Rainfall and temperature change drive Arnica montana population dynamics at the Northern distribution edge

Vikane, Jan H.; Rydgren, Knut; Jongejans, Eelke; Vandvik, Vigdis

doi:10.1007/s00442-019-04519-5

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 46 publications

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“…However, similarly stress‐induced declines in vital rates of A. montana populations were also reported at the species’ other distribution range edges as response to environmental stress. For example at the northern distribution range edge, which is characterised by high humidity and moisture, population growth rates and flowering decreased with increasing precipitation and increasing temperatures (Vikane, Rydgren, Jongejans, & Vandvik, 2019). Likewise in another study, the flowering performance (i.e., No.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer aridity rather than management shapes fitness‐related functional traits of the threatened mountain plant Arnica montana

Stanik

Lampei

Rosenthal

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Semi‐natural mountain grasslands are increasingly exposed to environmental stress under climate change. However, which are the environmental factors that limit plants in these grasslands? Also, is the present management effective against these changes? Fitness‐related functional traits may offer a way to detect changes in performance and provide new insights into their vulnerability to climate change. We investigated changes in performance and variability of functional traits of the mountain grassland target species Arnica montana along a climate gradient in Central German low mountain ranges. This gradient represents at its lower end climate conditions that are expected at its upper end under future climate change. We measured vegetative, generative, and physiological traits to account for multiple ways of plant responses to the environment. Using mixed effects and multivariate models, we evaluated changes in trait values among individuals as well as the variability of their populations in order to assess performance under changing summer aridity and different management regimes. Fitness‐related performance of most traits showed strongly positive associations with reduced summer aridity at higher elevations, while only specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content showed no association. This suggests a higher performance level at less arid montane sites and that the physiological traits are less sensitive to this climate change factor. The coefficient of variation of almost all traits declined steadily with decreasing site aridity. We suggest that this reduced variability indicates a lower environmental stress level for A. montana toward its environmental optimum at montane elevations, especially because the trait performance increased simultaneously. Surprisingly, management factors and habitat characteristics had only low influence on both trait performance and variability. In summary, summer aridity had a stronger effect to shape the trait performance and variability of A. montana under increased environmental stress than management and other habitat characteristics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer aridity rather than management shapes fitness‐related functional traits of the threatened mountain plant Arnica montana

Stanik

Lampei

Rosenthal

2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Neutral genetic diversity follows a latitudinal gradient in the endangered plant Arnica montana L.: a range-wide study

Capria,

Liepelt,

Eimert

et al. 2023

Conserv Genet

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Arnica montana is a clonal, self-incompatible herb of economic and intrinsic ecological value which is declining in large parts of its range. With the employment of microsatellite markers, we characterized the population structure and distribution of genetic diversity of 40 populations of A. montana sampled throughout Europe. We detected a clear geographical pattern of isolation and strong population structure, indicating limited gene flow. We also observed a negative latitudinal gradient in genetic diversity. Such patterns can be explained by paleo-historical colonization routes following the last glacial maximum, with regions characterized by higher genetic diversity corresponding to former glacial refugia. We recommend the implementation of conservation measures such as assisted gene flow in the populations characterized by low genetic diversity under consideration of the observed population structure. For the populations where high levels of genetic diversity are still retained, we recommend the maintenance of suitable habitat conditions. Our study emphasises the importance of conducting large-scale population genetic studies that consider postglacial recolonization history when planning active conservation measures such as assisted gene flow.

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Responses to changes in precipitation of plant species vary by functional groups on understories of temperate forests in central Japan

Otsu

Iijima

Nagaike

et al. 2023

Forest Ecology and Management

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Rainfall and temperature change drive Arnica montana population dynamics at the Northern distribution edge

Cited by 5 publications

References 46 publications

Summer aridity rather than management shapes fitness‐related functional traits of the threatened mountain plant Arnica montana

Summer aridity rather than management shapes fitness‐related functional traits of the threatened mountain plant Arnica montana

Neutral genetic diversity follows a latitudinal gradient in the endangered plant Arnica montana L.: a range-wide study

Responses to changes in precipitation of plant species vary by functional groups on understories of temperate forests in central Japan

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