Does tree canopy closure moderate the effect of climate warming on plant species composition of temperate Himalayan oak forest?

Bhatta, Kuber Prasad; Vetaas, Ole R.

doi:10.1111/jvs.12423

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Moreover, the climatic responses of species are often masked and modified due to confounding factors, such as land‐use changes (see Lenoir et al. , Bhatta and Vetaas ). A paucity of standard vegetation and land‐use data from many biodiversity‐rich regions, such as the Himalayas, makes the task even more challenging.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, climate‐driven changes in species composition and geographical distribution are not well documented (but see Telwala et al. , Bhatta and Vetaas , Dolezal et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the climate change-related studies from the region are focused on glacial dynamics and hydrology (e.g., Aryal 2011, IPCC 2013 and references therein), treeline dynamics (e.g., Schickhoff et al 2016 andreferences therein, Suwal et al 2016), and the phenological response of species (e.g., Shrestha et al 2012, Hart et al 2014). However, climate-driven changes in species composition and geographical distribution are not well documented (but see Telwala et al 2013, Bhatta and Vetaas 2016, Dolezal et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Downhill shift of alpine plant assemblages under contemporary climate and land‐use changes

2018

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Compositional changes in Himalayan vegetation in response to the major drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change and land‐use change, are barely documented. We quantify temporal changes in the alpine vegetation of central Nepal and attribute these changes to temporally varying climatic and land‐use factors. We re‐surveyed the alpine vegetation of two locations within Langtang National Park, central Nepal, after 25 yr using 127 plots of 100 m2. Using ordination, regression, and weighted average regression and calibration techniques, we analyzed the changes in terms of species abundance, frequency, and elevational shift in relation to changing atmospheric temperature, precipitation, and livestock grazing. We found a significant increase in the frequency and relative abundance of the majority of species, which was significantly related to the temporal trends in climatic factors and grazing intensity. Out of 12 species with unimodal responses along the elevation gradient during both surveys, the optima of eight species decreased over the time period. The observed elevations of 62 out of 92 sample plots (hence, species composition) in 2014 were lower than the elevations calibrated from species composition and elevation of 1990, indicating an overall downward shift of species assemblages. However, an upward shift of assemblages was also observed at higher elevations. These results indicate that the observed temporal changes in alpine vegetation, largely contrasting the expected upslope shift of species due to climate warming, are driven most likely by interactions of contemporary climate and land‐use changes, especially reduced grazing. The complex interactions and feedback mechanisms between warmer winters, increased precipitation, reduced grazing pressure, and thereby altered species interactions most likely facilitated the downslope shift of alpine species assemblages. Climatic and land‐use responses of plant species assemblages should therefore be studied focusing on the potential interactions between both the climatic and the land‐use factors because such interactions and feedback mechanisms have potential to mask or modify the expected climatic or land‐use response of biodiversity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, climate‐driven changes in species composition and geographical distribution are not well documented (but see Telwala et al. , Bhatta and Vetaas , Dolezal et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Downhill shift of alpine plant assemblages under contemporary climate and land‐use changes

2018

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“…Several recent studies document an upslope or poleward shift of species at the treeline and suggest that this is partly as a result of recent global warming (Bhatta and Vetaas 2016;e.g. Matteodo et al 2013;Parmesan and Yohe 2003;Sturm et al 2001;Telwala et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land-use change under a warming climate facilitated upslope expansion of Himalayan silver fir (Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach)

Suwal

Shrestha²,

Guragain³

et al. 2016

Plant Ecol

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Global warming is triggering some species to shift towards the poles or higher elevations, but spatial translocation is also influenced by land-use regime or intensity. The Himalayan climate is getting warmer and land use has changed, reducing in intensity in some areas. We estimated the upper species limit (USL) and tree limit of Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach and assessed whether these have changed over recent years. We hypothesise an upslope shift in response to enhanced temperature and changes in land-use intensity. Our four transects were located in treeline ecotones of two protected areas in Nepal, namely Manaslu Conservation Area (3 transects) and Gaurishankar Conservation Area (1 transect). Transects (20 m wide) ran from the USL of A. spectabilis down towards the treeline and beyond to the forest line. Length of each transect varied depending on local conditions. Co-ordinates, elevation, height and age of each A. spectabilis individual along the transects were recorded. We noted an upward shift of both the USL and the tree limit. The rate of shift was ca. 20 m per decade for the USL and 12 m per decade for the tree limit in the area of reduced land-use intensity and in the area with no change in land use, 5 m per decade for the USL, but almost nil for tree limit. The seedling density was higher below the treeline than above. Reduced intensity of land use was the dominant factor in upslope shift of A. spectabilis at both the USL and the tree limit.

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“…In temperate deciduous and mixed forests worldwide, great changes in the species composition have been noted-in North America (Varner et al, 2016), Europe (Brzeziecki, Pommerening, Miścicki, Drozdowski, & Żybura, 2016), and Asia (Bhatta & Vetaas, 2016). The general global pattern is a shift from shade-intolerant species to more mesophytic species adapted to closed-canopy (Brose, Dey, & Waldrop, 2014), described in the North American literature as the mesophication phenomenon (Nowacki & Abrams, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesophication in temperate Europe: A dendrochronological reconstruction of tree succession and fires in a mixed deciduous stand in Białowieża Forest

Spînu

Niklasson

Zin

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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1. The shift from shade-intolerant species to shade-tolerant mesophytic species in deciduous and mixed forests of the temperate zone is well described in studies from North America. This process has been termed mesophication and it has been linked to changes in fire regime. Fire suppression results in the cessation of establishment of heliophytic, fire-dependent tree species such as oak (Quercus) and pine (Pinus). Due to the scarcity of old-growth forests in Europe, data on long-term compositional changes in mixed forests are very limited, as is the number of studies exploring whether fire played a role in shaping the dynamics.2. The aim of this study was to reconstruct tree succession in a 43-ha natural mixed deciduous forest stand in Białowieża Forest (BF), Poland using dendrochronological methods. In addition, the presence of aboveground fire legacies (charred and fire-scarred deadwood) enabled the fire history reconstruction. 3. Dendrochronological data revealed tree establishment (Quercus) back to the end of the 1500s and fires back to 1659. Under a regime of frequent fires until the end of the 18th century, only oak and pine regenerated, sporadically. A shift in the fire regime in the first half of the 19th century triggered oak and pine cohort regeneration, then gradually spruce (Picea) encroached. Under an increasingly dense canopy and less flammable conditions, regeneration of shade-tolerant Carpinus, Tilia,and Acer began simultaneously with the cessation of oak and pine recruitment. Synthesis. The study reports the first evidence of mesophication in temperateEurope and proves that fire was involved in shaping the long-term dynamics of mixed deciduous forest ecosystems. Our data suggest that fire exclusion promoted a gradual recruitment of fire-sensitive, shade-tolerant species that inhibited the regeneration of oak and pine in BF. K E Y W O R D Sage structure, disturbance regime, fire suppression, forest history, oak trees, pine trees

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Does tree canopy closure moderate the effect of climate warming on plant species composition of temperate Himalayan oak forest?

Cited by 25 publications

References 42 publications

Downhill shift of alpine plant assemblages under contemporary climate and land‐use changes

Downhill shift of alpine plant assemblages under contemporary climate and land‐use changes

Land-use change under a warming climate facilitated upslope expansion of Himalayan silver fir (Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach)

Mesophication in temperate Europe: A dendrochronological reconstruction of tree succession and fires in a mixed deciduous stand in Białowieża Forest

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