (MECED), we quantify at each sample location the amount of rock removed during glacier occupation. The glacial erosion rates calculated from these values range from 0 to 0.08 mm a−1. These are orders of magnitude lower than values measured at comparable sites on crystalline bedrock. The high 36Cl concentrations we measured show that the Tsanfleuron glacier was unable to effectively erode the gently dipping, strongly karstified limestone. We suggest that this effect may play a key role in formation and preservation over many glacial cycles of high‐elevation, low‐relief limestone plateaus in the Alps. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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8800 years of high-altitude vegetation and climate history at the Rutor Glacier forefield, Italian Alps. Evidence of middle Holocene timberline rise and glacier contraction

Cited by 32 publications

References 95 publications

Ice cave reveals environmental forcing of long‐term Pyrenean tree line dynamics

Ice cave reveals environmental forcing of long‐term Pyrenean tree line dynamics

Treeline Research—From the Roots of the Past to Present Time. A Review

Quantifying glacial erosion on a limestone bed and the relevance for landscape development in the Alps

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