Natural variations in snow cover do not affect the annual soil CO2 efflux from a mid‐elevation temperate forest

Climate change might alter annual snowfall patterns and modify the duration and magnitude of snow cover in temperate regions with resultant impacts on soil microclimate and soil CO₂ efflux (F_soil). We used a 5‐year time series of F_soil measurements from a mid‐elevation forest to assess the effects of naturally changing snow cover. Snow cover varied considerably in duration (105–154 days) and depth (mean snow depth 19–59 cm). Periodically shallow snow cover (<10 cm) caused soil freezing or increased variation in soil temperature. This was mostly not reflected in F_soil which tended to decrease gradually throughout winter. Progressively decreasing C substrate availability (identified by substrate induced respiration) likely over‐rid the effects of slowly changing soil temperatures and determined the overall course of F_soil. Cumulative CO₂ efflux from beneath snow cover varied between 0.46 and 0.95 t C ha^?1 yr^?1 and amounted to between 6 and 12% of the annual efflux. When compared over a fixed interval (the longest period of snow cover during the 5 years), the cumulative CO₂ efflux ranged between 0.77 and 1.18 t C ha^?1 or between 11 and 15% of the annual soil CO₂ efflux. The relative contribution (15%) was highest during the year with the shortest winter. Variations in snow cover were not reflected in the annual CO₂ efflux (7.44–8.41 t C ha^?1) which did not differ significantly between years and did not correlate with any snow parameter. Regional climate at our site was characterized by relatively high amounts of precipitation. Therefore, snow did not play a role in terms of water supply during the warm season and primarily affected cold season processes. The role of changing snow cover therefore seems rather marginal when compared to potential climate change effects on F_soil during the warm season.     

Decrease in winter respiration explains 25% of the annual northern forest carbon sink enhancement over the last 30 years

Aim Winter snow has been suggested to regulate terrestrial carbon (C) cycling by modifying microclimate, but the impacts of change in snow cover on the annual C budget at a large scale are poorly understood. Our aim is to quantify the C balance under changing snow depth. Location Non‐permafrost region of the northern forest area. Methods Here, we used site‐based eddy covariance flux data to investigate the relationship between depth of snow cover and ecosystem respiration (R_eco) during winter. We then used the Biome‐BGC model to estimate the effect of reductions in winter snow cover on the C balance of northern forests in the non‐permafrost region. Results According to site observations, winter net ecosystem C exchange (NEE) ranged from 0.028 to 1.53 gC·m^?2·day^?1, accounting for 44 ± 123% of the annual C budget. Model simulation showed that over the past 30 years, snow‐driven change in winter C fluxes reduced non‐growing season CO₂ emissions, enhancing the annual C sink of northern forests. Over the entire study area, simulated winter R_eco significantly decreased by 0.33 gC·m^?2·day^?1·year^?1 in response to decreasing depth of snow cover, which accounts for approximately 25% of the simulated annual C sink trend from 1982 to 2009. Main conclusion Soil temperature is primarily controlled by snow cover rather than by air temperature as snow serves as an insulator to prevent chilling impacts. A shallow snow cover has less insulation potential, causing colder soil temperatures and potentially lower respiration rates. Both eddy covariance analysis and model‐simulated results show that both R_eco and NEE are significantly and positively correlated with variation in soil temperature controlled by variation in snow depth. Overall, our results highlight that a decrease in winter snow cover restrains global warming as less C is emitted to the atmosphere.     

Snow cover and extreme winter warming events control flower abundance of some,but not all species in high arctic Svalbard

The High Arctic winter is expected to be altered through ongoing and future climate change. Winter precipitation and snow depth are projected to increase and melt out dates change accordingly. Also, snow cover and depth will play an important role in protecting plant canopy from increasingly more frequent extreme winter warming events. Flower production of many Arctic plants is dependent on melt out timing, since season length determines resource availability for flower preformation. We erected snow fences to increase snow depth and shorten growing season, and counted flowers of six species over 5 years, during which we experienced two extreme winter warming events. Most species were resistant to snow cover increase, but two species reduced flower abundance due to shortened growing seasons. Cassiope tetragona responded strongly with fewer flowers in deep snow regimes during years without extreme events, while Stellaria crassipes responded partly. Snow pack thickness determined whether winter warming events had an effect on flower abundance of some species. Warming events clearly reduced flower abundance in shallow but not in deep snow regimes of Cassiope tetragona, but only marginally for Dryas octopetala. However, the affected species were resilient and individuals did not experience any long term effects. In the case of short or cold summers, a subset of species suffered reduced reproductive success, which may affect future plant composition through possible cascading competition effects. Extreme winter warming events were shown to expose the canopy to cold winter air. The following summer most of the overwintering flower buds could not produce flowers. Thus reproductive success is reduced if this occurs in subsequent years. We conclude that snow depth influences flower abundance by altering season length and by protecting or exposing flower buds to cold winter air, but most species studied are resistant to changes.     

黑龙江流域积雪覆盖时空变化遥感监测

利用MODIS双星数据对黑龙江流域2003—2012年的积雪覆盖面积进行提取和验证,然后基于合成的数据分析研究区积雪覆盖面积的季节和年际变化.结果表明: 双星合成降低了云的影响,总体精度>91%,可以满足分析和研究需求.研究期间,黑龙江流域积雪覆盖面积存在显著的季节变化,7、8月的积雪最少,几乎为零,1月积雪覆盖面积最大,占流域的80%以上.2003—2004、2009—2010年冬季积雪覆盖面积较高(>180×10⁴ km²),2011年冬季最大积雪覆盖面积较低(150×10⁴ km²).积雪覆盖的年际变化与年平均气温和平均降水量的波动存在一定的对应关系:积雪覆盖面积较低年份对应的年降水量较少、平均气温较高,反之亦然.2003—2012年,研究区5、6月的积雪覆盖面积呈减少趋势,降水量增加和气温的升高与积雪覆盖面积减少紧密相连.     

雪被斑块对高山森林两种灌木凋落叶质量损失的影响

高山/亚高山森林灌木层植物凋落物的分解对于系统物质循环等过程具有重要意义, 并可能受到冬季不同厚度雪被斑块下冻融格局的影响。该文采用凋落物分解袋法, 研究了高山森林典型灌层植物华西箭竹(Fargesia nitida)和康定柳(Salix paraplesia)凋落物在沿林窗-林下形成的冬季雪被厚度梯度(厚型雪被斑块、较厚型雪被斑块、中型雪被斑块、薄型雪被斑块、无雪被斑块)上在第一年不同关键时期(冻结初期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节初期和生长季节后期)的质量损失特征。在整个冻融季节, 华西箭竹和康定柳凋落叶的平均质量损失分别占全年的(48.78 ± 2.35)%和(46.60 ± 5.02)%。冻融季节雪被覆盖斑块下凋落叶的失重率表现出厚型雪被斑块大于薄型雪被斑块的趋势,而生长季节无雪被斑块的失重率明显较高。尽管如此, 华西箭竹凋落物第一年分解表现出随冬季雪被厚度增加而增加的趋势, 但康定柳凋落物第一年失重率以薄型雪被斑块最高, 而无雪被斑块最低。同时, 相关分析表明冻融季节凋落叶的失重率与平均温度和负积温呈极显著正相关, 生长季节凋落叶的失重率与所调查的温度因子并无显著相关关系, 但全年凋落物失重率与平均温度和正/负积温均显著相关。这些结果清晰地表明, 未来冬季变暖情境下高山森林冬季雪被格局的改变将显著影响灌层植物凋落物分解, 影响趋势随着物种的差异具有明显差异。     

Climatic factors affecting the tree-ring width of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula ermanii</Emphasis> at the timberline on Mount Norikura,central Japan

Tree-ring-width chronology of Betula ermanii was developed at the timberline (2,400 m a.s.l.) on Mount Norikura in central Japan, and climatic factors affecting the tree-ring width of B. ermanii were examined. Three monthly climatic data (mean temperature, insolation duration, and sum of precipitation) were used for the analysis. The tree-ring width of B. ermanii was negatively correlated with the December and January temperatures and with the January precipitation prior to the growth. However, why high temperatures and heavy snow in winter had negative effects on the growth of B. ermanii is unknown. The tree-ring width was positively correlated with summer temperatures during June–August of the current year. The tree-ring width was also positively correlated with the insolation duration in July of the current year. In contrast, the tree-ring width was negatively correlated with summer precipitation during July–September of the current year. However, these negative correlations of summer precipitation do not seem to be independent of temperature and insolation duration, i.e., substantial precipitation reduces the insolation duration and temperature. Therefore, it is suggested that significant insolation duration and high temperature due to less precipitation in summer of the current year increase the radial growth of B. ermanii at the timberline. The results were also compared with those of our previous study conducted at the lower altitudinal limit of B. ermanii (approximately 1,600 m a.s.l.) on Mount Norikura. This study suggests that the climatic factors that increase the radial growth of B. ermanii differ between its upper and lower altitudinal limits.     

Emerging climate‐driven disturbance processes: widespread mortality associated with snow‐to‐rain transitions across 10° of latitude and half the range of a climate‐threatened conifer

Climate change is causing rapid changes to forest disturbance regimes worldwide. While the consequences of climate change for existing disturbance processes, like fires, are relatively well studied, emerging drivers of disturbance such as snow loss and subsequent mortality are much less documented. As the climate warms, a transition from winter snow to rain in high latitudes will cause significant changes in environmental conditions such as soil temperatures, historically buffered by snow cover. The Pacific coast of North America is an excellent test case, as mean winter temperatures are currently at the snow–rain threshold and have been warming for approximately 100 years post‐Little Ice Age. Increased mortality in a widespread tree species in the region has been linked to warmer winters and snow loss. Here, we present the first high‐resolution range map of this climate‐sensitive species, Callitropsis nootkatensis (yellow‐cedar), and document the magnitude and location of observed mortality across Canada and the United States. Snow cover loss related mortality spans approximately 10° latitude (half the native range of the species) and 7% of the overall species range and appears linked to this snow–rain transition across its range. Mortality is commonly >70% of basal area in affected areas, and more common where mean winter temperatures is at or above the snow–rain threshold (>0 °C mean winter temperature). Approximately 50% of areas with a currently suitable climate for the species (相似文献   

Snow cover manipulations alter survival of early life stages of cold‐temperate tree species

Projections of future climate suggest increases in global temperatures that are especially pronounced in winter in cold‐temperate regions. Thermal insulation provided by snow cover to litter, soil, and overwintering plants will likely be affected by changing winter temperatures and might influence future species composition and ranges. We investigated effects of changing snow cover on seed germination and sapling survival of several cold‐temperate tree species using a snow manipulation approach. Post‐winter seed germination increased or decreased with increasing snow cover, depending on species; decreased seed germination was found in species that characteristically disperse seed in summer or fall months prior to snowfall. Post‐winter sapling survival increased with increasing snow cover for all species, though some species benefitted more from increased snow cover than others. Sapling mortality was associated with root exposure, suggesting the possibility that soil frost heaving could be an important mechanism for observed effects. Our results suggest that altered snow regimes may cause re‐assembly of current species habitat relationships and may drive changes in species’ biogeographic range. However, local snow regimes also vary with associated vegetation cover and topography, suggesting that species distribution patterns may be strongly influenced by spatial heterogeneity in snow regimes and complicating future projections.     

Activity of temperate grassland plants and symbiotic fungi during the winter – implications for community structure and carbon cycling in a changing climate

Several investigations have revealed surprisingly high activities during the winter in vegetation and soil in temperate and subarctic areas. Plants have been found to photosynthesize even under snow cover and at temperatures below freezing, and decomposer microorganisms can function, at low rates, all year around. In temperate grasslands, the vegetation includes winter annual herbs as well as bryophytes, which have the potential to be active and are thus susceptible to changing temperatures during winter. If temperatures stay below freezing and there is a snow cover, an increase in temperatures could in fact decrease the soil temperature due to reduced insulation by snow cover. On the other hand, if winter temperatures initially fluctuate around the freezing point, an increase by a few degrees might produce frost‐free conditions. Based on available data, the composition of plant communities are strongly influenced by temperature conditions in the preceding winter. We conclude that the winter season in grasslands needs more research attention, to start to resolve which species are active and how they respond to a changing climate.     

近30年古尔班通古特沙漠短命植物的时空格局

基于1985—1999年的GIMMS-NDVI数据和2000—2014年的MODIS-NDVI数据提取短命植物的时空格局,结合野外调查数据和1985—2014年气象站点气温和降水数据,从不同时空尺度上分析了古尔班通古特沙漠短命植物的时空变化及其对气候变化的响应。结果表明:(1)古尔班通古特沙漠中短命植物层片整体表现出物种组成简单,优势度高、多样性和覆盖度低等特征,且层片特征主要是由优势物种所主导,在早春至盛夏期间,由于短暂的生活史造成层片整体在物候上有一个明显的起伏差异。(2)沙漠中短命植物覆盖度最高的区域为南部和中东部,北部次之,西部最少。就时间变化趋势而言,受近30年早春温度和冬春降水增加的影响,短命植物覆盖的区域面积呈现出明显的增加趋势。(3)1985—2014年间3、4月温度和冬春两季降水量呈上升趋势,而反映短命植物长势的NDVI值与冬春两季降水量也呈正相关性,但就相关性程度而言,冬季降水量与NDVI呈显著性相关(P0.05,r=0.405),而春季降水由于时滞效应并未表现出显著相关性。     

Effects of experimentally imposed climate scenarios on flowering phenology and flower production of subarctic bog species

Climate scenarios for high‐latitude areas predict not only increased summer temperatures, but also larger variation in snowfall and winter temperatures. By using open‐top chambers, we experimentally manipulated both summer temperatures and winter and spring snow accumulations and temperatures independently in a blanket bog in subarctic Sweden, yielding six climate scenarios. We studied the effects of these scenarios on flowering phenology and flower production of Andromeda polifolia (woody evergreen) and Rubus chamaemorus (perennial herb) during 2 years. The second year of our study (2002) was characterized by unusually high spring and early summer temperatures. Our winter manipulations led to consistent increases in winter snow cover. As a result, average and minimum air and soil temperatures in the high snow cover treatments were higher than in the winter ambient treatments, whereas temperature fluctuations were smaller. Spring warming resulted in higher average, minimum, and maximum soil temperatures. Summer warming led to higher air and soil temperatures in mid‐summer (June–July), but not in late summer (August–September). The unusually high temperatures in 2002 advanced the median flowering date by 2 weeks for both species in all treatments. Superimposed on this effect, we found that for both Andromeda and Rubus, all our climate treatments (except summer warming for Rubus) advanced flowering by 1–4 days. The total flower production of both species showed a more or less similar response: flower production in the warm year 2002 exceeded that in 2001 by far. However, in both species flower production was only stimulated by the spring‐warming treatments. Our results show that the reproductive ecology of both species is very responsive to climate change but this response is very dependent on specific climate events, especially those that occur in winter and spring. This suggests that high‐latitude climate change experiments should focus more on winter and spring events than has been the case so far.     

Cold adaptation in the phytopathogenic fungi causing snow molds

Snow molds are psychrophilic or psychrotrophic fungal pathogens of forage crops, winter cereals, and conifer seedlings. These fungi can grow and attack dormant plants at low temperatures under snow cover. In this review, we describe the biodiversity and physiological and biochemical characteristics of snow molds that belong to various taxa. Cold tolerance is one of the important factors related to their geographic distribution, because snow molds develop mycelia under snow cover and because they should produce intra- and extracellular enzymes active at low temperatures for growth and infection. Basidiomycetous snow molds produce extracellular antifreeze proteins. Their physiological significance is to keep the extracellular environment unfrozen. The psychrophilic ascomycete Sclerotia borealis shows normal mycelial growth under frozen conditions, which is faster than that on unfrozen media at optimal growth temperature. This fungus does not produce extracellular antifreeze proteins, but osmotic stress tolerance enables the fungus to grow at subzero temperatures. In conclusion, different taxa of snow molds have different strategies to adapt under snow cover.     

Habitat selection,reproduction and predation of wintering lemmings in the Arctic

Snow cover has dramatic effects on the structure and functioning of Arctic ecosystems in winter. In the tundra, the subnivean space is the primary habitat of wintering small mammals and may be critical for their survival and reproduction. We have investigated the effects of snow cover and habitat features on the distributions of collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) and brown lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus) winter nests, as well as on their probabilities of reproduction and predation by stoats (Mustela erminea) and arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). We sampled 193 lemming winter nests and measured habitat features at all of these nests and at random sites at two spatial scales. We also monitored overwinter ground temperature at a subsample of nest and random sites. Our results demonstrate that nests were primarily located in areas with high micro-topography heterogeneity, steep slopes, deep snow cover providing thermal protection (reduced daily temperature fluctuations) and a high abundance of mosses. The probability of reproduction increased in collared lemming nests at low elevation and in brown lemming nests with high availability of some graminoid species. The probability of predation by stoats was density dependent and was higher in nests used by collared lemmings. Snow cover did not affect the probability of predation of lemming nests by stoats, but deep snow cover limited predation attempts by arctic foxes. We conclude that snow cover plays a key role in the spatial structure of wintering lemming populations and potentially in their population dynamics in the Arctic.     

Impacts of extreme winter warming events on plant physiology in a sub‐Arctic heath community

Insulation provided by snow cover and tolerance of freezing by physiological acclimation allows Arctic plants to survive cold winter temperatures. However, both the protection mechanisms may be lost with winter climate change, especially during extreme winter warming events where loss of snow cover from snow melt results in exposure of plants to warm temperatures and then returning extreme cold in the absence of insulating snow. These events cause considerable damage to Arctic plants, but physiological responses behind such damage remain unknown. Here, we report simulations of extreme winter warming events using infrared heating lamps and soil warming cables in a sub‐Arctic heathland. During these events, we measured maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), photosynthesis, respiration, bud swelling and associated bud carbohydrate changes and lipid peroxidation to identify physiological responses during and after the winter warming events in three dwarf shrub species: Empetrum hermaphroditum, Vaccinium vitis‐idaea and Vaccinium myrtillus. Winter warming increased maximum quantum yield of PSII, and photosynthesis was initiated for E. hermaphroditum and V. vitis‐idaea. Bud swelling, bud carbohydrate decreases and lipid peroxidation were largest for E. hermaphroditum, whereas V. myrtillus and V. vitis‐idaea showed no or less strong responses. Increased physiological activity and bud swelling suggest that sub‐Arctic plants can initiate spring‐like development in response to a short winter warming event. Lipid peroxidation suggests that plants experience increased winter stress. The observed differences between species in physiological responses are broadly consistent with interspecific differences in damage seen in previous studies, with E. hermaphroditum and V. myrtillus tending to be most sensitive. This suggests that initiation of spring‐like development may be a major driver in the damage caused by winter warming events that are predicted to become more frequent in some regions of the Arctic and that may ultimately drive plant community shifts.     

Winter warming effects on overwinter survival,energy use,and spring emergence of Cerotoma trifurcata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

相似文献   

Summer warming and increased winter snow cover affect Sphagnum fuscum growth, structure and production in a sub-arctic bog

Sphagnum mosses form a major component of northern peatlands, which are expected to experience substantially higher increases in temperature and winter precipitation than the global average. Sphagnum may play an important role in the responses of the global carbon cycle to climate change. We investigated the responses of summer length growth, carpet structure and production in Sphagnum fuscum to experimentally induced changes in climate in a sub‐arctic bog. Thereto, we used open‐top chambers (OTCs) to create six climate scenarios including changes in summer temperatures, and changes in winter snow cover and spring temperatures. In winter, the OTCs doubled the snow thickness, resulting in 0.5–2.8°C higher average air temperatures. Spring air temperatures in OTCs increased by 1.0°C. Summer warming had a maximum effect of 0.9°C, while vapor pressure deficit was not affected. The climate manipulations had strong effects on S. fuscum. Summer warming enhanced the length increment by 42–62%, whereas bulk density decreased. This resulted in a trend (P<0.10) of enhanced biomass production. Winter snow addition enhanced dry matter production by 33%, despite the fact that the length growth and bulk density did not change significantly. The addition of spring warming to snow addition alone did not significantly enhance this effect, but we may have missed part of the early spring growth. There were no interactions between the manipulations in summer and those in winter/spring, indicating that the effects were additive. Summer warming may in the long term negatively affect productivity through the adverse effects of changes in Sphagnum structure on moisture holding and transporting capacity. Moreover, the strong length growth enhancement may affect interactions with other mosses and vascular plants. Because winter snow addition enhanced the production of S. fuscum without affecting its structure, it may increase the carbon balance of northern peatlands.     

Vegetation responses in Alaskan arctic tundra after 8 years of a summer warming and winter snow manipulation experiment

We used snow fences and small (1 m²) open‐topped fiberglass chambers (OTCs) to study the effects of changes in winter snow cover and summer air temperatures on arctic tundra. In 1994, two 60 m long, 2.8 m high snow fences, one in moist and the other in dry tundra, were erected at Toolik Lake, Alaska. OTCs paired with unwarmed plots, were placed along each experimental snow gradient and in control areas adjacent to the snowdrifts. After 8 years, the vegetation of the two sites, including that in control plots, had changed significantly. At both sites, the cover of shrubs, live vegetation, and litter, together with canopy height, had all increased, while lichen cover and diversity had decreased. At the moist site, bryophytes decreased in cover, while an increase in graminoids was almost entirely because of the response of the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum. These community changes were consistent with results found in studies of responses to warming and increased nutrient availability in the Arctic. However, during the time period of the experiment, summer temperature did not increase, but summer precipitation increased by 28%. The snow addition treatment affected species abundance, canopy height, and diversity, whereas the summer warming treatment had few measurable effects on vegetation. The interannual temperature fluctuation was considerably larger than the temperature increases within OTCs (<2°C), however. Snow addition also had a greater effect on microclimate by insulating vegetation from winter wind and temperature extremes, modifying winter soil temperatures, and increasing spring run‐off. Most increases in shrub cover and canopy height occurred in the medium snow‐depth zone (0.5–2 m) of the moist site, and the medium to deep snow‐depth zone (2–3 m) of the dry site. At the moist tundra site, deciduous shrubs, particularly Betula nana, increased in cover, while evergreen shrubs decreased. These differential responses were likely because of the larger production to biomass ratio in deciduous shrubs, combined with their more flexible growth response under changing environmental conditions. At the dry site, where deciduous shrubs were a minor part of the vegetation, evergreen shrubs increased in both cover and canopy height. These changes in abundance of functional groups are expected to affect most ecological processes, particularly the rate of litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and both soil carbon and nitrogen pools. Also, changes in canopy structure, associated with increases in shrub abundance, are expected to alter the summer energy balance by increasing net radiation and evapotranspiration, thus altering soil moisture regimes.     

Explaining annual fluctuations in breeding density of fieldfares Turdus pilaris– combined influences of factors operating during breeding, migration and wintering

In a subalpine birch forest in Central Norway, the breeding population of fieldfare Turdus pilaris varied from 3 to 63 pairs per km² during 1966–2000. For the period 1971–1995, the breeding density was negatively related to the number of days with >75% snow covered ground in April, presumably because snow cover reduce the availability of earthworms. In a multiple regression model for the period 1974–1995, snow cover in spring, the number of migrating fieldfares observed at two ornithological stations at the southern coast of Norway in April, the mean temperature in November in the preceding year, winter temperatures, rowanberry production in the previous autumn, and the interaction effect of the two latter variables (high value of one of these variables reduced the negative effect of a low value of the other) explained 80% of the variation in fieldfare breeding density. Autumn and winter temperatures, as well as rowanberry production, contributed through a positive effect, probably because these factors affected the number of fieldfare present in Norway throughout winter, which in some years may constitute a significant proportion of the overall fieldfare population.     

Winter Conditions and Land Cover Structure the Subnivium,A Seasonal Refuge beneath the Snow

In seasonally snow-covered environments, many organisms endure winter by using the subnivium, a below-snow thermally stable seasonal refugium. Because the insulation of snow is dependent on snow depth and density, the stability of temperatures within the subnivium varies across land cover types. Additionally, across much of the Northern Hemisphere snow extent, depth and duration are generally decreasing while snow density is increasing due to climate change. These changes are likely to destabilize the thermal profile of the subnivium, although they have not yet been quantified. To explore the effects of land cover and climate change on the subnivium, we measured snow pack characteristics (depth and density), and ambient and subnivium temperatures from three different land cover types (prairie, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest) and within a micro-greenhouse (2.5 x 2.5 x 2 m) that maintained a temperature of 5°C warmer than outdoor ambient temperatures, and automatically opened during snow events throughout the winter of 2013/14. We found that the mean daily subnivium temperature was significantly colder in the deciduous cover type than the prairie cover type, and that prairie had higher maximum subnivium temperatures than both of the other cover types. Our climate change simulation revealed that, although ambient temperatures within the micro-greenhouse were 5°C warmer than outside the greenhouse, the daily minimum subnivium temperature was significantly lower inside the greenhouse. Our findings suggest that climate change could have considerable effects on the refuge quality of the subnivium, and that some cover types appear to be more susceptible to these effects than others.     

Response of the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum to changes in sheep grazing and snow‐lie due to a snow‐fence

Question: What are the responses of Racomitrium lanuginosum moss to altered snow‐lie and sheep use? Location: ACarexbigelowii‐Racomitrium lanuginosum heath on a Scottish montane plateau affected since 1986 by a fenced ski corridor. Methods: Permanent quadrats were set up along transects 45 m long perpendicular to the snow‐fence. Cover was assessed over a 12‐year period from 1990. Pellet‐group clearance counts provided data on sheep usage between 1990 and 1996. Snow‐lie was mapped in the springs of 1991–1996. Results: The snow‐fence created a gradient in sheep use and altered the duration of snow‐lie. At the start of monitoring Racomitrium cover was lower immediately adjacent to the fence, and after 12 years its cover was significantly reduced within 10 m of the fence. Further away from the fence Racomitrium cover was relatively stable. The loss of Racomitrium was correlated both with increased snow‐lie and heavier sheep usage. Grass cover increased near the fence and was related to sheep use. Dicranum fuscescens responded differently to Racomitrium, increasing significantly near the fence. Conclusions: We found that changes in snow‐lie and grazing pressure quickly brought about vegetation change in this montane ecosystem. Racomitrium was the most sensitive species to the changes in grazing and snow‐lie caused by the fence, having the biggest initial changes. Loss of Racomitrium permitted increases of species more resistant to grazing including Dicranum fuscescens and grasses.