Short-term signals of climate change in Italian summit vegetation: observations at two GLORIA sites

Abstract

Short-term changes occurring in high mountain vegetation were analysed using the data from two Italian sites already part of the GLobal Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments (GLORIA -central Apennines and southwestern Alps). The study focused on a set of floristic (endemics), structural (life forms) and ecological (thermic vegetation indicator) variables. Vegetation data were collected according to the GLORIA multi-summit standardized method during the last decade. The re-visitation revealed a moderate decrease in regional endemic flora and significant variations in structural and ecological parameters. The increase in caespitose hemicryptophytes in both sites, in suffruticose chamaephytes in the central Apennines and in rosette-forming hemicryptophytes in the southwestern Alps emerged, highlighting the rapid responses of the alpine vegetation to climate warming. The increase in perennial life forms is related with the expansion of graminoids and small woody plants. These life forms seem to be most suitable to face climate warming in Italian summits. The increase in the thermic vegetation indicator exceeds the mean European summits increment, and this is due to the expansion of thermophilic species. Short-term analyses with fine spatial and temporal resolutions are still necessary to improve our understanding concerning species behaviour in high-elevation ecosystems.

How does climate change affect regeneration of Mediterranean high‐mountain plants? An integration and synthesis of current knowledge

“…; Gutiérrez‐Girón & Gavilán ; Stanisci et al . ). Retrospective studies have also provided clear evidence of rapid vegetation changes in Mediterranean high mountains, both by re‐visiting surveys (Petriccione ; Kelly & Goulden ; Jiménez‐Alfaro et al .…”

“…; Stanisci et al . ). In a recent standardised sampling study through major European mountain ranges (GLORIA initiative), the percentage of plant endemism found on some Mediterranean sites was outstanding (Stanisci et al .…”

Changes in composition, ecology and structure of high-mountain vegetation: a re-visitation study over 42 years

“…2013 ) vegetation analyses. Despite the peculiarities present in terms of the vegetation that characterize Mediterranean mountain habitats and their sensitivity to climatic variations, few studies have described the effects of climatic changes on Mediterranean high-mountain plant communities, and these studies mainly addressed a relatively short time period ( Petriccione 2005 ; Fernández Calzado and Molero 2013 ; Stanisci et al . 2014 ).…”

Effects of Autumn and Spring Heat Waves on Seed Germination of High Mountain Plants

“…Recent climate change has already had an impact on biological systems worldwide, and mountain ecosystems are considered particularly susceptible [ 17 , 18 ]. In response to gradual warming, phenological shifts have already been observed in alpine plants [ 19 ], with expansion or compression of the reproductive period [ 20 ], thermophilization of communities [ 21 ], alteration of species composition, or species migration and extinction [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. However, the effect of climate extremes in these environments is still unclear, as they have been shown to have both positive and negative impacts on plants [ 25 ].…”