 |
| Titel |
Do Himalayan treelines respond to recent climate change? An evaluation of sensitivity indicators |
| VerfasserIn |
U. Schickhoff, M. Bobrowski, J. Böhner, B. Bürzle, R. P. Chaudhary, L. Gerlitz, H. Heyken, J. Lange, M. Müller, T. Scholten, N. Schwab, R. Wedegärtner |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
|
| Sprache |
Englisch
|
| ISSN |
2190-4979
|
| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Earth System Dynamics ; 6, no. 1 ; Nr. 6, no. 1 (2015-05-12), S.245-265 |
| Datensatznummer |
250115423
|
| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/esd-6-245-2015.pdf |
|
|
|
|
|
| Zusammenfassung |
Climate warming is expected to induce treelines to
advance to higher elevations. Empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges,
however, give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines and rather
insignificant responses. The inconsistency of findings suggests distinct
differences in the sensitivity of global treelines to recent climate change.
It is still unclear where Himalayan treeline ecotones are located along the
response gradient from rapid dynamics to apparently complete inertia. This
paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding sensitivity and
response of Himalayan treelines to climate warming, based on extensive field
observations, published results in the widely scattered literature, and
novel data from ongoing research of the present authors.
Several sensitivity indicators such as treeline type, treeline form,
seed-based regeneration, and growth patterns are evaluated. Since most
Himalayan treelines are anthropogenically depressed, observed advances are
largely the result of land use change. Near-natural treelines are usually
krummholz treelines, which are relatively unresponsive to climate change. Nevertheless, intense
recruitment of treeline trees suggests a great potential for future treeline
advance. Competitive abilities of seedlings within krummholz thickets and
dwarf scrub heaths will be a major source of variation in treeline dynamics.
Tree growth–climate relationships show mature treeline trees to be
responsive to temperature change, in particular in winter and pre-monsoon
seasons. High pre-monsoon temperature trends will most likely drive tree
growth performance in the western and central Himalaya. Ecological niche modelling
suggests that bioclimatic conditions for a range expansion of treeline trees
will be created during coming decades. |
| |
|
| Teil von |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|