A5067561145- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Forest Management and Policy
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Forest ecology and management
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Bryophyte Studies and Records
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Karst Systems and Hydrogeology
- Heavy metals in environment
Environment Agency Austria
2015-2024
Environment Agency
2004-2015
Voestalpine (Austria)
2010
University of Vienna
2000-2004
University of Basel
2003
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
2003
Abstract Aim To assess the geographical transferability of niche‐based species distribution models fitted with two modelling techniques. Location Two distinct study areas in Switzerland and Austria, subalpine alpine belts. Methods Generalized linear generalized additive (GLM GAM) a binomial probability logit link were for 54 plant species, based on topoclimatic predictor variables. These then evaluated quantitatively used spatially explicit predictions within (internal evaluation prediction)...
Continental-scale assessments of 21st century global impacts climate change on biodiversity have forecasted range contractions for many species. These coarse resolution studies are, however, limited relevance projecting risks to in mountain systems, where pronounced microclimatic variation could allow species persist locally, and are ill-suited assessment species-specific threat particular regions. Here, we assess the 2632 plant across all major European ranges, using high-resolution (ca....
Local factors restrain forest warming Microclimates are key to understanding how organisms and ecosystems respond macroclimate change, yet they frequently neglected when studying biotic responses global change. Zellweger et al. provide a long-term, continental-scale assessment of the effects micro- on community composition European forests (see Perspective by Lembrechts Nijs). They show that changes in canopy cover fundamentally important for driving climate Closed canopies buffer against...
Abstract The expected upward shift of trees due to climate warming is supposed be a major threat range‐restricted high‐altitude species by shrinking the area their suitable habitats. Our projections show that areas endemism five taxonomic groups (vascular plants, snails, spiders, butterflies, and beetles) in Austrian Alps will, on average, experience 77% habitat loss even under weakest change scenario (+1.8 °C 2100). amount positively related with pooled endemic richness (species from all...
Abstract Aim Assessing potential response of alpine plant species distribution to different future climatic and land‐use scenarios. Location Four mountain ranges totalling 150 km 2 in the north‐eastern Calcareous Alps Austria. Methods Ordinal regression models eighty‐five based on environmental constraints land use determining their abundance. Site conditions are simulated spatially using a GIS, Digital Terrain Model, meteorological station data existing maps. Additionally, historical...
1 Global warming will probably shift treelines upslope in alpine areas and towards the pole arctic environments. However, responses of regional to climatic trends over last century do not show any clear trends. We hypothesize that these equivocal may partly be caused by limitation dispersal and/or recruitment is species-specific particular trees with potentially expanding ranges. 2 To test this hypothesis, we established parameterized a temporally spatially explicit model plant spread...
Summary The ongoing changes to climate challenge the conservation of forest biodiversity. Yet, in thermally limited systems, such as temperate forests, not all species groups might be affected negatively. Furthermore, simultaneous disturbance regime have potential mitigate climate‐related impacts on species. Here, we (i) investigated long‐term effect change biodiversity a mountain landscape, (ii) assessed effects different frequencies, severities and sizes (iii) identified hotspots at...
Chronic nitrogen (N) deposition is a threat to biodiversity that results from the eutrophication of ecosystems. We studied long-term monitoring data 28 forest sites with total 1,335 permanent floor vegetation plots northern Fennoscandia southern Italy analyse temporal trends in vascular plant species cover and diversity. found which prefer nutrient-poor soils (oligotrophic species) decreased more measured N exceeded empirical critical load (CL) for effects (P = 0.002). Although preferring...
Summary 1. Disturbance is one of the most important factors structuring taxonomic and functional composition vegetation. Vegetation resistance or resilience to disturbance depends on local environmental conditions, further modifying pool species traits. This paper aims understand how environment combine affect 2. A functional‐trait approach was used detect traits related vegetation resilience, trait attributes individual responding disturbance. Trait approaches enable comparison responses...
Tree-ring stable isotopes, providing insight into drought-induced eco-physiological mechanisms, are frequently used to reconstruct past changes in growing season temperature and precipitation. Their climatic response is, however, still not fully understood, particularly for data originating from non-extreme, mid-latitude environments with differing ecological conditions. Here, we assess the of δ(13)C, δ(18)O tree-ring width (TRW) a temperate mountain forest Austrian pre-Alps climate specific...
Abstract The contemporary state of functional traits and species richness in plant communities depends on legacy effects past disturbances. Whether temporal responses community properties to current environmental changes are altered by such legacies is, however, unknown. We expect global interact with land‐use given different trajectories initiated prior management, subsequent resources conditions. tested this expectation for using 1814 survey‐resurvey plot pairs understorey from 40 European...
More and more ecologists have started to resurvey communities sampled in earlier decades determine long-term shifts community composition infer the likely drivers of ecological changes observed. However, assess relative importance of, interactions among, multiple joint analyses data from many regions spanning large environmental gradients are needed. In this paper we illustrate how combining can increase likelihood driver-orthogonality within design show that repeatedly surveying across...
Abstract Aims We introduce ReSurveyEurope — a new data source of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe, compiled by collaborative network scientists. describe the scope this initiative, provide an overview currently available data, governance, contribution rules, and accessibility. In addition, we outline further steps, including potential research questions. Results includes from all habitats. Version 1.0 contains 283,135 observations (i.e., individual surveys each plot) 79,190 sampled 449...
Climate change is commonly assumed to induce species’ range shifts toward the poles. Yet, other environmental changes may affect geographical distribution of species in unexpected ways. Here, we quantify multidecadal European forest plants and link these key drivers biodiversity change: climate change, atmospheric deposition (nitrogen sulfur), canopy dynamics. Surprisingly, westward were 2.6 times more likely than northward ones. Not but nitrogen-mediated colonization events, possibly...
Both land use and expected climate change will probably cause range shifts of tree shrub species in the European Alps. Attempts to predict magnitude direction these processes produce reliable results only if they consider both abiotic habitat conditions biotic interactions. In this study we analyze recruitment patterns Pinus mugo Turra different grassland communities Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria. is most important invader abandoned subalpine pastures area predominant woody plant at...
Aims: This study evaluated the applicability of standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) for alpine mountainous water resources monitoring. Methods and Results: Escherichia coli, enterococci (ENTC) Clostridium perfringens were investigated by or frequently applied phenotypic genotypic methods in a broad range animal human sources large area. occurred only human, livestock carnivorous source groups relevant average concentrations (log 4·7–7·0 CFU g−1) but not herbivorous wildlife sources....