Effects of climate change on mountain ecosystems -- upward shifting of alpine plants

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:470954

Pauli, H; Gottfried, G; Grabherr, G

Ecosystems at high latitudes and altitudes are particularly sensitive to climate change. As an effect of global warming, upward shifting of plant species or entire vegetation belts in high mountain systems like the European Alps are predicted for the near future. Less productive mountain plants might become overgrown by more productive species from lower vegetation belts. The habitats of alpine and nival vegetation would be restricted dramatically, which might result in extinctions, particularly of summit floras. Evidence of upward movement of vascular plants in high mountains was recently empirically determined in the Austrian and Swiss Alps. During the summers of 1992 and 1993, data on the flora of 30 high summits was collected. A comparison of the recent investigations with historical records from the same peaks, which were researched between 1895 and 1953, indicated a distinct increase of species richness at 70% of the summits. This evidence of upward shifting of high mountain plants may already be a measurable result of global warming since the mid-19th century.

• OSTI ID: 470954
• Report Number(s): CONF-960420--; ISBN 0-884736-02-5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALPS
AUSTRIA
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SWITZERLAND
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS