Vegetation trends over eleven years on mountain summits in NW Argentina

• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4602
• Publication Date: 2018-11-14T09:38:28Z
• Authors: Julieta Carilla; Stephan Halloy; Soledad Cuello; Alfredo Grau; Agustina Malizia; Francisco Cuesta
• Keywords: Summit; Alpine plant

Abstract As global climate change leads to warmer and dryer conditions in the central Andes, alpine plant communities are forced upward displacements following their climatic niche. Species range shifts predicted have major impacts on by reshuffling species composition abundances. Using a standardized protocol, we surveyed permanent plots four high Andean summits NW Argentina, which from 4,040 4,740 m a.s.l. After baseline survey 2006–2008, resurvey same 2012, again 2017. We found significant decrease cover, richness, diversity across elevation gradient three censuses strong soil temperature along gradient. community turnover (37%–49%) among censuses, differentiating according aspects; changes of were observed lowest summit (49%) northern (47%) western (46%) aspects. Temporal patterns represented increases cover highest summit, richness lower (Shannon index) summits, over time, together with increase small herbs non‐tussock grasses. suggest that trend dynamics responds short‐term precipitation variability, is influenced El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), due time lags response, it may take much longer than one decade for trends become stables statistically significant. Our study provides an important foundation documenting more profound these subtropical as continues.