Significant impacts with periodic variations are expected for temperate heaths
and scrubs in alpine climate. Changes will occur in the temperature and precipitation
regime, frost and snow days. Also, extreme events like torrents and storms associated
with erosion, ruptures, and habitat fragmentation will occur more often. The expected
cumulative effect could lead to the potential loss of plant species strongly depending
on humidity and low temperature, as well as to degradation and potential loss of some
types of habitats dominated by mesophytes or mesohygrophytes and psichrothermophytes, like bushlands with Pinus mugo Turra and Rhododendron myrtifolium
Schott & Kotschy (Natura 2000 code: 4070, Fig. 4.5).
An assessment of this habitat type carried out in June and July 2010 at Bucegi
mountain shows that 90 % of the recorded plant species are depending on humidity
(mesophytes and mesohygrophytes) and 70 % on low temperature (hekistotermophytes, psichrotermophytes and microthermophytes).
Climate changes expressed in terms of temperature rise and humidity decrease
affect the dominant species (Pinus mugo), significantly reduce its diversity, and
endanger the quality and integrity of this habitat type. Erosion and human activities,
such as tourism, construction works, transportation, or eutrophication are all factors
intensifying this development.
Alpine natural grasslands will feel significant climate change impacts through
increasing temperatures (mild winters, warm spring and summer), decreasing
precipitation (droughts in summers, less snow in winter), and more frequent
extreme events like torrents and heavy rains associated with soil erosion. It is
suggested that changes in composition of grasslands are likely in response to
climate change (Campbell et al. 2009). Changing environmental conditions in the
alpine zone will determine the disappearance of plant species sensitive to drought,
Fig. 4.5 Bushes with Pinus mugo and Rhododendron myrtifolium at the Bucegi mountains
affected by erosion and fragmentation (Photo: Anca Sa ˆrbu)
4 Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Protected Habitats
51
and scrubs in alpine climate. Changes will occur in the temperature and precipitation
regime, frost and snow days. Also, extreme events like torrents and storms associated
with erosion, ruptures, and habitat fragmentation will occur more often. The expected
cumulative effect could lead to the potential loss of plant species strongly depending
on humidity and low temperature, as well as to degradation and potential loss of some
types of habitats dominated by mesophytes or mesohygrophytes and psichrothermophytes, like bushlands with Pinus mugo Turra and Rhododendron myrtifolium
Schott & Kotschy (Natura 2000 code: 4070, Fig. 4.5).
An assessment of this habitat type carried out in June and July 2010 at Bucegi
mountain shows that 90 % of the recorded plant species are depending on humidity
(mesophytes and mesohygrophytes) and 70 % on low temperature (hekistotermophytes, psichrotermophytes and microthermophytes).
Climate changes expressed in terms of temperature rise and humidity decrease
affect the dominant species (Pinus mugo), significantly reduce its diversity, and
endanger the quality and integrity of this habitat type. Erosion and human activities,
such as tourism, construction works, transportation, or eutrophication are all factors
intensifying this development.
Alpine natural grasslands will feel significant climate change impacts through
increasing temperatures (mild winters, warm spring and summer), decreasing
precipitation (droughts in summers, less snow in winter), and more frequent
extreme events like torrents and heavy rains associated with soil erosion. It is
suggested that changes in composition of grasslands are likely in response to
climate change (Campbell et al. 2009). Changing environmental conditions in the
alpine zone will determine the disappearance of plant species sensitive to drought,
Fig. 4.5 Bushes with Pinus mugo and Rhododendron myrtifolium at the Bucegi mountains
affected by erosion and fragmentation (Photo: Anca Sa ˆrbu)
4 Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Protected Habitats
51