A common soil temperature threshold for the upper limit of alpine grasslands in European mountains
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Published:2021-03-04
Issue:1
Volume:131
Page:41-52
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ISSN:1664-2201
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Container-title:Alpine Botany
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Alp Botany
Author:
Bürli SarahORCID, Theurillat Jean-PaulORCID, Winkler ManuelaORCID, Lamprecht AndreaORCID, Pauli HaraldORCID, Rixen ChristianORCID, Steinbauer KlausORCID, Wipf SonjaORCID, Abdaladze OtarORCID, Andrews ChristopherORCID, Barančok PeterORCID, Benito-Alonso José LuisORCID, Fernández Calzado Maria RosaORCID, Carranza Maria LauraORCID, Dick JanORCID, Erschbamer BrigittaORCID, Ghosn DanyORCID, Gigauri KhatunaORCID, Kazakis George, Mallaun Martin, Michelsen OttarORCID, Moiseev Dmitry, Moiseev PavelORCID, Molau Ulf, Molero Mesa JoaquínORCID, Morra di Cella UmbertoORCID, Nadeem ImranORCID, Nagy Laszlo, Nicklas LenaORCID, Palaj AndrejORCID, Pedersen BårdORCID, Petey Martina, Puşcaş MihaiORCID, Rossi GrazianoORCID, Stanisci AngelaORCID, Tomaselli MarcelloORCID, Unterluggauer Peter, Ursu Tudor-MihaiORCID, Villar Luis, Vittoz PascalORCID
Abstract
AbstractWhile climatic research about treeline has a long history, the climatic conditions corresponding to the upper limit of closed alpine grasslands remain poorly understood. Here, we propose a climatic definition for this limit, the ‘grassline’, in analogy to the treeline, which is based on the growing season length and the soil temperature. Eighty-seven mountain summits across ten European mountain ranges, covering three biomes (boreal, temperate, Mediterranean), were inventoried as part of the GLORIA project. Vascular plant cover was estimated visually in 326 plots of 1 × 1 m. Soil temperatures were measured in situ for 2–7 years, from which the length of the growing season and mean temperature were derived. The climatic conditions corresponding to 40% plant cover were defined as the thresholds for alpine grassland. Closed vegetation was present in locations with a mean growing season soil temperature warmer than 4.9 °C, or a minimal growing season length of 85 days, with the growing season defined as encompassing days with daily mean ≥ 1 °C. Hence, the upper limit of closed grasslands was associated with a mean soil temperature close to that previously observed at the treeline, and in accordance with physiological thresholds to growth in vascular plants. In contrast to trees, whose canopy temperature is coupled with air temperature, small-stature alpine plants benefit from the soil warmed by solar radiation and consequently, they can grow at higher elevations. Since substrate stability is necessary for grasslands to occur at their climatic limit, the grassline rarely appears as a distinct linear feature.
Funder
Fifth Framework Programme Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Département de la culture et des sports du Valais Departamento de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Aragón Stiftung Dr. Joachim de Giacomi Fondation Mariétan Italian project of strategic interest NextData MAVA Foundation Frignano Regional Park Norwegian Environment Agency Ordesa & Monte Perdido National Park etc, etc; see manuscript, as the system is not working Université de Lausanne
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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