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Functional and spatial pressures on terrestrial vegetation in Antarctica forced by global warming

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Abstract

There is growing interest in what controls the present distribution of terrestrial vegetation in Antarctica because of the potential use of biodiversity as an indicator or predictor of the effects of climate change. Recent advances in knowledge of distribution and ecophysiological performance of terrestrial vegetation means that an initial analysis of the potential influence of temperature is now possible. Regressions of species numbers of lichens, mosses and hepatics on latitude and mean annual temperature (standard macroclimatic data) were carried out, and the terrestrial vegetation in Antarctica could be divided into two zones. The microenvironmental zone lies south of around 72°S, and biodiversity (richness and location) is uncoupled from the macroenvironment and is, instead, determined by the occasional coincidences of warmth, water, light and shelter. The macroenvironmental zone lies north of about 72°S, and biodiversity (richness, cover and growth) is strongly positively linked to mean annual temperature; species numbers increase at about 9–10% per K (24.0, 9.3 and 1.8 species for lichens, mosses and hepatics, respectively) probably due to improved water availability through increased precipitation and longer active period (monthly degree-days also reach zero at about 72°S) allowing greater productivity, completion of metabolic processes and a switch from survival to growth strategies. Cyanobacterial lichens appear to be a special case and may be expanding after being forced into northerly refugia. Warming will cause a southward movement of the boundary between the two zones but distribution in the microenvironmental zone will remain determined by local coincidences of environment and resources.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Antarctica New Zealand (AntNZ) for logistical support over several years as part of the Latitudinal Gradient Project coordinated by Shulamit Gordon. Logistics support was also provided by the Australian Antarctic Programme, the Spanish National Antarctic Program and the US Coastguard Reserve. These are all gratefully thanked. The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), the University of Waikato Vice Chancellor’s Fund and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato provided financial support. During completion of the research, TGAG and LGS were supported by the FRST grant, ‘Understanding, valuing and protecting Antarctica’s unique terrestrial ecosystems: predicting biocomplexity in Dry Valley ecosystems,’ and TGAG and LGS by the Spanish Education Ministry grants POL2006- 08405 and CTM2009- 12838-C04-01 and BS by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG SCHR 473/4-3). Special thanks go to Prof. Ute Harms, IPN, Kiel, Germany for support to BS.

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  1. Burkhard Schroeter

    Present address: Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 62, 24098, Kiel, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

    T. G. Allan Green

  2. Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    T. G. Allan Green, Leopoldo G. Sancho & Ana Pintado

  3. Botanical Institute, University of Kiel, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    Burkhard Schroeter

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  1. T. G. Allan Green
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Correspondence to T. G. Allan Green.

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This article is an invited contribution on Global Tipping Points (Global Change and Antarctic Terrestrial Biodiversity) and part of the SCAR EBA programme. I. Hogg and D. Wall (Guest Editors).

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Green, T.G.A., Sancho, L.G., Pintado, A. et al. Functional and spatial pressures on terrestrial vegetation in Antarctica forced by global warming. Polar Biol 34, 1643–1656 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1058-2

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