Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Climate Warming and the Recent Treeline Shift in the European Alps: The Role of Geomorphological Factors in High-Altitude Sites

  • Report
  • Published:
AMBIO Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Global warming and the stronger regional temperature trends recently recorded over the European Alps have triggered several biological and physical dynamics in high-altitude environments. We defined the present treeline altitude in three valleys of a region in the western Italian Alps and reconstructed the past treeline position for the last three centuries in a nearly undisturbed site by means of a dendrochronological approach. We found that the treeline altitude in this region is mainly controlled by human impacts and geomorphological factors. The reconstruction of the altitudinal dynamics at the study site reveals that the treeline shifted upwards of 115 m over the period 1901–2000, reaching the altitude of 2505 m in 2000 and 2515 m in 2008. The recent treeline shift and the acceleration of tree colonization rates in the alpine belt can be mainly ascribed to the climatic input. However, we point out the increasing role of geomorphological factors in controlling the future treeline position and colonization patterns in high mountains.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali, A.A., C. Carcaillet, J.-L. Guendon, J.-F. Roiron, J.-F. Terral, and Y. Quinif. 2003. The Early Holocene treeline in the Southern French Alps: New evidence from travertine formations. Global Ecology and Biogeography 12: 411–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Applequist, M.B. 1958. A simple pith locator for use with off-center increment cores. Journal of Forestry 56: 141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry, R.G. 1981. Mountain weather and climate. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernetti, G. 1998. Selvicoltura speciale. Turin: UTET.

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhm, R., P.D. Jones, J. Hiebl, D. Frank, M. Brunetti, and M. Maugeri. 2010. The early instrumental warm-bias: A solution for long central European temperature series 1760–2007. Climatic Change 101: 41–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brockmann-Jerosch, H. 1919. Baumgrenze und Klimacharakter. Rascher: Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunetti, M., M. Maugeri, F. Monti, and T. Nanni. 2006. Temperature and precipitation variability in Italy in the last two centuries from homogenised instrumental time series. International Journal of Climatology 26: 345–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burga, C.A. 1991. Vegetation history and palaeoclimatology of the Middle Holocene: Pollen analysis of alpine peat bog sediments, covered formerly by the Rutor Glacier, 2510 m (Aosta Valley, Italy). Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters 1: 43–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, D.R., G.P. Malanson, L.M. Resler, S.J. Walsh, F.D. Wilkerson, G.L. Schmid, and C.F. Sawyer. 2009. Geomorphic patterns and processes at alpine treeline. In The changing alpine treeline, vol. 12, ed. D. Butler, G. Malanson, S. Walsh, S. Fagre, 63–84. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

  • Caccianiga, M., C. Andreis, S. Armiraglio, G. Leonelli, M. Pelfini, and D. Sala. 2008. Climate continentality and treeline species distribution in the Alps. Plant Biosystems 142: 66–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauchard, S., F. Beilhe, N. Denis, and C. Carcaillet. 2010. An increase in the upper tree-limit of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the Alps since the mid-20th century: A land-use change phenomenon. Forest Ecology and Management 259: 1406–1415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • David, F. 1995. Vegetation dynamics in the northern French Alps. Historical Biology 9: 269–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dirnböck, T., S. Dullinger, and G. Grabherr. 2003. A regional impact assessment of climate and land use change on alpine vegetation. Journal of Biogeography 30: 401–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defila, C., and B. Clot. 2005. Phytophenological trends in the Swiss Alps, 1951–2002. Meteorologische Zeitschrift 14: 191–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg, H. 1963. Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. In Kausaler, dynamischer und historischer Sicht. Stuttgart: Ulmer.

  • Ellenberg, H. 1978. Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. Stuttgart: Auflage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedel, H. 1967. Verlauf der alpinen Waldgrenze im Rahmen anliegender Gebirgsgelände. Mitt. Forstl. Bundes-Versuchsanstalt Mariabrunn 75: 81–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehrig-Fasel, J., A. Guisan, and N. Zimmermann. 2007. Tree line shifts in the Swiss Alps: Climate change or land abandonment? Journal of Vegetation Science 18: 571–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W., and S. Gruber. 2009. Global Warming and mountain permafrost. In Permafrost soils, ed. R. Margesin, 205–218. New York: Springer.

  • Hansen, J., M. Sato, R. Ruedy, K. Lo, D.W. Lea, and M. Medina-Elizade. 2006. Global temperature change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103: 14288–14293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hantel, M., and L.-M. Hirtl-Wielke. 2007. Sensitivity of Alpine snow cover to European temperature. International Journal of Climatology 27: 1265–1275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holtmeier, F.K. 2009. Mountain timberlines: Ecology, patchiness and dynamics, 438 pp. New York: Springer.

  • Klasner, F.L. 2002. A half century of change in Alpine patterns at Glacier National Park, Montana, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 34: 49–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Körner C. 2003. Alpine plant life, 344 pp. New York: Springer.

  • Körner, C., and J. Paulsen. 2004. A world-wide study of high altitude treeline temperatures. Journal of Biogeography 31: 713–732.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kullman, L. 2010. A richer, greener and smaller alpine world: Review and projection of warming-induced plant cover change in the Swedish Scandes. Ambio 39: 159–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kullman, L., and L. Kjällgren. 2006. Holocene pine tree-line evolution in the Swedish Scandes: Recent tree-line rise and climate change in a long-term perspective. Boreas 35: 159–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kullman, L., and L. Öberg. 2009. Post-Little Ice Age tree line rise and climate warming in the Swedish Scandes: A landscape ecological perspective. Journal of Ecology 97: 415–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonelli, G., M. Pelfini, and U. Morra di Cella. 2009. Detecting climatic treelines in the Italian Alps: The influence of geomorphological factors and of human impacts. Physical Geography 30: 338–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luckman, B., and T. Kavanagh. 2000. Impact of climate fluctuations on mountain environments in the Canadian Rockies. Ambio 29: 371–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazepa, V.S. 2005. Stand density in the last millennium at the upper tree-line ecotone in the polar Ural Mountains. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35: 2082–2091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercalli, L., D. Cat Berro, and S. Montuschi. 2003. Atlante climatico della Valle d’Aosta, 416 pp. Turin: Società Meteorologica Subalpina.

  • Moen, J., K. Aune, L. Edenius, and A. Angerbjörn. 2004. Potential effects of climate change on treeline position in the Swedish mountains. Ecology and Society 9: 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Motta, R., and P. Nola. 2001. Growth trends and dynamics in sub-alpine forest stands in the Varaita valley (Piedmont, Italy) and their relationships with human activities and global change. Journal of Vegetation Science 12: 219–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, F., A. Kääb, M. Maisch, T. Kellenberger, and W. Haeberli. 2004. Rapid disintegration of Alpine glaciers observed with satellite data. Geophysical Research Letters 31: L21402. doi:10.1029/2004GL020816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pauli, H., M. Gottfried, and G. Grabherr. 2003. Effects of climate change on the alpine and nival vegetation of the Alps. Journal of Mountain Ecology 7: 9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, S.C., and G. Orombelli. 1985. Glacier contraction during the middle Holocene in the western Italian Alps: Evidence and implications. Geology 13: 296–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rebetez, M., and M. Reinhard. 2008. Monthly air temperature trends in Switzerland 1901–2000 and 1975–2004. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 91: 27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santilli, M., G. Orombelli, and M. Pelfini. 2002. The variation of Italian Glaciers between 1980 and 1999 inferred by the data supplied by the Italian Glaciological Committee. Geografia Fisica Dinamica Quaternaria 25: 61–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiyatov, S.G., M.M. Terent’ev, and V.V. Fomin. 2005. Spatiotemporal dynamics of forest-tundra communities in the polar Urals. Russian Journal of Ecology 36: 69–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, G.C., and J.F. Fox. 1991. The causes of treeline. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 22: 177–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Theurillat, J.P., and A. Guisan. 2001. Potential impact of climate change on vegetation in the European Alps: A review. Climatic Change 50: 77–109.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tranquillini, W. 1979. Physiological ecology of the alpine treeline. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vittoz, P., B. Rulence, T. Largey, and F. Freléchoux. 2008. Effects of climate and land-use change on the establishment and growth of cembran pine (Pinus cembra L.) over the altitudinal treeline ecotone in the Central Swiss Alps. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 40: 225–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walther, G.R., S. Beissner, and C.A. Burga. 2005. Trends in the upward shift of alpine plants. Journal of Vegetation Science 16: 541–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wegmüller, S. 1977. Pollenanalytische Untersuchungen zur spät und postglazialen Vegetationgeschichte der Französischen Alpen (Dauphiné). Bern: Paul Haupt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, F. 1988. Global alpine glacier trends 1960s to 1980. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 20: 404–413.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the European Social Fund, the Autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta and the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; it was also funded by the PRIN 2008 project ‘Climate change effects on glaciers, permafrost and derived water resource. Quantification of the ongoing variations in the Italian Alps, analysis of their impacts and modelling future projections’, national coordinator Prof. C. Smiraglia. The authors wish to thank Prof. M. Maugeri and Prof. R. Böhm for providing the Aosta and the HISTALP series, respectively, and Dr. M. Cocco and Dr. D. Castagneri for their help in tree sampling.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Giovanni Leonelli, Manuela Pelfini & Valentina Garavaglia

  2. ARPA Valle d’Aosta, Loc. Grande Charrière 44, 11020, Saint Christophe, Italy

    Umberto Morra di Cella

Authors
  1. Giovanni Leonelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manuela Pelfini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Umberto Morra di Cella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Valentina Garavaglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Leonelli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leonelli, G., Pelfini, M., Morra di Cella, U. et al. Climate Warming and the Recent Treeline Shift in the European Alps: The Role of Geomorphological Factors in High-Altitude Sites. AMBIO 40, 264–273 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-010-0096-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-010-0096-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation