Divergent responses of alpine bryophytes and lichens to climate change in the Swiss Alps

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Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_3EB4D6D2FA16
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Divergent responses of alpine bryophytes and lichens to climate change in the Swiss Alps
Journal
Journal of Vegetation Science
Author(s)
Mayo de la Iglesia Rut, Miserere Luca, Vust Mathias, Theurillat Jean-Paul, Randin Christophe, Vittoz Pascal
ISSN
1100-9233
1654-1103
Publication state
Published
Issued date
07/2024
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
35
Number
4
Pages
e13292
Language
english
Abstract
Questions The alpine vegetation of the Alps is particularly vulnerable to climate change, as the temperature increase in this region is twice the global average and the available area for new colonisations decreases with increasing elevation. While numerous studies have investigated the response of vascular plants to a warming climate in the alpine belt, only a handful have investigated that of cryptogams in the European Alps. Based on a 21-year monitoring project, we assessed the effects of climate change on cryptogams along elevation, from the treeline to the subnival belt. Location Four GLORIA summits in Valais (Switzerland). Methods Between 2001 and 2022, terricolous lichens and bryophytes (from 2008) were inventoried in 52 1-m2 plots distributed across four summits: 2360 m a.s.l. (treeline), 2550 m (lower alpine), 2990 m (upper alpine) and 3210 m (subnival). Changes in species cover and richness were analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects model (GLMMs). Results For bryophytes, total cover remained stable overall. However, six species declined significantly between 2008 and 2022, and the species richness decreased after 2015. For terricolous lichens, total cover significantly increased on the lower alpine summit, while species richness increased on the upper alpine and subnival summits. Conclusions Bryophytes have probably suffered from the increasingly dry conditions, with a succession of very warm and dry summers over the last decades. Terricolous lichens have taken advantage of the warmer conditions to increase their cover on the lower alpine summit, and new species have colonised the upper summits. However, as they compete with vascular plants for soil and light, they may suffer from shrub and tree encroachment in the future and will be limited upwards by the rarity of developed soils. The large topo-climatic gradient (850 m) and the length of the time series suggest that similar trends are likely to be more widespread across the Alps.
Keywords
GLORIA, bryophyte, lichen, climate change, alpine belt, permanent plots, monitoring
Open Access
Yes
Create date
20/08/2024 9:15
Last modification date
05/09/2024 10:00
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