Growth and morphological responses of Fargesia angustissima to altitude in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China

The strong altitudinal gradients leading to dramatic variations in environmental conditions in mountain regions provide unique and sometimes the best opportunities to study plant responses and adaptation to global climate change. We investigated the morphological characteristics, aboveground biomass and its allocation of Fargesia angustissima (Mitford) T.P. Yi along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1200 m (the lowest distribution boundary of F. angustissima) to 1810 m a.s.l. (the uppermost distribution limit) in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China. Except for a nearly linear increase in internode number and a linear decrease in shoot biomass with increasing elevation, other parameters studied changed non-linearly with increasing elevation. These results may imply that the local-environmental conditions do not change linearly with altitude. The growth of F. angustissima, as a low-altitude species, may be impacted by precipitation rather than by temperature. Hence, this dwarf bamboo species may be more sensitive to change in the amount and pattern of precipitation caused by rapid global climate change.     

非生长季降水对青藏高原高寒草甸优势种生物量稳定性的影响

受全球气候变化的影响,青藏高原在过去的几十年间整体上呈现暖湿化的趋势,相比于年际之间温度和降水的变化外,生长季和非生长季气候变化模式的差异可能会对生态系统产生更重要的影响,但相关的研究尚不充分。以青藏高原东部的高寒草甸为研究对象,基于2001年至2017年17年的野外观测数据,包括优势植物紫花针茅的高度、多度以及生物量、次优势物种洽草的生物量,结合生长季和非生长季平均温度和降水量的变化,通过线性回归以及结构方程模型,探究生长季/非生长季不对称气候变化对于青藏高原高寒草甸优势物种生物量稳定性的影响。研究结果表明：1)青藏高原东部年均温和年降水在过去的17年间显著增加,呈现暖湿化的趋势,但是非生长的降水却变化不明显;2)紫花针茅的高度、多度以及生物量在过去17年没有显著的趋势,但是洽草的生物量稳定性显著减少;3)非生长降水结合紫花针茅的高度、多度以及洽草的生物量稳定性促进了紫花针茅的生物量稳定性。研究结果可以为青藏高原高寒草甸在未来气候变化的背景下合理保护与利用提供科学依据。     

Bryophyte Species Richness and Composition along an Altitudinal Gradient in Gongga Mountain,China

An investigation of terrestrial bryophyte species diversity and community structure along an altitudinal gradient from 2,001 to 4,221 m a.s.l. in Gongga Mountain in Sichuan, China was carried out in June 2010. Factors which might affect bryophyte species composition and diversity, including climate, elevation, slope, depth of litter, vegetation type, soil pH and soil Eh, were examined to understand the altitudinal feature of bryophyte distribution. A total of 14 representative elevations were chosen along an altitudinal gradient, with study sites at each elevation chosen according to habitat type (forests, grasslands) and accessibility. At each elevation, three 100 m × 2 m transects that are 50 m apart were set along the contour line, and three 50 cm × 50 cm quadrats were set along each transect at an interval of 30 m. Species diversity, cover, biomass, and thickness of terrestrial bryophytes were examined. A total of 165 species, including 42 liverworts and 123 mosses, are recorded in Gongga mountain. Ground bryophyte species richness does not show any clear elevation trend. The terrestrial bryophyte cover increases with elevation. The terrestrial bryophyte biomass and thickness display a clear humped relationship with the elevation, with the maximum around 3,758 m. At this altitude, biomass is 700.3 g m⁻² and the maximum thickness is 8 cm. Bryophyte distribution is primarily associated with the depth of litter, the air temperature and the precipitation. Further studies are necessary to include other epiphytes types and vascular vegetation in a larger altitudinal range.     

降水控制对荒漠植物群落物种多样性和生物量的影响

在全球气候变化背景下,干旱和极端降水事件将对荒漠区植物群落物种多样性和生产力产生深远影响,研究植物群落应对降水变化的响应机制对于荒漠生态系统的科学管理具有重要意义。通过人工增减雨措施利用遮雨棚和滴灌技术对研究区的降水量进行人为调控,探究极端干旱、干旱和降水增加等条件对荒漠植物群落物种多样性和生物量的影响。结果表明:经过一年的降水控制处理,发现灌木和草本层片物种多样性指数在极端干旱、干旱和降水增加等试验处理中差异不显著;灌木的生物量对不同降水控制条件的响应也不显著,而草本层片地上生物量对降水变化的响应最为明显,并随着降水量的增加呈线性增长趋势,极端干旱处理(D1)条件下草本生物量为(10.54±2.36)g/m~2,当降水增加50%(W1)后,草本生物量可达到(105.69±28.60)g/m~2;草本地上生物量与土壤浅表层(40cm)的含水量之间显著相关(P0.05),草本层片生物量与短期(一年)降水波动显著相关。通过定位控制试验进一步探究长时间序列降水变化如何作用于荒漠植物群落特征,研究结果对全球气候变化背景下荒漠生态系统响应机制方面的研究提供数据和理论支撑。     

Termite diversity in Neotropical dry forests of Colombia and the potential role of rainfall in structuring termite diversity

Termites are ecosystem engineers that play an important role in the biotransformation and re‐distribution of nutrients in soil. The dry forests are endemic repositories, but at same time, they are most threatened by extensive livestock and crop farming, fires, and climate change. In Colombia, the best‐protected dry forests are located in the north. The termite fauna of dry forests are poorly known. The aim was to identify the termite species occurring in tropical dry forests of the Colombian Caribbean coast in relation to diet and precipitation, temperature, elevation, and soil properties. A total of 32 species in 1,103 occurrences were found. Termitidae accounted for 78% of the species richness with the Anoplotermes‐group, Microcerotermes, and Nasutitermes being the dominant genera. Differences in species composition and abundance were found across sites. These differences may be linked to anthropogenic disturbance and polygyny and polydomy. Strikingly, our highest elevation site (334 m) had the highest species richness much higher than the two lower elevation sites. This implies an inversion of the common elevation‐diversity gradient, also found for termites which can be explained by increasing precipitation with elevation in the dry forest. An analysis of termite species richness at the global scale confirms that termite species richness correlates positively with rainfall. Hence, rainfall seems to positively affect termite diversity. In line, the studied Colombian tropical dry forests had low diversity compared to rain forests. A decline of species‐rich soil‐feeding termites with increasing aridity may explain why the highest termite diversity occurs in humid tropical rain forests. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

卧龙竹类非结构性碳水化合物与叶氮含量对海拔的响应

山地由于海拔变化导致的环境因子显著差异,成为研究植物环境适应性及其对全球气候变化响应的理想区域。以卧龙自然保护区内油竹子(Fargesia angustissima Yi)与华西箭竹(Fargesia nitida(Mitford)Keng f.ex Yi)为对象,沿海拔梯度研究了两种竹子在各自海拔分布区间内组织非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量、比叶面积(SLA)、以及基于单位叶面积和单位叶质量的叶氮含量(Narea,Nmass)。除油竹子叶NSC,Narea和华西箭竹Nmass随海拔升高不发生变化外,两种竹子其它调查因子对海拔的响应均是非线性的,反映了环境因子随海拔的非线性变化。所有调查因子对海拔的响应均表现出明显的种间差别,这一结果除了种间生理生态特性差别的原因外,可能意味着两竹种对温度的敏感性不同。高海拔种(华西箭竹)比(中)低海拔种(油竹子)对全球气候暖化可能更加敏感。     

Leaf trait associations with environmental variation in the wide‐ranging shrub Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima (Sapindaceae)

Intra‐species variation in specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area (LA) provides mechanistic insight into the persistence and function of plants, including their likely success under climate change and their suitability for revegetation. We measured SLA and LA in 101 Australian populations of the perennial shrub Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. subsp. angustissima (narrow‐leaf hop‐bush) (Sapindaceae). Populations were located across about a 1000 km north–south gradient, with climate grading from arid desert to mesic Mediterranean. We also measured leaves from 11 populations across an elevational gradient (300–800 m asl), where aridity and temperature decrease with elevation. We used regression and principal component analyses to relate leaf traits to the abiotic environment. SLA displayed clinal variation, increasing from north to south and correlated with latitude and the first principal component of joint environmental variables. Both SLA and LA correlated positively with most climatic and edaphic variables. Across latitude, LA showed more variability than SLA. Changes in leaf density and thickness may have caused the relative stability of SLA. Only LA decreased with elevation. The absence of a SLA response to elevation could be a consequence of abiotic conditions that favour low SLA at both ends of the elevational gradient. We demonstrated that the widely distributed narrow‐leaf hop‐bush shows considerable variability in LA and SLA, which allows it to persist in a broad environmental envelope. As this shrub is widely used for revegetation in Australia, South America and the Asia‐Pacific region, our results are consistent with the notion that seed used to revegetate mesic environments could be sourced from more arid areas to increase seed suitability to future climate change.     

Adaptive characteristics of grassland community structure and leaf traits along an altitudinal gradient on a subtropical mountain in Chongqing,China

Community structure and leaf traits are important elements of terrestrial ecosystems. Changes of community structure and leaf traits are of particular use in the study of the influence of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns of community structure (including species richness, above- and below-ground biomass) and leaf traits (including leaf mass per area (LMA), nitrogen content both on mass and area bases (N _mass and N _area), and foliar δ¹³C) from 19 grassland plots along an altitudinal transect at Hongchiba in Chongqing, China, were analyzed. Species richness along the altitudinal transect had a hump-shaped pattern. Above-ground biomass had a quadratic decrease along the altitudinal gradient whereas below-ground biomass had the opposite pattern. Change of above-ground biomass of various taxonomic groups with altitude was also studied. Poaceae showed strong negative relationships and Asteraceae showed a hump-shaped relationship with increase of altitude. Five common species of the grassland, Trifolium pratense, Geranium wilfordii, Aster tataricus, Leontopodium leontopodioides, and Spiraea prunifolia, were particularly studied for variation of leaf traits along the altitudinal gradient. Averaged for all species, LMA, N _area and foliar δ¹³C had positive correlations with altitude. N _mass did not change significantly as altitude increased. LMA and N _area showed significant positive relationships with foliar δ¹³C. The adaptive features of leaf traits among different species were not consistent. The study highlights specific adaptation patterns in relation to altitude for different plant species, provides further insights into adaptive trends of community structure and leaf traits in a specific ecological region filling a gap in the definition of global patterns, and adds to the understanding of how adaptive patterns of plants may respond to global climate change.     

Elevational partitioning in species distribution,abundance and body size of Australian alpine grasshoppers (Kosciuscola)

Changes in the physical environment with elevation can influence species distributions and their morphological traits. In mountainous regions, steep temperature gradients can result in patterns of ecological partitioning among species that potentially increases their vulnerability to climate change. We collected data on species distributions, relative abundance and body size for three grasshopper species of the genus Kosciuscola (K. usitatus, K. tristis and K. cognatus) at three locations within the mountainous Kosciuszko National Park in Australia (Thredbo, Guthega and Jagungal). All three species showed differences in their distributions according to elevation, with K. usitatus ranging from 1400 to 2000 m asl, K. tristis from 1600 to 2000 m asl and K. cognatus from 1550 to 1900 m asl. Decreasing relative abundance with increasing elevation was found for K. usitatus, but the opposite pattern was found for K. tristis. The relative abundance of K. cognatus did not change with elevation but was negatively correlated with foliage cover. Body size decreased with elevation in both male and female K. usitatus, which was similarly observed in female K. tristis and male K. cognatus. Our results demonstrate spatial partitioning of species distributions and clines in body size in relation to elevational gradients. Species‐specific sensitivities to climatic gradients may help to predict the persistence of this grasshopper assemblage under climate change.     

Radial Growth of Two Dominant Montane Conifer Tree Species in Response to Climate Change in North-Central China

North-Central China is a region in which the air temperature has clearly increased for several decades. Picea meyeri and Larix principis-rupprechtii are the most dominant co-occurring tree species within the cold coniferous forest belt ranging vertically from 1800 m to 2800 m a.s.l. in this region. Based on a tree-ring analysis of 292 increment cores sampled from 146 trees at different elevations, this study aimed to examine if the radial growth of the two species in response to climate is similar, whether the responses are consistent along altitudinal gradients and which species might be favored in the future driven by the changing climate. The results indicated the following: (1) The two species grew in different rhythms at low and high elevation respectively; (2) Both species displayed inconsistent relationships between radial growth and climate data along altitudinal gradients. The correlation between radial growth and the monthly mean temperature in the spring or summer changed from negative at low elevation into positive at high elevation, whereas those between the radial growth and the total monthly precipitation displayed a change from positive into negative along the elevation gradient. These indicate the different influences of the horizontal climate and vertical mountainous climate on the radial growth of the two species; (3) The species-dependent different response to climate in radial growth appeared mainly in autumn of the previous year. The radial growth of L. principis-rupprechtii displayed negative responses both to temperature and to precipitation in the previous September, October or November, which was not observed in the radial growth of P. meyeri. (4) The radial growth of both species will tend to be increased at high elevation and limited at low elevation, and L. principis-rupprechtii might be more favored in the future, if the temperature keeps rising.     

念青唐古拉山南坡高寒草甸生产力对温度和降水变化的敏感性及其海拔分异

目前人们仍不清楚不同海拔高寒草地植被生长对气候变化的敏感性差异及其与最适宜海拔分布中心的关系。利用西藏当雄县念青唐古拉山南坡7个海拔梯度固定样地的高山嵩草草甸地上净初级生产力(ANPP)观测数据(2009—2013),建立了ANPP与同期遥感植被指数(MODIS NDVI)的线性回归方程。基于长时间序列的NDVI数据,利用建立的回归方程估算了研究区2000—2013年的ANPP。结合沿海拔梯度的HOBO气象站数据(2006—2013)及当雄县气象站数据(2000—2013),分析了2000—2013年该地区高寒草甸ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性及其随海拔的变化规律。结果表明:(1)多年平均ANPP随海拔的变化均表现为先增加后降低的单峰分布格局,最大值出现在海拔4893—4942 m,说明在海拔梯度上存在一个最适宜高寒草甸植被生长的分布中心;(2)ANPP与生长季降水量(GSP)呈正相关关系,与生长季平均气温(GST)呈负相关关系,其相关斜率的绝对值(指示ANPP的降水敏感性和温度敏感性大小)与ANPP的海拔格局具有相反的变化趋势,即在最适宜高寒草甸植被生长的海拔分布中心附近,ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性最低,而在远离该分布中心的较高和较低海拔,ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性则相对较大。研究明确了高寒草甸ANPP对降水和温度变化的敏感性随海拔的分异性及其与高寒草甸最适宜海拔分布中心的关系,这有助于理解沿海拔梯度不同水热组合环境下高寒生态系统对未来气候变化的响应模式。     

Environmental dependence of population dynamics and height growth of a subalpine conifer across its vertical distribution: an approach using high‐resolution aerial photographs

Many studies have reported shifts in the altitudinal ranges of plant species in response to recent global warming. However, most studies of tree species have been conducted on a small scale and have focused on tree line ecotones by examining tree rings and age structure on account of the long life spans of the trees. To examine the impact of climate change on forest dynamics at a regional scale, we investigated differences in the population density and canopy height of a Japanese subalpine coniferous species, Abies mariesii, between 1967 and 2003 by analysis of high‐resolution aerial photographs of the Hakkoda Mountains, Honshu, Japan. In 712 plots within the photographs we analyzed which environmental variables (including elevation, aspect, wetness, and distance from moorlands) account for these changes. The population density of A. mariesii decreased below 1000 m a.s.l. and increased above 1300 m a.s.l. It also increased around moorlands, which may provide refugia at low elevations. The rate of increase in canopy height was lowest on the southeastern slopes and on the periphery of the moorlands. The distinct changes in the population density of A. mariesii at its distribution limits probably reflect the responses of the population to climatic changes during three decades. Areas surrounding the moorlands may offer refugia in spite of the poor growing conditions there.     

Responses of plant biomass,photosynthesis and lipid peroxidation to warming and precipitation change in two dominant species (Stipa grandis and Leymus chinensis) from North China Grasslands

Influential factors of global change affect plant carbon uptake and biomass simultaneously. Although the effects from warming and precipitation change have been extensive studied separately, the responses of plant biomass, photosynthesis, and lipid peroxidation to the interaction of these factors are still not fully understood. In this study, we examined the physiological responses of two dominant plant species from grasslands of northern China with different functional traits to combinations of five simulated warming patterns and five simulated precipitation patterns in environment‐controlled chambers. Our results showed that the biomass, net CO₂ assimilation rate (P_n), maximal efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry (F_v/F_m), and chlorophyll content (Chl) of Stipa grandis and Leymus chinensis were enhanced by moderate warming and plus precipitation, but they declined drastically with high temperature and drought. High temperature and drought also led to significant malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, which had a negative correlation with leaf biomass. The lower level of lipid peroxidation in leaves of S. grandis suggests that this species is better protected from oxidative damage under heat stress, drought stress and their interactive conditions than L. chinensis. Using the subordinate function values method, we found S. grandis to be more sensitive to climate change than L. chinensis and the gross biomass and root biomass of S. grandis and the leaf biomass of L. chinensis were most sensitive to climate change. Furthermore, the P_n of both S. grandis and L. chinensis had a significant linear relationship with F_v/F_m and Chl, indicating that carbon assimilation may be caused by nonstomatal limitations.     

天山中段北坡森林土壤有机碳库稳定性组分沿海拔的分异规律

在高纬度高海拔区域气温增幅更大的背景下,高山亚高山森林土壤有机碳稳定性组分分配比关系以及由于此差异导致对增温的反馈效应均有待深入阐释。天山森林是以雪岭云杉(Picea Schrenkiana)为单优树种的温带针叶林,在天山北坡中山带(海拔约1760—2800 m)呈垂直落差超过1000 m的带状斑块分布,便于排除混交树种的影响,而量化土壤有机碳库稳定性组分分配比关系沿海拔的分异规律,及其对气候变化的响应情况。沿海拔梯度设置森林样地并分层采集土样,研究各土层土壤总有机碳库(C_SOC)、活性碳库(C_a)、缓效性碳库(C_s)、惰性碳库(C_p)、微生物量碳(MBC)在海拔梯度上的变化特征,通过碳库活度(A)、碳库活度指数(AI)、碳库指数(CPI)、土壤碳密度(SOCD),探讨天山森林土壤有机碳稳定性组分沿海拔的分异特征。结果表明：(1)随着海拔的升高,天山中段北坡云杉森林土壤C_a占比逐步升高,C_s和C_p占比逐步降低,这意味着天山中段北坡云杉...     

Precipitation controls seed bank size and its role in alpine meadow community regeneration with increasing altitude

The Tibetan Plateau has undergone significant climate warming in recent decades, and precipitation has also become increasingly variable. Much research has explored the effects of climate change on vegetation on this plateau. As potential vegetation buried in the soil, the soil seed bank is an important resource for ecosystem restoration and resilience. However, almost no studies have explored the effects of climate change on seed banks and the mechanisms of these effects. We used an altitudinal gradient to represent a decrease in temperature and collected soil seed bank samples from 27 alpine meadows (3,158–4,002 m) along this gradient. A structural equation model was used to explore the direct effects of mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT) on the soil seed bank and their indirect effects through aboveground vegetation and soil environmental factors. The species richness and abundance of the aboveground vegetation varied little along the altitudinal gradient, while the species richness and density of the seed bank decreased. The similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation decreased with altitude; specifically, it decreased with MAP but was not related to MAT. The increase in MAP with increasing altitude directly decreased the species richness and density of the seed bank, while the increase in MAP and decrease in MAT with increasing altitude indirectly increased and decreased the species richness of the seed bank, respectively, by directly increasing and decreasing the species richness of the plant community. The size of the soil seed bank declined with increasing altitude. Increases in precipitation directly decreased the species richness and density and indirectly decreased the species richness of the seed bank with increasing elevation. The role of the seed bank in aboveground plant community regeneration decreases with increasing altitude, and this process is controlled by precipitation but not temperature.     

巨伞钟报春繁殖策略随海拔梯度的变异

巨伞钟报春(Primula florindae)是报春花属(Primula)的一种二型花柱植物,为青藏高原地区特有种。该研究于巨伞钟报春自然种群在色季拉山的分布下限(3 100m)至上限(林线4 350m)沿海拔梯度设立5个远离人为活动干扰的样点,并选取开花物候、花部结构性状、传粉昆虫、性分配、自然结实5个繁殖表征性状,通过分析比较不同海拔梯度样点的繁殖表征性状之间的差异,明确巨伞钟报春繁殖性状对海拔变化的适应策略,并探讨未来气候变化对巨伞钟报春的分布格局可能产生的影响。研究发现:(1)巨伞钟报春始花时间最早为中海拔种群,其次是低海拔种群,最晚为高海拔种群,而且随海拔高度上升,巨伞钟报春两种表型的花寿命均显著延长;花部结构面积显著增大;访花昆虫种类减少;性分配倾向于偏雌分配,各性状对于不同海拔之间异质环境的适应可能是巨伞钟报春在各海拔繁殖策略上表现出差异的主要原因。(2)随着海拔的上升,巨伞钟报春的开花数显著减少,但虫食数与虫食率也显著降低,最终不同海拔有效座果数和结籽数均无显著差异,表明巨伞钟报春通过应对不同环境形成相应的繁殖策略,在不同海拔均能保证恒定的繁殖成功率,并维持种群的稳定。(3)气候变化将会对巨伞钟报春的分布产生深远影响,其分布下限可能发生上移,但更高海拔地区现有的砂壤环境不适于巨伞钟报春的生长,且传粉昆虫在气候变化综合作用下的时空变异尚不明确,致使其分布上限上移空间有限。研究推测,未来100年内,巨伞钟报春的分布下限可能上移至其现今分布格局的中海拔地区,造成其分布区域缩小。     

Distribution of biomass of species differing in photosynthetic pathway along an altitudinal transect in southeastern wyoming grassland

Summary Based on the physiological characteristics and responses of C₃, C₄, and CAM plants to environmental factors, it is generally predicted that C₄ and CAM plants will become more abundant with increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation. To test this prediction, the relative contribution of each photosynthetic type to total plant community biomass was examined at seven study areas along an altitudinal transect in southeastern Wyoming grassland. In going from high (2,652 m) to low (1,405 m) elevation along this transect, mean annual temperature increased and annual precipitation decreased.The percentage of C₄ biomass composing each study area decreased with increasing elevation, while the percentage of C₃ biomass increased. All elevations had a significantly higher percentage of C₄ biomass in August than in June, reflecting the warm season growth characteristic of C₄ plants. Regressions of relative abundance of photosynthetic types on climatic variables showed that both mean annual temperature and annual precipitation were equally reliable as predictors of C₃–C₄ biomass, although we feel that temperature is of primary importance in explaining our observations. CAM species were present at all elevations, but showed no trends in biomass distribution with respect to elevation.     

Growth and biomass allocation of shrub and grass seedlings in response to predicted changes in precipitation seasonality

Anthropogenic emissions contribute to an annual 0.5% increase in atmospheric CO₂. As global CO₂ levels increase, regional precipitation patterns will likely be altered. Our primary objective was to determine whether a reduction in summer precipitation or an increase in winter/spring precipitation, predicted by global climate change models, will favor the establishment of C₄ grasses or C₃ shrubs in southern savannas. Our secondary objective was to determine how defoliation and microsite light availability interact with altered precipitation regimes to influence grass and shrub seedling growth and biomass allocation patterns. Seedlings of 3 shrub species (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Acacia berlandieri, and A. greggii var. wrightii) and 3 grass species (Aristida purpurea var. wrightii, Setaria texana, and Stipa leucotricha) were watered based on probable changes in precipitation in a CO₂ enriched atmosphere (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 current ambient summer precipitation and 1.0, 1.15, and 1.30 current winter/spring precipitation). Seedlings were defoliated at 3 levels (non-defoliated, single defoliation, and repeated defoliation) within 2 levels of microsite light availability (100 and 50% ambient). Defoliation significantly reduced total shrub and grass seedling biomass. Reducing light availability decreased shrub seedling root:shoot ratio, but total biomass was not significantly affected. Grass seedling biomass and root:shoot ratio decreased when light availability was reduced. Changing the seasonality of precipitation by reducing summer rainfall or increasing winter/spring rainfall did not significantly influence growth or biomass allocation of grass and shrub seedlings in a semiarid savanna. Microsite variations in defoliation intensity and light availability influence seedling growth and biomass allocation more than changing seasonality of precipitation. Shrub and grass seedling establishment and growth on semiarid rangelands are already limited by summer precipitation, so a further reduction as proposed by climate change models will have a limited impact on seedling dynamics.     

Predicting potential responses to future climate in an alpine ungulate: interspecific interactions exceed climate effects

The altitudinal shifts of many montane populations are lagging behind climate change. Understanding habitual, daily behavioural rhythms, and their climatic and environmental influences, could shed light on the constraints on long‐term upslope range‐shifts. In addition, behavioural rhythms can be affected by interspecific interactions, which can ameliorate or exacerbate climate‐driven effects on ecology. Here, we investigate the relative influences of ambient temperature and an interaction with domestic sheep (Ovis aries) on the altitude use and activity budgets of a mountain ungulate, the Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Chamois moved upslope when it was hotter but this effect was modest compared to that of the presence of sheep, to which they reacted by moving 89–103 m upslope, into an entirely novel altitudinal range. Across the European Alps, a range‐shift of this magnitude corresponds to a 46% decrease in the availability of suitable foraging habitat. This highlights the importance of understanding how factors such as competition and disturbance shape a given species’ realised niche when predicting potential future responses to change. Furthermore, it exposes the potential for manipulations of species interactions to ameliorate the impacts of climate change, in this case by the careful management of livestock. Such manipulations could be particularly appropriate for species where competition or disturbance already strongly restricts their available niche. Our results also reveal the potential role of behavioural flexibility in responses to climate change. Chamois reduced their activity when it was warmer, which could explain their modest altitudinal migrations. Considering this behavioural flexibility, our model predicts a small 15–30 m upslope shift by 2100 in response to climate change, less than 4% of the altitudinal shift that would be predicted using a traditional species distribution model‐type approach (SDM), which assumes that species’ behaviour remains unchanged as climate changes. Behavioural modifications could strongly affect how species respond to a changing climate.     

Clinal differentiation during invasion: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Senecio inaequidens</Emphasis> (Asteraceae) along altitudinal gradients in Europe

The dynamics of plant population differentiation may be integral in predicting aspects of introduced species invasion. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that European populations of Senecio inaequidens (Asteraceae), an invasive species with South African origins, differentiated during migration from two independent introduction sites into divergent altitudinal and climatic zones. We carried out 2 years of common garden experiments with eight populations sampled from Belgian and ten populations from French altitudinal transects. The Belgian transect followed a temperature and precipitation gradient. A temperature and summer drought gradient characterized the French transect. We evaluated differentiation and clinal variation in plants germinated from field-collected seed using the following traits: days to germination, days to flowering, height at maturity, final plant height and aboveground biomass. Results showed that S. inaequidens populations differentiated in growth traits during invasion. During the 1st year of sampling, the results indicated clinal variation for growth traits along both the Belgium and French altitudinal transects. Data from the 2nd year of study demonstrated that with increasing altitude, a reduction in three growth traits, including plant height at maturity, final plant height and aboveground biomass, was detected along the French transect, but no longer along the Belgian one. Phenological traits did not exhibit a clear clinal variation along altitudinal transects. The possible evolutionary causes for the observed differentiation are discussed. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.