Climate change aggravates bog species extinctions in the Black Forest (Germany)

Abstract

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Widespread decline in Central European plant diversity across six decades

“…Most studies report that declines in species richness and changes in community composition are strongest in agricultural landscape (e.g., Meyer et al, 2013; Meyer, Bergmeier, et al, 2015; Meyer, Wesche, et al, 2015). However, plot‐level analyses may not allow for a straightforward extrapolation to larger scales due to several biases, for example, in the spatial (i.e., habitat) representativeness of the plots or local differences in disturbances or management (Cardinale et al, 2018; Sperle & Bruelheide, 2020). Ignoring the local, and potentially spatially biased, small‐scale patterns may lead to erroneous conclusions on large‐scale net changes in biodiversity (Cardinale et al, 2018; Gonzalez et al, 2016; Sax & Gaines, 2003).…”

A Machine Learning Framework for the Classification of Natura 2000 Habitat Types at Large Spatial Scales Using MODIS Surface Reflectance Data

“…Nevertheless, it is possible to identify trends and compare them with the results of other studies. In a survey of the flora of the Black Forest, Sperle and Bruelheide [46] detected a decrease in vascular plant species characteristic for transition mires and degraded raised bogs, which was associated with climate change effects. While the decline in individual plant species does not yet affect the presence of the habitat type to which they are allocated, this finding is still consistent with trends reflected in our results, also indicating a decline at the habitat level.…”

Rising temperature modulates pH niches of fen species

“…Macroclimate temperature tightly coincides with nutrient availability, and these two factors act in concert in forming the species' responses to climate change (Jeppesen et al, 2010; Sperle & Bruelheide, 2021). Enhanced temperature causes a higher decomposition of organic matter and, in turn, increases nutrient availability.…”

“…The pattern of positive pH-climate interaction has important implications for explaining the past and current distribution patterns and habitat affinities of endangered calcicole rich-fen species in Central and Southern Europe (Dítě et al, 2018;Hájková et al, 2018;Sperle & Bruelheide, 2021). These species are expected to have had much wider niches and distributions in cold and wet periods of the Quaternary (Dítě et al, 2018;Jiménez-Alfaro et al, 2016), as evidenced for Carex dioica, C. limosa, Cinclidium stygium, Eriophorum gracile, Ligularia sibirica, Paludella squarrosa, Primula farinosa agg., Pseudocalliergon trifarium, Saxifraga hirculus, Scorpidium scorpioides and Sphagnum obtusum (Dítě et al, 2018;Hájek et al, 2011).…”

“…Nutrient‐limited wetland ecosystems, such as small‐sedge, tall‐sedge and moss‐sedge spring and quaking fens (according to the EUNIS habitat classification; Chytrý et al, 2020), are rapidly declining habitats worldwide because of direct destruction, groundwater drawdown, eutrophication and changes in disturbance regimes (Janssen et al, 2016; Spitale, 2021; van Diggelen et al, 2006). As in other cold‐adapted, low‐productivity ecosystems, ongoing climate warming may accelerate the loss of diversity in fens (Jiménez‐Alfaro et al, 2016; Sperle & Bruelheide, 2021). Many direct ecophysiological effects may act, such as phenological shifts to unfavourable parts of the year, respiration increasing more than photosynthesis, an imbalance between growth and water use efficiency, increased water stress by increasing transpiration, or stress from increased numbers of freeze‐thaw cycles in winter (Crawford, 2008; He et al, 2016; Küttim et al, 2019; Niu et al, 2011).…”