Microclimatic effects on alpine plant communities and flower-visitor interactions.
Journal
Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
Titre abrégé: Sci Rep
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101563288
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
28 Jan 2020
28 Jan 2020
Historique:
received:
31
05
2019
accepted:
13
01
2020
entrez:
30
1
2020
pubmed:
30
1
2020
medline:
3
6
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
High-alpine ecosystems are commonly assumed to be particularly endangered by climate warming. Recent research, however, suggests that the heterogeneous topography of alpine landscapes provide microclimatic niches for alpine plants (i.e. soil temperatures that support the establishment and reproduction of species). Whether the microclimatic heterogeneity also affects diversity or species interactions on higher trophic levels remains unknown. Here we show that variation in mean seasonal soil temperature within an alpine pasture is within the same range as in plots differing in nearly 500 m in elevation. This pronounced heterogeneity of soil temperature among plots affected the spatial distribution of flowering plant species in our study area with a higher plant richness and cover in warmer plots. This increased plant productivity in warmer plots positively affected richness of flower visitor taxa as well as interaction frequency. Additionally, flower-visitor networks were more generalized in plots with higher plant cover. These results suggest that soil temperature directly affects plant diversity and productivity and indirectly affects network stability. The strong effect of heterogeneous soil temperature on plant communities and their interaction partners may also mitigate climate warming impacts by enabling plants to track their suitable temperature niches within a confined area.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31992825
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-58388-7
pii: 10.1038/s41598-020-58388-7
pmc: PMC6987155
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1366Subventions
Organisme : Austrian Science Fund (Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung)
ID : P29142-B29
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