Consistent population declines but idiosyncratic range shifts in Alpine orchids under global change

Costanza Geppert (), Giorgio Perazza, Robert J. Wilson, Alessio Bertolli, Filippo Prosser, Giuseppe Melchiori and Lorenzo Marini ()
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Costanza Geppert: DAFNAE, University of Padova
Giorgio Perazza: Museo Civico di Rovereto
Robert J. Wilson: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC)
Alessio Bertolli: Museo Civico di Rovereto
Filippo Prosser: Museo Civico di Rovereto
Giuseppe Melchiori: DAFNAE, University of Padova
Lorenzo Marini: DAFNAE, University of Padova

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Mountains are plant biodiversity hotspots considered particularly vulnerable to multiple environmental changes. Here, we quantify population changes and range-shift dynamics along elevational gradients over the last three decades for c. two-thirds of the orchid species of the European Alps. Local extinctions were more likely for small populations, after habitat alteration, and predominated at the rear edge of species’ ranges. Except for the most thermophilic species and wetland specialists, population density decreased over time. Declines were more pronounced for rear-edge populations, possibly due to multiple pressures such as climate warming, habitat alteration, and mismatched ecological interactions. Besides these demographic trends, different species exhibited idiosyncratic range shifts with more than 50% of the species lagging behind climate warming. Our study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring of populations and range distributions at fine spatial resolution to be able to fully understand the consequences of global change for orchids.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19680-2

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