Mountain Treelines: Tree Growth and Plant Ecology under Climate Change

Dear Colleagues,

Tree growth at the Alpine tree line is mainly restricted by temperature, and life forms are adapted to the cold environment. Plants stay small and close to the ground, where temperatures are more favorable. The presence of trees is strongly related to the micro-environment and also largely influenced by disturbances. Warming rates observed in the Alps and in other mountain regions are higher than the global mean and most likely correlate with elevation. Warming and decreasing duration of snow cover cause shifts in tree species composition and distribution patterns, densification of forests, and increasing plant growth. Nevertheless, responses in Alpine environment are often reported to be slow. Is the increase in changes rate so fast that species will become extinct? Are growth increases substantial ,and can high elevation forest compensate for forest losses at lower elevations or are climate change rates too fast? What are the effects of shifting vegetation patterns on microclimate, soil processes and plant soil interaction (e.g. soil moisture, temperature soil carbon and nutrient cycling)?

The Special Issue aims at covering the state of the art in forest and tree growth response to climate change at the Alpine tree line, including shifts in vegetation patterns and plant soil interactions. Research articles and well-funded review articles on the topic are welcome. This Special Issue brings together some of the contributions presented at the Focus Session: ID05: Alpine Treeline Ecotones under Global Change (https://www.imc2022.info/portfolio/id05-alpine-treeline-ecotones-under-global-change/ in International Mountain Conference (11–15 September 2022)).

Dr. Sonja Vospernik
Prof. Dr. Klaus Katzensteiner
Guest Editors

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