Global warming effects on alpine plant species in the central Chilean Andes: a review

Abstract

High mountain ecosystems are characterised by harsh climatic conditions such as low temperatures, strong winds and unstable substrates. They are therefore considered sentinels of global climate change. Many studies have been carried out in various mountains in the northern hemisphere where, as a result of global warming, changes in the altitudinal distribution of species have been observed, increases in species richness, and a series of effects on different stages of the life cycle of plants (germination, growth, reproduction, etc.) have been reported. However, studies on the effects of warming on seedling recruitment and photosynthesis of established individuals are less numerous. In this review, we compiled the results of studies focused on the impact of warming on these processes carried out in alpine plants from Andes of central Chile. Unlike other mountains, the Andes of central Chile are located in an area with a Mediterranean-type climate. Thus, summers are dry, where lower elevations are hot and dry, whilst higher altitudes are cold and humid. This means that at low elevations the effects of warming are generally detrimental to seedling survival and photosynthesis, as higher temperatures exacerbate the drought that characterises these elevations. In contrast, at higher altitudes, higher temperatures have positive effects on these processes, although the responses are very species-specific.