We report on the key physical features of an active rock glacier that influence the distribution of plants and arthropods. We also perform a comparison with neighboring scree slope and alpine grassland to test whether the environmental features of the rock glacier drive the presence of specific species assemblages. Compared with scree slope and grassland, the studied rock glacier provides particular physical features that determine the presence of unique species. Plant distribution is mainly driven by grain size. Arthropod distribution is linked to grain size, with cold-adapted species found on areas with coarse-grained deep debris, which also shows a distinctive temperature regime with very low values throughout the year. On the basis of these findings, we advance the hypothesis that rock glaciers provide specific ecological conditions creating potential refugia for cold-demanding species during warm climatic periods.

Physical and biological features of an active rock glacier in the Italian Alps / M. Gobbi, F. Ballarin, C. Compostella, V. Lencioni, R. Seppi, D. Tampucci, M. Caccianiga. - In: THE HOLOCENE. - ISSN 0959-6836. - 24:11(2014 Aug 12), pp. 1624-1631. [10.1177/0959683614544050]

Physical and biological features of an active rock glacier in the Italian Alps

C. Compostella;D. Tampucci;M. Caccianiga
2014

Abstract

We report on the key physical features of an active rock glacier that influence the distribution of plants and arthropods. We also perform a comparison with neighboring scree slope and alpine grassland to test whether the environmental features of the rock glacier drive the presence of specific species assemblages. Compared with scree slope and grassland, the studied rock glacier provides particular physical features that determine the presence of unique species. Plant distribution is mainly driven by grain size. Arthropod distribution is linked to grain size, with cold-adapted species found on areas with coarse-grained deep debris, which also shows a distinctive temperature regime with very low values throughout the year. On the basis of these findings, we advance the hypothesis that rock glaciers provide specific ecological conditions creating potential refugia for cold-demanding species during warm climatic periods.
Alps; arthropods; climate change; cold-adapted species; flora; periglacial; permafrost; refugia
Settore BIO/02 - Botanica Sistematica
Settore BIO/03 - Botanica Ambientale e Applicata
12-ago-2014
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
0959683614544050.full.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 1.29 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.29 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/238907
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 17
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact