Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change
Population trends in rare alpine plant species in the high-mountain zone of the Ukrainian Carpathians are described with regard to the types of habitats where they occur. Populations of cold-adapted species confined to snowbeds, alpine screes, poorly vegetated rocks, and the highest ridges, as well...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-07-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/62 |
| _version_ | 1798005800045641728 |
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| author | Yuriy Kobiv |
| author_facet | Yuriy Kobiv |
| author_sort | Yuriy Kobiv |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Population trends in rare alpine plant species in the high-mountain zone of the Ukrainian Carpathians are described with regard to the types of habitats where they occur. Populations of cold-adapted species confined to snowbeds, alpine screes, poorly vegetated rocks, and the highest ridges, as well as mires and springs, are very vulnerable to climate change, while their habitats tend to shrink. The direct impact of warming affects mainly the most cryophilic species. Another driver of changes is climate-induced succession that results in denser vegetation cover and encroachment of more thermophilic plants, which replace low-competitive rare alpine species. Their replacement is largely caused by the loss of open microsites suitable for seed recruitment. However, the climate-driven decrease of snow cover often leads to frost damage to vegetation that provides gaps appropriate for the establishment of many rare species. One of the groups of species that benefit from warming includes rather thermophilic tall herbs that are more common in the subalpine zone but have been actively spreading at higher altitudes lately. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:45:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f57babe1e80f4141aac8027c5a04e596 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:45:52Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-f57babe1e80f4141aac8027c5a04e5962022-12-22T04:23:23ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182018-07-011036210.3390/d10030062d10030062Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate ChangeYuriy Kobiv0Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kozelnytska St. 4, 79026 Lviv, UkrainePopulation trends in rare alpine plant species in the high-mountain zone of the Ukrainian Carpathians are described with regard to the types of habitats where they occur. Populations of cold-adapted species confined to snowbeds, alpine screes, poorly vegetated rocks, and the highest ridges, as well as mires and springs, are very vulnerable to climate change, while their habitats tend to shrink. The direct impact of warming affects mainly the most cryophilic species. Another driver of changes is climate-induced succession that results in denser vegetation cover and encroachment of more thermophilic plants, which replace low-competitive rare alpine species. Their replacement is largely caused by the loss of open microsites suitable for seed recruitment. However, the climate-driven decrease of snow cover often leads to frost damage to vegetation that provides gaps appropriate for the establishment of many rare species. One of the groups of species that benefit from warming includes rather thermophilic tall herbs that are more common in the subalpine zone but have been actively spreading at higher altitudes lately.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/62climate changealpine speciespopulationhabitatsuitable micrositeCarpathians |
| spellingShingle | Yuriy Kobiv Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change Diversity climate change alpine species population habitat suitable microsite Carpathians |
| title | Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change |
| title_full | Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change |
| title_fullStr | Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change |
| title_short | Trends in Population Size of Rare Plant Species in the Alpine Habitats of the Ukrainian Carpathians under Climate Change |
| title_sort | trends in population size of rare plant species in the alpine habitats of the ukrainian carpathians under climate change |
| topic | climate change alpine species population habitat suitable microsite Carpathians |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/10/3/62 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuriykobiv trendsinpopulationsizeofrareplantspeciesinthealpinehabitatsoftheukrainiancarpathiansunderclimatechange |