Journal article
Experimental warming and long-term vegetation dynamics in an alpine heathland
CH Wahren, JS Camac, FC Jarrad, RJ Williams, WA Papst, AA Hoffmann
Australian Journal of Botany | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2013
DOI: 10.1071/BT12234
Abstract
High mountain ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of climate warming and Australia's alpine vegetation has been identified as particularly vulnerable. Between 2004 and 2010, we monitored vegetation changes in a warming experiment within alpine open grassy-heathland on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria, Australia. The study was part of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX Network) and used open-topped chambers (OTC) to raise ambient growing-season temperatures by ∼1°C at two sites. We assessed the effects of experimental warming on vegetation composition, diversity and cover using ordination, linear models and hierarchical partitioning. Results were compared with vegetation changes a..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded through an Australia Research Council Linkage Grant, partnered through the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), ES Link Services Pty Ltd, Mt Hotham Resort Management and Parks Victoria. A. A. Hoffmann was supported by an ARC Laureate Fellowship. Assistance with field measurements was provided by Shona Arber, Monica Camac, Deborah Cargill, Seraphina Cutler, Bradley Farmilo, Luke Geddes, Katherine Giljohann, Lauren Kiem, Annie Leschen, Keith McDougall, John Morgan, Harm van Rees, Linda Riquelme, Paul Smart, Karen Stott, Freya Thomas, Emma Warren and others. Wealso thank volunteers Kate Forbes and Marilyn Rush for helping with data entry. Special thanks go to Lou Jost for valuable advice on assessing diversity and Ralph Mac Nally on the use of hierarchical partitioning.