Climate warming could increase recruitment success in glacier foreland plants.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Glacier foreland plants are highly threatened by global warming. Regeneration from seeds on deglaciated terrain will be crucial for successful migration and survival of these species, and hence a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on seedling recruitment is urgently needed to predict future plant persistence in these environments. This study presents the first field evidence of the impact of climate change on recruitment success of glacier foreland plants.

Methods

Seeds of eight foreland species were sown on a foreland site at 2500 m a.s.l., and at a site 400 m lower in altitude to simulate a 2·7 °C increase in mean annual temperature. Soil from the site of origin was used to reproduce the natural germination substrate. Recruitment succ

SUBMITTER: Mondoni A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4640126 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature