Rising temperature modulates pH niches of fen species

0561402 - BÚ 2023 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Hájek, M. - Těšitel, J. - Tahvanainen, T. - Peterka, T. - Jiménez-Alfaro, B. - Jansen, F. - Pérez-Haase, A. - Garbolino, E. - Carbognani, M. - Kolari, T.H.M. - Hájková, Petra - Jandt, U. - Aunina, L. - Pawlikowski, P. - Ivchenko, T. G. - Tomaselli, M. - Tichý, L. - Dítě, D. - Plesková, Z. - Mikulášková, E.
Rising temperature modulates pH niches of fen species.
Global Change Biology. Roč. 28, č. 3 (2022), s. 1023-1037. ISSN 1354-1013. E-ISSN 1365-2486
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : biodiversity loss * climate change * competition * distribution * mire * shifts in realized niche
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 11.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15980

Rising temperatures may endanger fragile ecosystems because their character and key species show different habitat affinities under different climates. In fens, one of the most endangered ecosystems in Europe, broader pH niches have been reported from cold areas and are expected for colder past periods. We used the largest European-scale vegetation database from fens to test the hypothesis that pH interacts with macroclimate temperature in forming realized niches of fen moss and vascular plant species. We modelled temperature, pH and water level niches for one hundred species best characterizing European fens using generalized additive models and tested the interaction between pH and temperature. Fifty-five fen species showed a statistically significant interaction between pH and temperature (adj p ˂ .01). Forty-six of them (84%) showed a positive interaction manifested by a shift or restriction of their niche to higher pH in warmer locations. Nine vascular plants and no moss showed the opposite interaction. Mosses showed significantly greater interaction. We conclude that climate significantly modulates edaphic niches of fen plants, especially bryophytes. A warmer climate makes growing seasons longer and warmer, increases productivity, and may lower the water level. These effects prolong the duration and intensity of interspecific competition, support highly competitive Sphagnum mosses, and, as such, force niches of specialized fen species towards narrower high-pH ranges. Recent anthropogenic landscape changes pose a severe threat to many fen species and call for mitigation measures to lower competition pressure in their refugia.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334028