The vegetation in a high alpine site of the European Alps experienced changes in area between 1953 and 2003 as a result of climate change. Shrubs showed rapid expansion rates of 5.6% per decade at altitudes between 2400 m and 2500 m. Above 2500 m, vegetation coverage exhibited unexpected patterns of regression associated with increased precipitation and permafrost degradation. As these changes follow a sharp increase in both summer and annual temperatures after 1980, we suggest that vegetation of the alpine (2400-2800 m) and nival (above 2800 m) belts respond in a fast and flexible way, contradicting previous hypotheses that alpine and nival species appear to have a natural inertia and are able to tolerate an increase of 1-2 degrees C in mean air temperature.

Cannone, N., Sgorbati, S., Guglielmin, M. (2007). Unexpected impacts of climate change on alpine vegetation. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 5(7), 360-364 [10.1890/1540-9295(2007)5[360:UIOCCO]2.0.CO;2].

Unexpected impacts of climate change on alpine vegetation

SGORBATI, SERGIO;
2007

Abstract

The vegetation in a high alpine site of the European Alps experienced changes in area between 1953 and 2003 as a result of climate change. Shrubs showed rapid expansion rates of 5.6% per decade at altitudes between 2400 m and 2500 m. Above 2500 m, vegetation coverage exhibited unexpected patterns of regression associated with increased precipitation and permafrost degradation. As these changes follow a sharp increase in both summer and annual temperatures after 1980, we suggest that vegetation of the alpine (2400-2800 m) and nival (above 2800 m) belts respond in a fast and flexible way, contradicting previous hypotheses that alpine and nival species appear to have a natural inertia and are able to tolerate an increase of 1-2 degrees C in mean air temperature.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
alpine vegetation, climate change
English
set-2007
5
7
360
364
none
Cannone, N., Sgorbati, S., Guglielmin, M. (2007). Unexpected impacts of climate change on alpine vegetation. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 5(7), 360-364 [10.1890/1540-9295(2007)5[360:UIOCCO]2.0.CO;2].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/534
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