Vulnerability to global change in Mediterranean high mountains
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Abstract
Escudero, A., García-Camacho, R., García-Fernández, A., Gavilán, R.G., Giménez-Benavides, L., Iriondo, J.M., Lara-Romero, C., Morente, J., Pescador, D.S. (2012). Vulnerability to global change in Mediterranean high mountains. Ecosistemas 21(3):63-72.
Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2012.21-3.08
Plant communities of Mediterranean high-mountain pastures are one of the most vulnerable groups to global change. The elevational shift towards higher altitude experimented by shrubs is causing a reduction of the habitat available for the pasture and threatening its persistence. In this work we present the studies carried out by our research group on the psycroxerophyllous pastures of Sierra de Guadarrama to characterize their responses to global change and assess their vulnerability. Our results confirm the high vulnerability of the Mediterranean high mountain vegetation in spite of the fact that each species has specific responses. These differences appear also scaled up to the population and community levels. An escalator effect together with an intense encroachment is posing these ecosystems to the verge of extinction.