Long-term effects of climate change in the vegetation of wetlands can be
assessed with the use of indicators derived from the increased presence (numbers
and abundances) of species which are not typical of the original natural community
and of nitrophytes which are associated with eutrophic habitats and have a higher
nutrient demand. In the study made in the BNP this group of species included e.g.:
common nettle Urtica dioica, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, cleavers Galium
aparine, wood avens Geum urbanum, cow parsley Anthriscus silvestris, hairy
hempnettle Galeopsis pubescens and broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius as
well as touch-me-not balsam Impatiens noli-tangere and ground elder Aegopodium
podgararia. These species were found to enter and replace the typical species
composition of the drying riparian alder-ash woods on decaying peat soils in
the BNP.
6.6 Suggestions for Using Indicators
in Management Practice
Management adaptation to climate change in a protected area must be based on the
recognition of the status of target habitats (habitat sensitivity/resilience to stress
factors), conservation objectives and the existing conflicts which arise from various
anthropogenic and natural pressures. Effective management measures should be
built upon recognition of pressures to increase the resilience of target habitats to the
ongoing and future climate change. Informed management decisions may be taken
after consulting updated maps which provide the information on the vulnerability of
protected habitats to changing climatic conditions considering other existing pressures (e.g. land use, drainage). To this end, expert knowledge is needed to provide
information in the form of indicators for evaluating habitat sensitivity and potential
response of protected habitats to pressures. The indicators shall be regarded as tools
for updating the environmental information.
Management adaptation to changing environmental conditions requires a two
track approach: first – the evaluation of effectiveness of measures undertaken, and
second – the search for the information needed to undertake new actions. Both tasks
shall be implemented with the use of indicators. Therefore, the focus was on the
construction of indicators which are multidimensional, integrative, strongly
assigned to climate change, i.e. evaluate climate change-related effects and impacts
within the habitat/ecosystem. At the same time these indicators are relatively easy
to apply for habitat monitoring and have a standardised methodology available.
They also allow for updating the information contained in the maps.
Climate change is indicated by climatic scenarios, covering both a short
(a decade) and longer periods based upon climatic parameters (temperature and
precipitation) measured at local meteorological stations. The response of wetland
habitats is to be seen in the changes of water balance, soil and vegetation properties
and in the changes of biodiversity of plant communities.
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
89
assessed with the use of indicators derived from the increased presence (numbers
and abundances) of species which are not typical of the original natural community
and of nitrophytes which are associated with eutrophic habitats and have a higher
nutrient demand. In the study made in the BNP this group of species included e.g.:
common nettle Urtica dioica, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, cleavers Galium
aparine, wood avens Geum urbanum, cow parsley Anthriscus silvestris, hairy
hempnettle Galeopsis pubescens and broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius as
well as touch-me-not balsam Impatiens noli-tangere and ground elder Aegopodium
podgararia. These species were found to enter and replace the typical species
composition of the drying riparian alder-ash woods on decaying peat soils in
the BNP.
6.6 Suggestions for Using Indicators
in Management Practice
Management adaptation to climate change in a protected area must be based on the
recognition of the status of target habitats (habitat sensitivity/resilience to stress
factors), conservation objectives and the existing conflicts which arise from various
anthropogenic and natural pressures. Effective management measures should be
built upon recognition of pressures to increase the resilience of target habitats to the
ongoing and future climate change. Informed management decisions may be taken
after consulting updated maps which provide the information on the vulnerability of
protected habitats to changing climatic conditions considering other existing pressures (e.g. land use, drainage). To this end, expert knowledge is needed to provide
information in the form of indicators for evaluating habitat sensitivity and potential
response of protected habitats to pressures. The indicators shall be regarded as tools
for updating the environmental information.
Management adaptation to changing environmental conditions requires a two
track approach: first – the evaluation of effectiveness of measures undertaken, and
second – the search for the information needed to undertake new actions. Both tasks
shall be implemented with the use of indicators. Therefore, the focus was on the
construction of indicators which are multidimensional, integrative, strongly
assigned to climate change, i.e. evaluate climate change-related effects and impacts
within the habitat/ecosystem. At the same time these indicators are relatively easy
to apply for habitat monitoring and have a standardised methodology available.
They also allow for updating the information contained in the maps.
Climate change is indicated by climatic scenarios, covering both a short
(a decade) and longer periods based upon climatic parameters (temperature and
precipitation) measured at local meteorological stations. The response of wetland
habitats is to be seen in the changes of water balance, soil and vegetation properties
and in the changes of biodiversity of plant communities.
6 Indicators for Monitoring Climate Change-Induced Effects on Habitats. . .
89