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Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in...
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Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 10268

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luca Giupponi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ge.S.Di.Mont. Research Centre, University of Milan, 25048 Edolo, BS, Italy
Interests: environment science; plants; mountain area
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Annamaria Giorgi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ge.S.Di.Mont. Research Centre, University of Milan, 25048 Edolo, BS, Italy
Interests: environment science; mountain area
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The mountain areas of our planet are particularly rich in plant species and plant communities. Many of these are now threatened and/or are undergoing imbalances due to drastic changes in their environment, the causes of which are mainly attributable to global warming and land management change.

This Special Issue entitled “Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas” has the aim of gathering studies on the responses of plant species and vegetation to environmental changes in order to provide adequate knowledge to understand future scenarios and plan more correct actions for nature conservation in mountain (and surrounding) areas.

We welcome papers that are related to any of the following topics:

  • Morphological, ecological and physiological adaptations of plant species to the environment. Studies concerning any mountain plant are welcome regardless of their distribution (both steno-endemic and cosmopolitan studies can be considered) and their environment. Studies concerning agricultural plants grown/cultivated in mountains will also be accepted.
  • Floristic changes in plant communities (including plant successions) in relation to disturbance phenomena and/or environmental/landscape changes. Phytosociological and palynological studies are also welcome.
  • Responses of plant species and vegetation used in environmental restoration and/or nature conservation projects (e.g., plant translocation).
  • Application and/or development of models of the distribution of plants (both native and exotic) and/or of vegetation change in relation to environmental variables.
  • Cultivation/experimentation of “new” agricultural and forestry plants in mountain agro-ecosystems. Studies related to the application of evolutionary mixtures will also be considered.

This Special Issue aims to provide a reliable source of scientific information for both researchers and land managers. The Special Issue is open to a broad range of research and will consider a broad range of contributions (original articles, reviews and short communications).

Dr. Luca Giupponi
Prof. Dr. Annamaria Giorgi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant ecology
  • adaptation traits
  • morpho-ecological plasticity
  • plant succession
  • flora and vegetation changes
  • plant translocation
  • plant–environment interactions
  • phytosociology
  • species distribution models
  • invasive alien species
  • mountain agro-ecosystems

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 12872 KiB  
Article
Altitude-Dependent Morphophysiological, Anatomical, and Metabolomic Adaptations in Rhodiola linearifolia Boriss.
by Nina V. Terletskaya, Malika Erbay, Aigerim Mamirova, Kazhybek Ashimuly, Nazym K. Korbozova, Aigerim N. Zorbekova, Nataliya O. Kudrina and Matthias H. Hoffmann
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2698; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192698 - 26 Sep 2024
Viewed by 634
Abstract
Rhodiola linearifolia Boriss., a perennial alpine plant from the Crassulaceae family, is renowned for its unique medicinal properties. However, existing research on this species is limited, particularly regarding the impact of altitude on its physiological and medicinal compounds. The current study employed morphophysiological [...] Read more.
Rhodiola linearifolia Boriss., a perennial alpine plant from the Crassulaceae family, is renowned for its unique medicinal properties. However, existing research on this species is limited, particularly regarding the impact of altitude on its physiological and medicinal compounds. The current study employed morphophysiological and anatomical methods to explore the adaptive mechanisms of R. linearifolia across different altitudinal gradients, while also examining photosynthetic pigments and metabolomic changes. Our results indicate that despite the simultaneous effects of various mountain abiotic factors, significant correlations can be identified between altitude and trait variation. An optimal growth altitude of 2687 m above sea level was identified, which is pivotal for sustainable ecosystem management and potential species introduction strategies. It is noted that increasing altitude stress enhances the synthesis of secondary antioxidant metabolites in R. linearifolia, enhancing its pharmaceutical potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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20 pages, 4000 KiB  
Article
Environmental Filters Structure Cushion Bogs’ Floristic Composition along the Southern South American Latitudinal Gradient
by Felipe Figueroa-Ponce and Luis Felipe Hinojosa
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162202 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 719
Abstract
The environmental filtering hypothesis predicts that abiotic factors restrict communities by selecting species capable of survival and persistence under specific conditions, resulting in variations in beta diversity, phylogenetic clustering, and niche differentiation among communities when studying environmental gradients. Cushion bogs and high-altitude wetlands [...] Read more.
The environmental filtering hypothesis predicts that abiotic factors restrict communities by selecting species capable of survival and persistence under specific conditions, resulting in variations in beta diversity, phylogenetic clustering, and niche differentiation among communities when studying environmental gradients. Cushion bogs and high-altitude wetlands along the Andes display homogeneous flora contrasting with zonal vegetation. Despite being influenced by microclimatic conditions, these ecosystems are subject to diverse environmental effects. Here, we test the environmental filtering hypothesis on the structure of cushion bog communities along a broad-scale latitudinal gradient from 15° S to 42° S. We analyzed 421 bogs and 293 species across three macroclimatic regions with distinct summer, winter, and transitional arid rainfall regimes. Using variance partitioning and membership-based regionalization models, we examined the impacts of climatic, edaphic, and spatial variables on beta diversity. We also assessed species’ niche overlap and the influence of environmental filters on the communities’ phylogenetic diversity. Results show that species turnover and niche overlap vary with macroclimatic differences, delineating three distinct regions. Notably, phylogenetic clustering in the driest part of the gradient (23° S–24° S) highlights the impact of environmental filtering. Aridity and temperature variations at a broad scale serve as environmental filters shaping the composition of bog communities across southern South America. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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32 pages, 6024 KiB  
Article
Forest Orchids under Future Climate Scenarios: Habitat Suitability Modelling to Inform Conservation Strategies
by Antonio Pica, Daniele Vela and Sara Magrini
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131810 - 30 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1787
Abstract
Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world but also one of the most threatened. Climate change is a global driver of plant distribution and may be the cause of their disappearance in some regions. [...] Read more.
Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants in the world but also one of the most threatened. Climate change is a global driver of plant distribution and may be the cause of their disappearance in some regions. Forest orchids are associated with specific biotic and abiotic environmental factors, that influence their local presence/absence. Changes in these conditions can lead to significant differences in species distribution. We studied three forest orchids belonging to different genera (Cephalanthera, Epipactis and Limodorum) for their potential current and future distribution in a protected area (PA) of the Northern Apennines. A Habitat Suitability Model was constructed for each species based on presence-only data and the Maximum Entropy algorithm (MaxEnt) was used for the modelling. Climatic, edaphic, topographic, anthropogenic and land cover variables were used as environmental predictors and processed in the model. The aim is to identify the environmental factors that most influence the current species distribution and the areas that are likely to contain habitats suitable for providing refuge for forest orchids and ensuring their survival under future scenarios. This will allow PA authorities to decide whether to invest more resources in conserving areas that are potential refuges for threatened species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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24 pages, 13176 KiB  
Article
Study of the Floristic, Morphological, and Genetic (atpF–atpH, Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), matK, psbK–psbI, rbcL, and trnH–psbA) Differences in Crataegus ambigua Populations in Mangistau (Kazakhstan)
by Akzhunis Imanbayeva, Nurzhaugan Duisenova, Aidyn Orazov, Meruert Sagyndykova, Ivan Belozerov and Ainur Tuyakova
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121591 - 7 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 992
Abstract
This article studies the morphological parameters of vegetative and generative organs of different age groups of Crataegus ambigua from four populations in Western Karatau (Mangistau region, Kazakhstan). In this study, we examined four populations: Sultan Epe, Karakozaiym, Emdikorgan, and Samal, all located in [...] Read more.
This article studies the morphological parameters of vegetative and generative organs of different age groups of Crataegus ambigua from four populations in Western Karatau (Mangistau region, Kazakhstan). In this study, we examined four populations: Sultan Epe, Karakozaiym, Emdikorgan, and Samal, all located in various gorges of Western Karatau. Several phylogenetic inference methods were applied, using six genetic markers to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between these populations: atpF–atpH, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), matK, psbK–psbI, rbcL, and trnH–psbA. We also used a statistical analysis of plants’ vegetative and generative organs for three age groups (virgin, young, and adult generative). According to the age structure, Samal has a high concentration of young generative plants (42.3%) and adult generative plants (30.9%). Morphological analysis showed the significance of the parameters of the generative organs and separated the Samal population into a separate group according to the primary principal component analysis (PCoA) coordinates. The results of the floristic analysis showed that the Samal populations have a high concentration of species diversity. Comparative dendrograms using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) showed that information gleaned from genetic markers and the psbK–psbI region can be used to determine the difference between the fourth Samal population and the other three. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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17 pages, 4402 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Future Distribution Prospects of “Carciofo di Malegno” Landrace for Its In Situ Conservation
by Davide Pedrali, Marco Zuccolo, Luca Giupponi, Stefano Sala and Annamaria Giorgi
Plants 2024, 13(5), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050680 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
“Carciofo di Malegno” is a little-known landrace of Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus cultivated in Camonica Valley (northern Italy). The morphological and phytochemical characteristics of this landrace were investigated; furthermore, a species distribution model (MaxEnt algorithm) was used to explore its ecological niche and [...] Read more.
“Carciofo di Malegno” is a little-known landrace of Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus cultivated in Camonica Valley (northern Italy). The morphological and phytochemical characteristics of this landrace were investigated; furthermore, a species distribution model (MaxEnt algorithm) was used to explore its ecological niche and the geographical area where it could be grown in the future. Due to its spiky shape, “Carciofo di Malegno” was distinct from any other artichoke sample considered, and it appears to be similar to those belonging to the “Spinosi” group. The concentration of chlorogenic acid (497.2 ± 116.0 mg/100 g DW) and cynarine (7.4 ± 1.2 mg/100 g DW) in “Carciofo di Malegno” was comparable to that of the commercial cultivars. In “Carciofo di Malegno,” luteolin was detected in a significant amount (9.4 ± 1.5 mg/100 g DW) only in the stems and in the edible parts of the capitula. A MaxEnt distribution model showed that in the coming decades (2040–2060s), the cultivation of this landrace could expand to the pre-Alps and Alps of Lombardy. Climate change may promote the diffusion of “Carciofo di Malegno”, contributing to preservation and the enhancement of this landrace and generating sustainable income opportunities in mountain areas through exploring new food or medicinal applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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29 pages, 13029 KiB  
Article
A Continuous Centennial Late Glacial-Early Holocene (15–10 cal kyr BP) Palynological Record from the Iberian Pyrenees and Regional Comparisons
by Valentí Rull, Arnau Blasco, Miguel Ángel Calero, Maarten Blaauw and Teresa Vegas-Vilarrúbia
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3644; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203644 - 22 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
This paper presents the first continuous (gap-free) Late Glacial-Early Holocene (LGEH) pollen record for the Iberian Pyrenees resolved at centennial resolution. The main aims are (i) to provide a standard chronostratigraphic correlation framework, (ii) to unravel the relationships between vegetation shifts, climatic changes [...] Read more.
This paper presents the first continuous (gap-free) Late Glacial-Early Holocene (LGEH) pollen record for the Iberian Pyrenees resolved at centennial resolution. The main aims are (i) to provide a standard chronostratigraphic correlation framework, (ii) to unravel the relationships between vegetation shifts, climatic changes and fire, and (iii) to obtain a regional picture of LGEH vegetation for the Pyrenees and the surrounding lowlands. Seven pollen assemblage zones were obtained and correlated with the stadial/interstadial phases of the Greenland ice cores that serve as a global reference. Several well-dated datums were also derived for keystone individual taxa that are useful for correlation purposes. Four vegetation types were identified, two of them corresponding to conifer and deciduous forests (Cf, Df) and two representing open vegetation types (O1, O2) with no modern analogs, dominated by Artemisia-Poaceae and Saxifraga-Cichorioideae, respectively. Forests dominated during interstadial phases (Bølling/Allerød and Early Holocene), whereas O1 dominated during stadials (Oldest Dryas and Younger Dryas), with O2 being important only in the first half of the Younger Dryas. The use of pollen-independent proxies for temperature and moisture allowed the reconstruction of paleoclimatic trends and the responses of the four vegetation types defined. The most relevant observation in this sense was the finding of wet climates during the Younger Dryas, which challenges the traditional view of arid conditions for this phase on the basis of former pollen records. Fire incidence was low until the Early Holocene, when regional fires were exacerbated, probably due to the combination of higher temperatures and forest biomass accumulation. These results are compared with the pollen records available for the whole Pyrenean range and the surrounding lowlands within the framework of elevational, climatic and biogeographical gradients. Some potential future developments are suggested on the basis of the obtained results, with an emphasis on the reconsideration of the LGEH spatiotemporal moisture patterns and the comparison of the Pyrenees with other European ranges from different climatic and biogeographical regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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21 pages, 19821 KiB  
Article
Restoration of Vegetation Greenness and Possible Changes in Mature Forest Communities in Two Forests Damaged by the Vaia Storm in Northern Italy
by Luca Giupponi, Valeria Leoni, Davide Pedrali and Annamaria Giorgi
Plants 2023, 12(6), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061369 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2039
Abstract
Windstorms are rare in the Southern Alps, but their frequency is increasing due to climate change. This research analyzed the vegetation of two spruce forests in Camonica Valley (Northern Italy) destroyed by the Vaia storm to evaluate the vegetation responses to blowdown damage. [...] Read more.
Windstorms are rare in the Southern Alps, but their frequency is increasing due to climate change. This research analyzed the vegetation of two spruce forests in Camonica Valley (Northern Italy) destroyed by the Vaia storm to evaluate the vegetation responses to blowdown damage. In each study area, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to evaluate the change in plant cover and greenness from 2018 (before the Vaia storm) to 2021. Furthermore, floristic-vegetation data were analyzed to identify current plant communities and develop models of plant succession. The results showed that the two areas, although located in different altitudinal vegetation belts, are undergoing the same ecological processes. NDVI is increasing in both areas, and pre-disturbance values (~0.8) should be reached in less than ten years. Nevertheless, the spontaneous restoration of pre-disturbance forest communities (Calamagrostio arundinaceae-Piceetum) should not occur in both study areas. In fact, the two plant succession trends are characterized by pioneer and intermediate stages with young trees of Quercus petraea and Abies alba, typical of more thermophilic mature forest communities compared to pre-disturbance ones. These results could reinforce the trend of the upward shift in forest plant species and plant communities in response to environmental changes in mountain areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Responses of Plants and Plant Communities to Environmental Changes in Mountain Areas)
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