Changes in the summit flora of a Mediterranean mountain (Sierra Nevada, Spain) as a possible effect of climate change/Cambios en la flora de alta montaña de una montaña mediterránea (Sierra Nevada, Spain) como un posible efecto del cambio climático

The evidences on climate change-induced impacts on alpine plant communities is growing and some of them warn us about the expected changes in vegetation of the generally fragmented Mediterranean high mountain areas in a warmer and drier future. Short-term (2001-2008) changes in vascular plant specie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mediterranean botany 2013-01, Vol.34, p.65
Main Authors: Calzado, Maria Rosa Fernández, Mesa, Joaquin Molero
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological diversity
Climate change
Effects
Flowers & plants
Mountains
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Summary:The evidences on climate change-induced impacts on alpine plant communities is growing and some of them warn us about the expected changes in vegetation of the generally fragmented Mediterranean high mountain areas in a warmer and drier future. Short-term (2001-2008) changes in vascular plant species richness, cover and abundance were studied on four summits in the Sierra Nevada (Spain). The resurvey revealed a decrease in species richness on each summit, which is confirmed by small-scale changes in species abundance within the same summits. These changes involve local losses of high-elevation endemic species as well as the new appearance of predominantly more widespread species. Some of the latter species were also observed to expand elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada. On a small scale, cover of several endemic species decreased and cover of some species that occur on a wider altitudinal range increased. Although the observed changes are statistically only marginally or not significant, they are largely consistent with pan-European studies suggesting stagnant or declining species richness on summits of the Mediterranean biome and a 'thermophilisation' of the species composition in high mountain plant communities over the past years. Even though we cannot rule out other non-climatic factors, our results give rise to concern about the situation of the mainly endemic high-altitude flora of the Sierra Nevada and give an incentive to intensify monitoring efforts. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:2603-9109