Trends in shoot number dynamics and functional traits of plants in Festuca varia grasslands of the Teberda national park
D. V. SUKHOVA, T. G. ELUMEEVA, V. G. ONIPCHENKO
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Keywords: alpine communities, interannual dynamics, functional traits, temperature, grazing cessation
Abstract
Recent long-term dynamics of high mountain communities can be caused by climate warming as well as decrease in land use intencity. Every year, during the period of 1987-2019, we counted shoot numbers of vascular plants on permanent plots of an alpine Festuca varia grassland (Teberda national park, Karachai-Cherkessian, Russia). In the regression models of shoot number dynamics, the predictors were year (to reveal linear trends) and weather variables: mean temperatures and sum of precipitation in the previous growing season (July - August) and the beginning of the current season (May - June). Shoot numbers increased significantly in 6 species with lower mean value of altitudinal distribution in the national park area, and decreased in 5 high alpine species. However, these trends were not caused by increase in mean temperatures of July - August. Changes of weather variables influenced fluctuations in several species independent on the direction of their dynamics. The linear trend values in one of the sites were positively correlated with specific leaf area, leaf water content and ruderal strategy scores, and negatively correlated with stress-tolerant strategy scores. The dynamics of Festuca varia grasslands is mostly linked with long-term restoration succession after cessation of grazing, but not with growing season warming. The main community dominant Festuca varia Haenke is less subjected to fluctuations and climate change at the current amplitude, thus ensuring community stability.
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