Learning objectives
This part of the course provides updated informations on hypotheses and models concerning the effects of the Global Change on mountain ecosystems.
Prerequisites
<br />Learnings of geobotany and climatology are requested..
Course unit content
<br />POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON VEGETATION: THE EFFECTS ON MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS<br /><br /><br />a) Mountain systems as “hot spots” of plant diversity<br />b) Present and predicted climate changes on the mountains of the world<br />c) Potential responses of plant species to increasing temperatures: -1) persistence in situ (adaptation mechanisms); - 2) migration; - 3) Population fragmentation and extinction. <br />d) Potential responses of plant species to increasing CO2. <br /><br />e) Potential responses of plant to increasing concentration of trpospheric ozone.<br />f) Potential responses of vegetation: -1) ecotonal shifts; - 2) changements in the floristic assessments; - 3) structural modifications.<br />g) The GLORIA project<br />h) Soil eutrophication in the mountain ecosystems - 1) different responses of bryophytes and vascular plants; - 2) compositional and structural modifications.
Full programme
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Bibliography
<br />Theurillat J.P. & Guisan A., 2001. Potential impact of climate change on vegetation in the European Alps: a review. Climatic change 50: 77-109.<br />Messerli B. & Ives J.D., 1997. Mountains of the world. A global priority. Parthenon Publishing Group, New York.<br />Korner C., 1999. Alpine plant life. Springer, Berlin.<br />The GLORIA field Manual - Multi-Summit approach. European Commission, EUR 21213.
Teaching methods
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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