DOCSLIB.ORG

ALPINE/SUBALPINE CWHR Types: SCN

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ALPINE/SUBALPINE CWHR Types: SCN Focal Resource: ALPINE/SUBALPINE CWHR Types: SCN SENSITIVITY RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6 ADAPTIVE CAPACITY RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………9 EXPOSURE RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 LITERATURE CITED………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……14 SENSITIVITY QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Direct sensitivities to changes in temperature and precipitation. a. How sensitive is the system to temperature (means and High High extremes)? b. How sensitive is the system to precipitation (means and High Mod extremes)? 2. Sensitivity of component species. a. How sensitive are the component species of the system to High Mod climate change? 3. Sensitivity to changes in disturbance regimes. a. How sensitive is the system to one or more disturbance High Mod regimes? (Includes: wildfire, drought, wind, disease, insects, other – ecosystem species shifted) 4. Sensitivity to other types of climate and climate-driven changes. a. How sensitive is the system to one or more climate and High Mod climate-driven changes? (Includes: altered hydrology regimes, evapotranspiration and soil moisture, extreme temperature) 5. Sensitivity to impacts of other non-climate stressors. a. To what degree do other stressors currently affect the Low Mod system? (Includes: commercial development, human intrusions and disturbance, other – outdoor recreation) b. To what degree do these non-climate stressors make the system more sensitive to climate change? Mod No answer 6. Other sensitivities. a. Are there other critical factors that have not been addressed Soils Mod that will likely make the system more sensitive to climate change? b. Collectively, to what degree to these factors make the system High sensitive to climate change? 7. Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall sensitivity of High Mod this system to climate change? Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). ALPINE/SUBALPINE ADAPTIVE CAPACITY QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Extent and integrity. a. How widespread is the system across the Sierra Nevada? Mod High b. How fragmented is the system across the Sierra Nevada? Mod and High (alpine more fragmented than subalpine) High 2. Resistance, recovery, and refugia. a. To what degree has the system been able to resist or recover Low High from the impacts of stressors? b. Are there microclimates within the ecosystem range that See N/A could support refugial communities? section below 3. Landscape permeability. a. To what degree is the landscape permeable? Low-Mod Low b. What general types of barriers to dispersal apply? (Includes: geologic features) 4. System diversity. a. How diverse are the physical and topographical Low-Mod Mod-High characteristics of the system? b. What is the level of diversity of component species and No answer No answer functional groups in the system? c. Describe the level of diversity. See N/A section below 5. Management potential. a. How much do people value this system (e.g., because of High Mod-High services it provides such as water, recreation opportunities, aesthetic value, etc.) b. How rigid or specific are the rules governing management of High High the system? c. Are there any use conflicts for this ecosystem in specific regions? See section N/A d. What is the potential for managing or alleviating climate below impacts? 6. Other adaptive capacity factors. a. Are there other critical factors that have not been addressed, Artificial No answer which may affect the system’s adaptive capacity? snowpack b. Collectively, to what degree do these factors affect the No answer adaptive capacity of the system? 7. Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall adaptive Low Mod capacity of the system to climate change? 2 Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). ALPINE/SUBALPINE EXPOSURE QUESTION RANK CONFIDENCE 1. Elements of exposure. a. What elements of climate exposure are likely to be most N/A relevant to the ecosystem and in which regions? i. Temperature – Sierra Nevada wide Mod ii. Precipitation – Sierra Nevada wide Mod iii. Dominant vegetation type – Sierra Nevada wide Low-Mod iv. Climatic water deficit – Sierra Nevada wide; less Low important in North Low v. Wildfire – Subalpine; West vi. Snowpack – Sierra Nevada wide; especially North Mod vii. Runoff – Sierra Nevada wide; possibly more West Low-Mod viii. Timing of flows – Sierra Nevada wide; possibly more West Low-Mod ix. Low flows – Alpine (flow or not); Subalpine Low-N/A (somewhat important) x. High flows – Alpine (flow or not); Subalpine Low-N/A (somewhat important) Low xi. Other: Type of precip (rain on snow events) – Sierra Nevada wide 3 Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). ALPINE/SUBALPINE b. For selected elements of exposure, at what time frames and spatial resolution are most relevant? N/A N/A xii. Temperature – Yearly, Seasonal (Summer/Winter) xiii. Precipitation – Yearly, Seasonal (Spring/Fall) xiv. Dominant vegetation type – Yearly, Decadal xv. Climatic water deficit – Seasonal (Late Summer) xvi. Wildfire – Wildfire Season xvii. Snowpack – Seasonal xviii. Runoff – Seasonal xix. Timing of flows – Seasonal xx. Low flows – N/A xxi. High flows – N/A xxii. Other: Type of precip (rain on snow events) – Seasonal ‘Climatic water deficit’ is less important in the northern Sierra due to higher potential for groundwater storage, but very little alpine/subalpine areas exist is the north. ‘Snowpack’ is especially important to consider in the north, because snow is projected to diminish more and headwaters if state water project. Same with Eastern Sierra (DWP water). 2. Expressing exposure. a. How should exposure for the ecosystem be expressed? N/A N/A i. Only the most important variables (those selected above) ii. Maps comparing existing ecosystem locations with specific climate variables iii. Other – map showing dominant vegetation shift; map showing current and projected snowpack to runoff; map showing cool air pools; refugia maps showing exposure (northern and southern) b. Variables to be combined? See above. 4 Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). ALPINE/SUBALPINE 3. Exposure assessment for different regions. a. Please indicate the overall exposure the system is likely to experience in each of the different regions over the three time periods. i. North 1. 2010-2029 Mod 2. 2030-2049 Mod-High High 3. 2060-2079 High ii. Central 1. 2010-2029 Low-Mod High 2. 2030-2049 Mod 3. 2060-2079 High iii. South 1. 2010-2029 Low High 2. 2030-2049 Low-Mod 3. 2060-2079 High Low, moderate, and high rankings were given in relation to expected exposure to fire. 4. Overall user ranking. a. In your opinion, how would you rank the overall exposure of High High this system to climate change? 5 Climate Adaptation Project for the Sierra Nevada. EcoAdapt (2013). ALPINE/SUBALPINE SENSITIVITY 1. Direct sensitivities to changes in temperature and precipitation. a. Sensitivity to temperature (means & extremes): High i. Participant confidence: High b. Sensitivity to precipitation (means & extremes): High i. Participant confidence: Mod Participant comments to support conclusions: Sensitivity to precipitation related to type and timing of precipitation, more than amount. Subalpine zone is considered doing well / very protective, as per Hugh Stafford and Sarah Sawyer with USFS. The confidence ratings of high and moderate are a result of participant discussion, based on existing science and literature. Peer-review references: Temperature: High elevation temperatures tend to be cool year round with an average ranging from -11.5 – 1.5oC (11-35oF) in January and 5.5 – 19.5oC (42-67oF) in July. Over the past century, high elevation forests have seen pronounced increases in temperature. In the Central Sierra Nevada, daily minimum temperature has increased by 1.2oC since 1929-34 (Dolanc et al. 2012). From 1910-20, average minimum temperature was 3.8oC; in 1990-2000, average minimum temperature increased to 7.5oC in upper elevation forests of the central Sierra Nevada (Millar et al. 2004). Precipitation: Averages 750-1250 mm (30-50 in) per year, most of which falls as snow (Fites-Kaufman et al. 2007). In the Central Sierra Nevada, precipitation has increased by 15-48% since 1929-34 (Dolanc et al. 2012). From 1910-20, precipitation averaged 41.7 cm; in 1990-2000, average precipitation increased to 63.2 cm in upper elevation forests of the central Sierra Nevada (Millar et al. 2004). Water supply may be an important factor dictating the response of high elevation forests (Fites-Kaufman et al. 2007). The establishment of Jeffrey pine, sugar pine, and red fir are significantly associated with El Nino events, which cause wetter and warmer average conditions and a deep snowpack in the winter (North et al. 2005). 2. Sensitivity of component species. a. Sensitivity of component species to climate change: High i. Participant confidence: Mod Participant comments to support conclusions: Overall, subalpine and alpine species are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation, although many species have been tolerant of climate fluctuations during the late Holocene. Limber pine is more tolerant of drier and steeper landscapes. Whitebark pine and limber pine are likely less sensitive to drought stress in less dense and short-statured (e.g., krumholtz) stands. A critical research question is that the higher elevation topography in the southern Sierra Nevada may have the potential to accommodate an elevation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Synchronous Fire Activity in the Tropical High Andes: an Indication Of
    Global Change Biology Global Change Biology (2014) 20, 1929–1942, doi: 10.1111/gcb.12538 Synchronous fire activity in the tropical high Andes: an indication of regional climate forcing R. M. ROMAN - C U E S T A 1,2,C.CARMONA-MORENO3 ,G.LIZCANO4 ,M.NEW4,*, M. SILMAN5 ,T.KNOKE2 ,Y.MALHI6 ,I.OLIVERAS6,†,H.ASBJORNSEN7 and M. VUILLE 8 1CREAF. Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications, Facultat de Ciencies. Unitat d’ Ecologia Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain, 2Institute of Forest Management, Technische Universit€at Munchen,€ Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising, 85354, Germany, 3Global Environmental Monitoring Unit, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, TP. 440 21020, Ispra, Varese 21027, Italy, 4School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX13QY, UK, 5Wake Forest University, Box 7325 Reynolda Station, Winston Salem, NC 27109-7325, USA, 6Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX13QY, UK, 7College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Durham, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA, 8Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Albany, University of Albany, Albany, NY, USA Abstract Global climate models suggest enhanced warming of the tropical mid and upper troposphere, with larger tempera- ture rise rates at higher elevations. Changes in fire activity are amongst the most significant ecological consequences of rising temperatures and changing hydrological properties in mountainous ecosystems, and there is a global evi- dence of increased fire activity with elevation. Whilst fire research has become popular in the tropical lowlands, much less is known of the tropical high Andean region (>2000masl, from Colombia to Bolivia).
    [Show full text]
  • Moose Calving Strategies in Interior Montane Ecosystems
    Journal of Mammalogy, 88(1):139–150, 2007 MOOSE CALVING STRATEGIES IN INTERIOR MONTANE ECOSYSTEMS KIM G. POOLE,* ROBERT SERROUYA, AND KARI STUART-SMITH Aurora Wildlife Research, 2305 Annable Road, Nelson, British Columbia V1L 6K4, Canada (KGP) Serrouya & Associates, RPO #3, Box 9158, Revelstoke, British Columbia V0E 3K0, Canada (RS) Tembec Inc., British Columbia Division, P.O. Box 4600, Cranbrook, British Columbia V1C 4J7, Canada (KS) Parturient ungulates are relatively more sensitive to predation risk than other individuals and during other times of the year. Selection of calving areas by ungulates may be ultimately related to trade-offs between minimizing risk of predation and meeting nutritional needs for lactation. We used digital and field data to examine selection of calving areas by 31 global positioning system–collared moose (Alces alces) in southeastern British Columbia. We exam- ined movements 12 days before and after calving, and analyzed habitat selection at 2 scales of comparison: the immediate calving area to the extended calving area (100 ha), and the extended calving area to the surrounding home range. Maternal moose exhibited 1 of 2 distinct elevational strategies for calving area selection during the days leading up to calving: 16 moose were climbers and 15 were nonclimbers. Climbers moved a mean of 310 m higher in elevation to calve, whereas nonclimbers showed little change in elevation. Hourly movements by all maternal females increased 2- to 3-fold in the 1–4 days before calving and were generally directional, such that all calving areas were outside of areas used during the 12 days before calving. At the broad scale, elevation was the strongest predictor of the extended calving area within the home range.
    [Show full text]
  • GLIMPSES of FORESTRY RESEARCH in the INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION Special Issue in the International Year of Forests-2011
    Special Issue in the International Year of Forests-2011 i GLIMPSES OF FORESTRY RESEARCH IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION Special Issue in the International Year of Forests-2011 Editors G.C.S. Negi P.P. Dhyani ENVIS CENTRE ON HIMALAYAN ECOLOGY G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development Kosi-Katarmal, Almora - 263 643, India BISHEN SINGH MAHENDRA PAL SINGH 23-A, New Connaught Place Dehra Dun - 248 001, India 2012 Glimpses of Forestry Research in the Indian Himalayan Region Special Issue in the International Year of Forests-2011 © 2012, ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (An Autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India) Kosi-Katarmal, Almora All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. ISBN: 978-81-211-0860-7 Published for the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development by Gajendra Singh Gahlot for Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 23-A, New Connaught Place, Dehra Dun, India and Printed at Shiva Offset Press and composed by Doon Phototype Printers, 14, Old Connaught Place, Dehra Dun India. Cover Design: Vipin Chandra Sharma, Information Associate, ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology, GBPIHED Cover Photo: Forest, agriculture and people co-existing in a mountain landscape of Purola valley, Distt. Uttarkashi (Photo: G.C.S. Negi) Foreword Amongst the global mountain systems, Himalayan ranges stand out as the youngest and one of the most fragile regions of the world; Himalaya separates northern part of the Asian continent from south Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • DECISION TIME for CLOUD FORESTS No
    WATER-RELATED ISSUES AND PROBLEMS OF THE HUMID TROPICS AND OTHER WARM HUMID REGIONS IHP HUMID TROPICS PROGRAMME SERIES NO. 13 IHP Humid Tropics Programme Series No. 1 The Disappearing Tropical Forests DECISION TIME FOR CLOUD FORESTS No. 2 Small Tropical Islands No. 3 Water and Health No. 4 Tropical Cities: Managing their Water No. 5: Integrated Water Resource Management No. 6 Women in the Humid Tropics No. 7 Environmental Impacts of Logging Moist Tropical Forests No. 8 Groundwater No. 9 Reservoirs in the Tropics – A Matter of Balance No.10 Environmental Impacts of Converting Moist Tropical Forest to Agriculture and Plantations No.11 Helping Children in the Humid Tropics: Water Education No.12 Wetlands in the Humid Tropics No.13 Decision Time for Cloud Forests For further information on this Series, contact: UNESCO Division of Water Sciences International Hydrological Programme 1, Rue Miollis 75352 Paris 07 SP France tel. (+33) 1 45 68 40 02 fax (+33) 1 45 67 58 69 PREFACE At a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest workshop held at Cambridge, U.K. in July 1998, 30 scientists, professional managers, and NGO conservation group members representing more than 14 countries and all global regions, concluded that there is insufficient public and political awareness of the status and values of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests (TMCF). The group suggested that a science-based “pop-doc” would be an effective initial action to remedy this. What follows is a response to that recommendation. It documents some of the scientific information that will be of interest to other scientists and managers of TMCF, but not over- whelming for a lay reader who is seeking to become more informed about these remarkable ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Relationships Between Climate, Vegetation, and Energy Exchange Across a Montane Gradient Ray G
    JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 116, G01026, doi:10.1029/2010JG001476, 2011 Relationships between climate, vegetation, and energy exchange across a montane gradient Ray G. Anderson1,2 and Michael L. Goulden1 Received 8 July 2010; revised 3 November 2010; accepted 3 January 2011; published 10 March 2011. [1] We measured the evaporative fraction (EF) across a semiarid elevation gradient in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains of southern California using the Regional Evaporative Fraction Energy Balance platform and four eddy covariance towers. We compared our measurements to precipitation estimates and satellite observations of vegetation indices to assess the seasonal and interannual controls of precipitation and vegetation on surface energy exchanges. Precipitation amount and timing had the largest effect on evaporative fraction, with vegetation having a relatively greater importance at higher elevations than lower elevations. Vegetation cover was linearly related to mean annual EF, but did not predict seasonal variation in EF in most of the study area’s ecosystems. Multiyear vegetation observations show that vegetation density increases in a stepwise pattern with precipitation, probably due to shifts in dominant plant communities. Precipitation is a more important factor in controlling EF than temperature. Possible future climate change, including decreases in precipitation amount and increases in variability, could decrease vegetation cover, thus reducing EF and increasing albedo. Citation: Anderson, R. G., and M. L. Goulden (2011), Relationships between climate, vegetation, and energy exchange across a montane gradient, J. Geophys. Res., 116, G01026, doi:10.1029/2010JG001476. 1. Introduction downstream ecosystems and users [Viviroli and Weingartner, 2004]. Mountains act as “Sky Islands,” providing cooler [2] Patterns of vegetation distribution and energy exchange temperatures and more available water for isolated ecosys- are crucial because they control regional climate [Beringer tems.
    [Show full text]
  • Drivers of Atmospheric Methane Uptake by Montane Forest Soils in the Southern Peruvian Andes
    Biogeosciences Discuss., doi:10.5194/bg-2016-16, 2016 Manuscript under review for journal Biogeosciences Published: 27 January 2016 c Author(s) 2016. CC-BY 3.0 License. Drivers of atmospheric methane uptake by montane forest soils in the southern Peruvian Andes †1 †2 3 3 1 1,4 2 S. P. Jones , T. Diem , L. P. Huaraca Quispe , A. J. Cahuana , D. S. Reay , P. Meir and Y. A. Teh 1School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK 5 2Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK 3Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Peru 4Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia † contributed equally to the work Correspondence to: Sam Jones ([email protected]) 10 Abstract. The soils of tropical montane forests can act as sources or sinks of atmospheric methane (CH 4). Understanding this activity is important in regional atmospheric CH4 budgets, given that these ecosystems account for substantial portions of the landscape in mountainous areas like the Andes. Here we investigate the drivers of CH 4 fluxes from premontane, lower and upper montane forests, experiencing a seasonal climate, in southeastern Peru. Between February 2011 and June 2013, these soils all functioned as net sinks for atmospheric CH4. Mean (standard error) net CH4 fluxes for the dry and wet season -2 -1 -2 -1 15 were -1.6 (0.1) and -1.1 (0.1) mg CH4 - C m d in the upper montane forest; -1.1 (0.1) and -1.0 (0.1) mg CH4 - C m d in -2 -1 the lower montane forest; and -0.2 (0.1) and -0.1 (0.1) mg CH4 - C m d in the premontane forest.
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of Habitat Degradation on Tropical Montane Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: a Systematic Map for Identifying Future Research Priorities
    SYSTEMATIC REVIEW published: 17 December 2019 doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2019.00083 Impacts of Habitat Degradation on Tropical Montane Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: A Systematic Map for Identifying Future Research Priorities Malcolm C. K. Soh 1*, Nicola J. Mitchell 1, Amanda R. Ridley 1, Connor W. Butler 2, Chong Leong Puan 3 and Kelvin S.-H. Peh 2,4 1 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, 3 Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Edited by: Malaysia, 4 Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom Mark Andrew Adams, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia Tropical montane forests (TMFs) are major centers of evolutionary change and harbor Reviewed by: many endemic species with small geographic ranges. In this systematic map, we Giuliano Maselli Locosselli, University of São Paulo, Brazil focus on the impacts of anthropogenic habitat degradation on TMFs globally. We first Daniel J. Wieczynski, determine how TMF research is distributed across geographic regions, degradation UCLA Department of Ecology and type (i.e., deforestation, land-use conversion, habitat fragmentation, ecological level Evolutionary Biology, United States (i.e., ecosystem, community, population, genetic) and taxonomic group. Secondly, we *Correspondence: Malcolm C. K. Soh summarize the impacts of habitat degradation on biodiversity and ecosystem services, [email protected] and identify deficiencies in current knowledge. We show that habitat degradation in TMFs impacts biodiversity at all ecological levels and will be compounded by climate change. Specialty section: This article was submitted to However, despite montane species being perceived as more extinction-prone due to Tropical Forests, their restricted geographic ranges, there are some indications of biotic resilience if the a section of the journal impacts to TMFs are less severe.
    [Show full text]
  • (Tropical Montane Forest)-Grassland Ecosystem Mosaic of Peninsular India: a Review
    American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2012, 3, 1632-1639 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2012.311198 Published Online November 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ajps) The Shola (Tropical Montane Forest)-Grassland Ecosystem Mosaic of Peninsular India: A Review Milind Bunyan1, Sougata Bardhan2, Shibu Jose2* 1School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, USA; 2The Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. Email: *[email protected] Received August 17th, 2012; revised September 24th, 2012; accepted October 10th, 2012 ABSTRACT Tropical montane forests (alternatively called tropical montane cloud forests or simply cloud forests) represent some of the most threatened ecosystems globally. Tropical montane forests (TMF) are characterized and defined by the presence of persistent cloud cover. A significant amount of moisture may be captured through the condensation of cloud-borne moisture on vegetation distinguishing TMF from other forest types. This review examines the structural, functional and distributional aspects of the tropical montane forests of peninsular India, locally known as shola, and the associated grasslands. Our review reveals that small fragments may be dominated by edge effect and lack an “interior” or “core”, making them susceptible to complete collapse. In addition to their critical role in hydrology and biogeochemistry, the shola-grassland ecosystem harbor many faunal species of conservation concern. Along with intense anthropogenic pressure, climate change is also expected to alter the dynamic equilibrium between the forest and grassland, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems. Keywords: Shola Forests; Western Ghats; GIS; Biodiversity; Species Composition; Shola Fragments 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Geographic, Environmental and Biotic Sources of Variation in the Nutrient Relations of Tropical Montane Forests
    Journal of Tropical Ecology (2016) 32:368–383. © Cambridge University Press 2015. This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States. doi:10.1017/S0266467415000619 Geographic, environmental and biotic sources of variation in the nutrient relations of tropical montane forests James W. Dalling∗,†,1, Katherine Heineman∗, Grizelle Gonzalez´ ‡ and Rebecca Ostertag§ ∗ Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, 505 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA † Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843–03092, Panama, Republic of Panama ‡ International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Jard´ın Botanico´ Sur, 1201 Calle Ceiba, R´ıo Piedras, Puerto Rico, 00926–1119, USA § Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA (Received 24 September 2014; revised 9 October 2015; accepted 10 October 2015; first published online 20 November 2015) Abstract: Tropical montane forests (TMF) are associated with a widely observed suite of characteristics encompassing forest structure, plant traits and biogeochemistry. With respect to nutrient relations, montane forests are characterized by slow decomposition of organic matter, high investment in below-ground biomass and poor litter quality, relative to tropical lowland forests. However, within TMF there is considerable variation in substrate age, parent material, disturbance and species composition. Here we emphasize that many TMFs are likely to be co-limited by multiple nutrients, and that feedback among soil properties, species traits, microbial communities and environmental conditions drive forest productivity and soil carbon storage. To date, studies of the biogeochemistry of montane forests have been restricted to a few, mostly neotropical, sites and focused mainly on trees while ignoring mycorrhizas, epiphytes and microbial community structure.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 13, Mediterranean California
    13 MEDITERRANEAN CALIFORNIA M.E. Fenn, E.B. Allen, L.H. Geiser 13.1 Ecoregion Description mixes depending on elevation and site conditions, but are typically characterized by dense mixed-aged stands Th e Mediterranean California ecoregion (CEC 1997; composed of coniferous (pine [Pinus spp.] and often fi r Fig 2.2) encompasses the greater Central Valley, [Abies spp.] and incense cedar [Calocedrus decurrrens]) Sierra foothills, and central coast ranges of California and broadleaved species (commonly oaks). south to Mexico and is bounded by the Pacifi c Ocean, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Mojave Desert. Th e 13.2 Coastal Sage Scrub ecoregion description is adapted from CEC (1997). It is distinguished by its warm, mild Mediterranean 13.2.1 Ecosystem Description climate, chaparral vegetation, agriculturally productive Coastal sage scrub is a semi-deciduous shrubland that valleys, and a large population (>30 million). Th e Coast occurs in the Mediterranean-type climate of southern Ranges crest at 600 to 1200 m. Th e broad, fl at, Central and central coastal California, extending southward to Valley is drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin Baja California, Mexico. Th e United States portion of Rivers into the Sacramento Delta and San Francisco coastal sage scrub covers some 684,000 ha (CDFFP Bay. Rugged Transverse Ranges, peaking at 3506 m, 2007). Coastal sage scrub is very diverse. Unfortunately, border the Los Angeles basin. Soils are complex, mostly it is subject to extensive human impacts in rapidly dry, and weakly developed with high calcium (Ca) developing coastal California. Dominant species concentrations. Summers are hot and dry (>18 oC), throughout the range are coastal sagebrush (Artemisia winters are mild (>0 oC) with precipitation from winter californica), Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum Pacifi c Ocean storms; coastal fog is common May fasciculatum), sage (Salvia spp.), brittlebush (Encelia through July.
    [Show full text]
  • Downward Shift of Montane Grasslands Exemplifies the Dual Threat of Human Disturbances to Cloud Forest Biodiversity
    LETTER LETTER Downward shift of montane grasslands exemplifies the dual threat of human disturbances to cloud forest biodiversity The study by Morueta-Holme et al. (1) provides global warming [at rates similar to those provide, we must find ways to slow or reverse unique and invaluable insight into how tropical observed by Morueta-Holme et al. (1) for the downslope expansion of human-dominated montane ecosystems have responded to climate alpine plant species] (3, 4). In order for grasslands, and thereby allow forest species to change and other anthropogenic disturbances these cloud forest species to continue mi- respond to climate change through upward over the past two-plus centuries. Clearly, one of grating upslope, they will eventually need to migrations. the most important findings of their study is expand their ranges past the current treeline a,b,1 c that many species and ecosystems have shifted into the areas occupied by the Pajonal or Kenneth J. Feeley and Evan M. Rehm their distributions upslope to higher elevations, other montane grasslands. If the lower dis- aDepartment of Biological Sciences, in accord with rising global mean temperatures tributional limit of the grasslands is stable, or International Center for Tropical Botany, (1). Another extremely important finding of the even worse if the grasslands are expanding Florida International University, Miami, FL study that is deserving of extra attention is that into lower elevations as was observed at 33199; bFairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the high-elevation grasslands of Chimborazo Chimborazo, then cloud forest species will Coral Gables, FL 33156; and cDepartment of Fish, (i.e., the Pajonal) have expanded their distribu- be prevented from shifting the leading edges Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado tions not only upslope but also downslope by of their ranges upslope (2).
    [Show full text]
  • CBD Thematic Report on Mountain Ecosystems
    Origin Details Please provide the following details on the origin of this report Contracting Party United Kingdom National Focal Point Full name of the institution: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Name and title of contact officer: Glenys Parry, UK CBD Focal Point Mailing address: 4/C1 Ashdown House 123 Victoria Street London SW1E 6DE Telephone: +44 (0)20 7944 6201 Fax: +44 (0)20 7944 6239 E-mail: [email protected] Contact officer for national report (if different) Name and title of contact officer: Professor Des B A Thompson Principal Uplands Adviser Mailing address: Scottish Natural Heritage 2 Anderson Place Edinburgh EH6 5NP Telephone: +44 (0)131 446 2419 Fax: +44 (0)131 446 2405 E-mail: [email protected] Submission Signature of officer responsible for submitting national report: Date of submission: 13 February 2002 1 Process Summary Please provide summary information on the process by which this report has been prepared, including information on the types of stakeholders who have been actively involved in its preparation and on material which was used as a basis for the report • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) requested the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to lead on preparation of the report. • JNCC created 1st draft response. • JNCC consulted key biodiversity organisations including the Upland lead-co-ordination network of the statutory conservation agencies of the UK (English Nature, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, Environment and Heritage Service)and then edited 1st draft as necessary. • Defra put consultation draft out to wide consultation on UK BAP and CHM websites (www.ukbap.org.uk and www.chm.org.uk ) and through normal consultative channels (statutory, non-governmental and civil society).
    [Show full text]