Effect of climate changes on the habitat of rare arctic-alpine plant species in high mountain part of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Abstract

8 types of habitats to which rare arctic-alpine plant species are confined were determined in the high mountain part of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The environmental conditions in the alpine heaths are transformed due to climate changes. Rhododendron myrtifolium penetrates into plant community Loiseleurio-Cetrarietum on the Brebenskul Mt. that leads to a displacement of Loiseleuria procumbens from dominant position. Increasing of cover of Loiseleuria procumbens and occupation by its populations of vacant ecological niches are observed in the community of Dryas octopetala on the Brebeneskul Mt. High mountain meadows are overgrowing by Pinus mugo, Alnus viridis, Juniperus communis var. saxatilis on the border of subalpine and alpine belts. The area of the Cerastium alpinum subsp. lanatum population on the Rebra Mt. decreases from the periphery to the center of the habitat due to overgrowing of the screes by Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Salix silesiaca, Juncus trifidus etc. Active raised bogs, mineral-rich springs and springfens are between the first undergoing transformation as a result of climate change. Communities Eriophoro vaginati-Sphagnetum recurvi on the Breskul Mt. and Empetro hermaphroditi-Sphagnetum fusci on the Shandryaska Mt. (Svydovets massif) are overgrowing by shrubs, that lead to decreasing the part of Vaccinium oxycoccos, Сarex pauciflora, Empetrum nigrum subsp. hermaphroditum in the habitat. The existence of the upper locus of the Pedicularis oederi population between mountains Brebeneskul and Munchel is under threat due to drying of the substrate and negative demographic trends in the population (reduction of the individuals number, habitats area, density, recovery and generation coefficients, etc.). The transformation of the habitats of rare arctic-alpine plant species in the high mountain part of the Ukrainian Carpathians is due mainly to drying of the substrate, successional processes and increasing of the areas of shrubs and high density plant communities. To conserve habitats that are threatened with extinction due to demutation (Lloydia serotina on the Velyki Kizly Mt., Carex pauciflora on Shandryaska Mt. (Svydovets) and in the Tsybulnyk valley (Chornohora), Cerastium alpinum subsp. lanatum on the Rebra Mt.), active conservation measures should be applied to remove more competitive and aggressive species.

Keywords

• habitats
• climate change
• populations
• communities
• Ukrainian Carpathians
• arctic-alpine species