b78f5f01-c959-4160-ae71-3dbbcc9079be eng Ev-K2-CNR +39 035 3230511 +39 035 3230551 Via San Bernardino 145 Bergamo BG 24126 Italy metadata@evk2cnr.org http://www.evk2cnr.org/ 2012-03-12T17:27:25 ISO 19115:2003/19139 1.0 Response of alpine plant flower production to temperature and snow cover fluctuation at the species range boundary 2011-11-13T00:00:00 BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES PLANT ECOLOGY Volume 213, Number 1, 1-13 PLANT ECOLOGY Volume 213, Number 1, 1-13 1385-0237 Surface temperatures have risen globally during the last 30 years, especially in alpine areas. It is recognized that these increases are influencing phenology, physiology and distribution of plants. However, few studies have addressed the effects of climate warming at the species range boundary, where plants are expected to be more stressed. We analysed 11-year data sets of inflorescence production of four alpine plants (Carex foetida, Leucanthemopsis alpina, Senecio incanus, Silene suecica) at the southern boundary of their distribution range in the N-Apennines (N-Italy), in relation to air temperature and snow cover persistence. Inflorescence production of all species fluctuated greatly and was significantly affected by the variation of the mean temperature of June/July. We found significant relationships also between species data series and the snow cover persistence. Moreover, species responded differently to such parameters. One species showed a significant decrease of the reproductive effort, whereas the other three showed a stable trend of inflorescence production. We have shown that some alpine species are favoured by increased temperature and reduced snow cover even at the boundary of their range, where they are thought to be particularly sensitive to warming. However, the aptitude to cope with climate change might be limited by competition against thermophilous species migrating from lower altitude and in some cases by the low altitude of mountain peaks that prevent species upward migration. The individualistic response of species to climate change found here, support the statement that the composition of plant communities might rapidly change in the future. Thomas Abeli Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, +39 3387038738 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 Italy thomas.abeli@unipv.it thomabeli@yahoo.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove/welcome.html Graziano Rossi Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, +39 0382984854 +39 038234240 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 Italy graziano.rossi@unipv.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove/welcome.html Rodolfo Gentili Science Department of the Environment and Territory,University of Milan-Bicocca, +39 0264482700 +39 0264482996 Piazza della Scienza 1, Milano MI 20126 Italy rodolfo.gentili@unimib.it http://www.disat.unimib.it Andrea Mondoni Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, +39 0382984854 +39 3405612268 Via S. Epifanio 14, Pavia PV 27100 Italy andrea.mondoni@unipv.it http://www-3.unipv.it/labecove/welcome.html Paolo Cristofanelli Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC) - CNR +39 0516399597 +39 0516399652 Via Gobetti 101 Bologna BO 40129 Italy p.cristofanelli@isac.cnr.it http://www.isac.cnr.it/ Springerlink +49 6221 3454303 springerlink@springer.com http://www.springerlink.com/ https://geoportal.mountaingenius.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/resources.get?uuid=b78f5f01-c959-4160-ae71-3dbbcc9079be&fname=mountain_witness__s.png thumbnail png SHARE Climate change Species resilience Long-term monitoring Peripheral populations Plant reproduction Snow cover Italy eng biota 6.62397 18.5144 36.6492 47.0946 http://www.springerlink.com/content/r734744k6v475221/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Abstract:"Response of alpine plant flower production to temperature and snow cover fluctuation at the species range boundary." "Response of alpine plant flower production to temperature and snow cover fluctuation at the species range boundary." Thomas Abeli, Graziano Rossi, Rodolfo Gentili, Andrea Mondoni and Paolo Cristofanelli. BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES PLANT ECOLOGY Volume 213, Number 1, 1-13, DOI: 10.1007/s11258-011-0001-5