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<p>High-elevation ecosystems are extremely sensitive to global warming, since biological and chemical processes are more temperature-sensitive in cold environments. To detect the ongoing effects of climate warming on relictual snowbeds at the southernmost border of the Italian South-Eastern Alps, we resurveyed 15 floristic snowbed plots after 17/18 years. We investigated how species richness varied with time, elevation, plot area and vegetation types, and assessed plant diversity using multiple alpha and beta-diversity indices. Vegetation dynamics was evaluated based on species fidelity to phytosociological classes and assessing species-specific abundance differences between historical and recent relevés identifying those species which are either increasing or decreasing, using the Cliff’s Delta Index. Changes in ecological conditions were inferred through Landolt ecological indicator values. Species richness and diversity indices increased significantly. Multiple spatial beta-diversity increased slightly and temporal beta-diversity changes were prevalently determined by the turnover in species abundances. In general, snowbeds tended to become more similar to the contiguous primary grasslands, a result of the decrease in snowbed specialist abundance, taken as a whole, and the corresponding increase in those of generalist non-snowbed species. The transition from snowbeds to primary grasslands was related to warmer, drier conditions as reported by modifications in ecological indicator values, underscoring a trend towards future reduction and disappearance of these snowbeds. The temporal change in the ratio between snowbed and non-snowbed species within our plots and those occurring across the Alps showed that snowbeds occurring on silicate-bedrock at higher elevations in inland valleys maintained more stable floristic assemblages.</p>

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Recent encroachment of snowbeds at the southern limit of their distribution in the Eastern Alps

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • Marcello Tomaselli,
  • Juri Nascimbene,
  • Michele Carbognani,
  • Filippo Grillo,
  • Silvano Lodetti,
  • Cesare Lasen,
  • Gianni Poloniato,
  • Matteo Gualmini,
  • Alessandro Petraglia,
  • Michele Adorni,
  • Stefano Leonardi

摘要

High-elevation ecosystems are extremely sensitive to global warming, since biological and chemical processes are more temperature-sensitive in cold environments. To detect the ongoing effects of climate warming on relictual snowbeds at the southernmost border of the Italian South-Eastern Alps, we resurveyed 15 floristic snowbed plots after 17/18 years. We investigated how species richness varied with time, elevation, plot area and vegetation types, and assessed plant diversity using multiple alpha and beta-diversity indices. Vegetation dynamics was evaluated based on species fidelity to phytosociological classes and assessing species-specific abundance differences between historical and recent relevés identifying those species which are either increasing or decreasing, using the Cliff’s Delta Index. Changes in ecological conditions were inferred through Landolt ecological indicator values. Species richness and diversity indices increased significantly. Multiple spatial beta-diversity increased slightly and temporal beta-diversity changes were prevalently determined by the turnover in species abundances. In general, snowbeds tended to become more similar to the contiguous primary grasslands, a result of the decrease in snowbed specialist abundance, taken as a whole, and the corresponding increase in those of generalist non-snowbed species. The transition from snowbeds to primary grasslands was related to warmer, drier conditions as reported by modifications in ecological indicator values, underscoring a trend towards future reduction and disappearance of these snowbeds. The temporal change in the ratio between snowbed and non-snowbed species within our plots and those occurring across the Alps showed that snowbeds occurring on silicate-bedrock at higher elevations in inland valleys maintained more stable floristic assemblages.