Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains
Glaciers are a prominent feature in high mountains and can affect plant distribution along the gradients. However, the possible effect of glaciers on plant community structure at landscape scale has been little studied. We asked: if a glacier tongue crosses a slope laterally and potentially block...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Belgrade
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Botanica Serbica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://botanicaserbica.bio.bg.ac.rs/arhiva/pdf/2020_44_2_777_full.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818530826661396480 |
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| author | Zaal Kikvidze Tamar Jolokhava Arsen Bakhia Otar Abdaladze |
| author_facet | Zaal Kikvidze Tamar Jolokhava Arsen Bakhia Otar Abdaladze |
| author_sort | Zaal Kikvidze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glaciers are a prominent feature in high mountains and can affect plant
distribution along the gradients. However, the possible effect of glaciers on
plant community structure at landscape scale has been little studied. We asked:
if a glacier tongue crosses a slope laterally and potentially blocks dispersal and
migrations, how can this affect vegetation structure and species composition
below and above this barrier? A suitable study system is offered by slopes on
Mt. Kazbegi, where we established a transect through the subnival and nival
belts. We sampled vegetation below and above the glacier tongue and conducted
direct gradient analyses to reveal possible effects of the glacier on patterns of
species distribution and vegetation structure such as the ratio of solitary plants
in vegetation patches. The obtained results indicate that the glacier tongue in
our study does not cause a “vegetation switch” in the usual sense of this phrase.
However, it might contribute to an abrupt change in the share of solitary plants,
as well as to a very rapid decline of plant abundance and species numbers above
the glacier. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:24:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95082d5a48b4488e95651a9a0f6e7b13 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1821-2158 1821-2638 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:24:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Botanica Serbica |
| spelling | doaj.art-95082d5a48b4488e95651a9a0f6e7b132022-12-22T00:57:01ZengUniversity of BelgradeBotanica Serbica1821-21581821-26382020-10-0144221922910.2298/BOTSERB2002219KJumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus MountainsZaal Kikvidze0Tamar Jolokhava1Arsen Bakhia2Otar Abdaladze3Ilia State University, Institute of Ethnobiology and Socio-ecology, K. Cholokashvili Ave. 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Ilia State University, Institute of Botany, Botanikuri Str. 1, Tbilisi 0105, GeorgiaSchool of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, K. Cholokashvili Ave. 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, I. Chavchavadze Ave. 3, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Science-Research Centre of Agriculture, Soil Fertility Division, Marshal Gelovani Ave. 6, Tbilisi 0160, GeorgiaIlia State University, Institute of Botany, Botanikuri Str. 1, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia; School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, K. Cholokashvili Ave. 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, GeorgiaSchool of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Institute of Ecology, Ilia State University, K. Cholokashvili Ave. 3/5, Tbilisi 0162, GeorgiaGlaciers are a prominent feature in high mountains and can affect plant distribution along the gradients. However, the possible effect of glaciers on plant community structure at landscape scale has been little studied. We asked: if a glacier tongue crosses a slope laterally and potentially blocks dispersal and migrations, how can this affect vegetation structure and species composition below and above this barrier? A suitable study system is offered by slopes on Mt. Kazbegi, where we established a transect through the subnival and nival belts. We sampled vegetation below and above the glacier tongue and conducted direct gradient analyses to reveal possible effects of the glacier on patterns of species distribution and vegetation structure such as the ratio of solitary plants in vegetation patches. The obtained results indicate that the glacier tongue in our study does not cause a “vegetation switch” in the usual sense of this phrase. However, it might contribute to an abrupt change in the share of solitary plants, as well as to a very rapid decline of plant abundance and species numbers above the glacier.https://botanicaserbica.bio.bg.ac.rs/arhiva/pdf/2020_44_2_777_full.pdfelevation gradientavailable plant nutrientsplant diversitysubnivalnival vegetation patch |
| spellingShingle | Zaal Kikvidze Tamar Jolokhava Arsen Bakhia Otar Abdaladze Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains Botanica Serbica elevation gradient available plant nutrients plant diversity subnivalnival vegetation patch |
| title | Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains |
| title_full | Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains |
| title_fullStr | Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains |
| title_full_unstemmed | Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains |
| title_short | Jumping the barrier: does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts? A case study on Mt. Kazbegi, Georgia, central Great Caucasus Mountains |
| title_sort | jumping the barrier does a glacier tongue affect species distribution along the elevation gradient in the subnival and nival belts a case study on mt kazbegi georgia central great caucasus mountains |
| topic | elevation gradient available plant nutrients plant diversity subnivalnival vegetation patch |
| url | https://botanicaserbica.bio.bg.ac.rs/arhiva/pdf/2020_44_2_777_full.pdf |
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