Mountain plant communities: Uncertain sentinels?
Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment
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Abstract
Mountain plant communities are thought to be sensitive to climate change and thus able to reveal its effects sooner than others. Two plant communities examined here, alpine treeline ecotones and alpine tundra, have been observed to respond to climate change in recent decades. Treeline has moved upslope and alpine tundra communities have had some species increase and others decrease. The response for both, however, has been inconsistent if taken as a whole. Problematic factors for this response are outlined for both: abiotic and biotic interactions partially decouple the plant communities from climate. Differences across spatial and temporal scales complicate interpretation. Partial decoupling leads to nonlinear responses and difficulties for prediction and for planning mitigation.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Mountain plant communities: Uncertain sentinels? |
| Series title | Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment |
| DOI | 10.1177/0309133319843873 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sage Journals |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center |
| Description | 23 p. |
| First page | 521 |
| Last page | 543 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |