behaviour with anthropic ecosystems surrounding the mountains under a global
change scenario (Becker and Bugmann 2001; Huber et al. 2005; Hansen et al.
2014). In this respect, mountain ecosystems are equivalent to controls in the classic
experimental designs against which to compare “treatments”, in this case, caused by
human activities (land-use changes, climatic change, pollution, overexploitation of
resources, etc.) in the surrounding anthropic matrix. For example, we can compare
the effect of tree species diversity on forest productivity (e.g. Liang et al. 2016) in
native mountain forest vs. plantations and/or strongly managed forest in the
humanized landscape surrounding the most preserved mountain forest ecosystems.
In a scenario of global change, a high mountain such as Sierra Nevada
(Box 16.1) represents an exceptional ecology field lab, offering the advantage of the
enormous mosaic of ecological conditions existing along mountain slopes. For
instance, the topographic variability of steep mountain slopes creates a multitude of
fine-scale environmental conditions that is mirrored in plant species distribution and
abundance (Scherrer and Körner 2010, 2011; Scherrer et al. 2011). As a result of
this fine-scale spatial distribution, within a short distance, on the same elevation, we
can find “Mediterranean”, “montane”, and “alpine” species depending on the
micro-environmental conditions of their habitats (Scherrer and Körner 2010, 2011;
Scherrer et al. 2011).
Box 16.1 Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada (Andalusia, SE Spain) is a mountainous region covering more
than 2000 km
2 with an elevation range of between 860 m and 3482 m a.s.l.
The regional climate is Mediterranean, characterized by cool winters and hot
summers, with a pronounced summer drought (July–August). The annual
average temperature decreases in altitude from 12–16 °C below 1500 m to 0 °
C above 3000 m a.s.l. Annual precipitation ranges from less than 250 mm in
the lowest parts to more than 700 mm in the summit areas. Additionally, the
complex orography of the mountains causes sharp climatic contrasts between
the sunny, dry south-facing slopes and the shaded, less-exposed north-facing
slopes. This mountain area harbours 27 habitat types of the EU Habitat
Directive (92/43/EEC), and it is considered one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean region (Blanca et al. 1998; Cañadas
et al. 2014). Sierra Nevada receives legal protection in multiple ways: it is a
MAB Biosphere Reserve, Special Area of Conservation (Natura 2000 network); Natural Park and National Park; and Important Bird Area. Sierra
Nevada is included at the World Green List of Protected Areas (IUCN), and is
part of the Spanish Long-Term Ecological Research (Zamora et al. 2016).
The main economic activities in this mountain region are agriculture, tourism,
livestock raising, beekeeping, mining, and skiing (Bonet et al. 2010).
Mountains are far more than just lands at high elevations. High mountains such
as Sierra Nevada act as sensors for early detection of signs of change, due to the
high elevation and geographical position of this Mediterranean mountain.
16 Monitoring Global Change in High Mountains
387
change scenario (Becker and Bugmann 2001; Huber et al. 2005; Hansen et al.
2014). In this respect, mountain ecosystems are equivalent to controls in the classic
experimental designs against which to compare “treatments”, in this case, caused by
human activities (land-use changes, climatic change, pollution, overexploitation of
resources, etc.) in the surrounding anthropic matrix. For example, we can compare
the effect of tree species diversity on forest productivity (e.g. Liang et al. 2016) in
native mountain forest vs. plantations and/or strongly managed forest in the
humanized landscape surrounding the most preserved mountain forest ecosystems.
In a scenario of global change, a high mountain such as Sierra Nevada
(Box 16.1) represents an exceptional ecology field lab, offering the advantage of the
enormous mosaic of ecological conditions existing along mountain slopes. For
instance, the topographic variability of steep mountain slopes creates a multitude of
fine-scale environmental conditions that is mirrored in plant species distribution and
abundance (Scherrer and Körner 2010, 2011; Scherrer et al. 2011). As a result of
this fine-scale spatial distribution, within a short distance, on the same elevation, we
can find “Mediterranean”, “montane”, and “alpine” species depending on the
micro-environmental conditions of their habitats (Scherrer and Körner 2010, 2011;
Scherrer et al. 2011).
Box 16.1 Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada (Andalusia, SE Spain) is a mountainous region covering more
than 2000 km
2 with an elevation range of between 860 m and 3482 m a.s.l.
The regional climate is Mediterranean, characterized by cool winters and hot
summers, with a pronounced summer drought (July–August). The annual
average temperature decreases in altitude from 12–16 °C below 1500 m to 0 °
C above 3000 m a.s.l. Annual precipitation ranges from less than 250 mm in
the lowest parts to more than 700 mm in the summit areas. Additionally, the
complex orography of the mountains causes sharp climatic contrasts between
the sunny, dry south-facing slopes and the shaded, less-exposed north-facing
slopes. This mountain area harbours 27 habitat types of the EU Habitat
Directive (92/43/EEC), and it is considered one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean region (Blanca et al. 1998; Cañadas
et al. 2014). Sierra Nevada receives legal protection in multiple ways: it is a
MAB Biosphere Reserve, Special Area of Conservation (Natura 2000 network); Natural Park and National Park; and Important Bird Area. Sierra
Nevada is included at the World Green List of Protected Areas (IUCN), and is
part of the Spanish Long-Term Ecological Research (Zamora et al. 2016).
The main economic activities in this mountain region are agriculture, tourism,
livestock raising, beekeeping, mining, and skiing (Bonet et al. 2010).
Mountains are far more than just lands at high elevations. High mountains such
as Sierra Nevada act as sensors for early detection of signs of change, due to the
high elevation and geographical position of this Mediterranean mountain.
16 Monitoring Global Change in High Mountains
387