Cliff‐edge forests: Xerothermic hotspots of local biodiversity and models for future climate change

Author:

Fragnière Yann1ORCID,Champoud Luca1ORCID,Küffer Nicolas1,Braillard Luc2ORCID,Jutzi Michael3,Wohlgemuth Thomas4ORCID,Kozlowski Gregor156ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Biology and Botanic Garden University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland

2. Department of Geosciences University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland

3. Info Flora, the National Data and Information Center on the Swiss Flora Bern Switzerland

4. Swiss Federal Institute of Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland

5. Eastern China Conservation Centre for Wild Endangered Plant Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden Shanghai China

6. Natural History Museum Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland

Abstract

AbstractCliffs are remarkable environments that enable the existence of microclimates. These small, isolated sites, decoupled from the regional macroclimate, play a significant role in maintaining species biodiversity, particularly in topographically homogeneous landscapes. Our study investigated the microclimate of south‐exposed forests situated at the edge of sandstone cliffs in the western part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin in Switzerland and its role in local forest community composition. Using direct measurements from data loggers, as well as vegetation analyses, it was possible to quantify the microclimate of the cliff‐edge forests and compare it with that of the surrounding forests. Our results highlighted the significant xerothermic and more variable nature of the cliff‐edge forest microclimate, with a mean soil temperature up to 3.72°C warmer in the summer, higher annual (+28%) and daily (+250%) amplitudes of soil temperature, which frequently expose vegetation to extreme temperatures, and an 83% higher soil drying rate. These differences have a distinct influence on forest communities: cliff‐edge forests are significantly different from surrounding forests. The site particularities of cliff edges support the presence of locally rare species and forest types, particularly of Scots pine. Cliff edges must therefore be considered microrefugia with a high conservation value for both xerothermic species and flora adapted to more continental climates. Moreover, the microclimate of cliff‐edge forests could resemble the future climate in many ways. We argue that these small areas, which are already experiencing the future climate, can be seen as natural laboratories to better answer the following question: what will our forests look like in a few decades with accelerated climate change?

Publisher

Wiley

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