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Potential Impact of Climate Change on Vegetation in the European Alps: A Review

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Abstract

Based on conclusions drawn from general climatic impact assessmentin mountain regions, the review synthesizes results relevant to the European Alps published mainly from 1994 onward in the fields of population genetics, ecophysiology, phenology, phytogeography, modeling, paleoecology and vegetation dynamics. Other important factors of global change interacting synergistically with climatic factors are also mentioned, such as atmospheric CO2 concentration, eutrophication, ozone or changes in land-use. Topics addressed are general species distribution and populations (persistence, acclimation, genetic variability, dispersal, fragmentation, plant/animal interaction, species richness, conservation), potential response of vegetation (ecotonal shift – area, physiography – changes in the composition, structural changes), phenology, growth and productivity, and landscape. In conclusion, the European Alps appear to have a natural inertia and thus to tolerate an increase of 1–2 K of mean air temperature as far as plant species and ecosystems are concerned in general. However, the impact of land-use is very likely to negate this buffer in many areas. For a change of the order of 3 K or more, profound changes may be expected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Alpien de Phytogéographie (CAP), CH-1938, Champex, Switzerland

    Jean-Paul Theurillat

  2. Université de Genève, Centre de Botanique, CP60, CH-1292, Chambésy

    Jean-Paul Theurillat

  3. Swiss Center for Faunal Cartography (CSCF), Terreaux 14, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Antoine Guisan

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  1. Jean-Paul Theurillat
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  2. Antoine Guisan
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Theurillat, JP., Guisan, A. Potential Impact of Climate Change on Vegetation in the European Alps: A Review. Climatic Change 50, 77–109 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010632015572

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