A monitoring system ofclimate changes effects on high-mountain communities
A fast process of globalwarming is threatening survival of flood-plain forest and of high-elevationcommunities of Apennines. A medium-term degeneration process is foreseen,followed by a at long-term regression process, with an increasing role ofruderal species.
On the basis of all models,climate changes are foreseen stronger in the Central-Southern part of Italy,where a remarkable reduction of precipitation (20-30% ca.) and a strongincrease of temperature (3-4 °C ca.) are expected.
Recent changes in speciescomposition and abundance in eight plant communities characteristic of CentralApennines have been analysed, on the basis of permanent plots, 100-300 m2
For each plot, aphytosociological relevé was collected in 1993 and repeated in 1999 and2001. A comparative analysis of changes in species composition, life forms,life strategies and morpho-functional types lead to recognise dynamicalprocesses and the increase of drought- and stress-tolerant species, in somecases probably linked to a general process of climate change.
On the basis of the foreseenand observed changes in the alpine communities, new land management policiesare necessary and urgent, including the establishment of networks and systemsof protected areas and of a dedicated monitoring network.