Plant traits and community metrics across a snowmelt gradient at alpine snowbank sites on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire
- Author:
- Berend K., Amatangelo K.L., Weihrauch D., Norment C. & Penberthy M.
- Year:
- 2022
- Journal:
- Rhodora
- Pages:
- 122(992): 290–320
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.3119/20-14
In northeastern North America, alpine snowbank communities are
rare plant assemblages that form in sheltered sites above treeline where latelying
snow provides insulation from late-season frosts and a longer-lasting source
of water. We measured snowpack and studied community composition and plant
traits at the species and community scales across the snowmelt gradient at snowbank
sites on Mt. Washington, New Hampshire. We used nonmetric multidimensional
scaling ordination and analysis of similarity to examine community composition
across the snowmelt gradient and measured plant traits (height, leaf
dry matter content, leaf area, and specific leaf area) of four focal species (Carex
bigelowii, Chamaepericlymenum canadense, Clintonia borealis, and Maianthemum
canadense). We assessed trait variability of the four focal species across the
snowmelt gradient and evaluated community-weighted mean trait values and
phenotypic plasticity between snowbank core and edge habitats. Analysis of
similarity indicated that vascular plant diversity increased (p < 0.001), lichen and
bryophyte cover decreased (p < 0.001; p < 0.025), and community-weighted
mean leaf area increased (p < 0.001) in the core of snowbank communities where
melting dates were later. Analysis of similarity indicated that vascular plant communities
varied significantly across the snowmelt gradient. The transition in
community composition and trait values across the snowmelt gradient are indicative
of changing environmental conditions and ecosystem functions, though
more research is needed to determine the extent to which phenotypic plasticityand ecotypic uniqueness influence trait expression of snowbank species. Genetic
analysis may be necessary to evaluate population dynamics among isolated
alpine communities, which may be vulnerable to climate change or displacement
by exotic or lowland species.
Key words: adaptation, climate change, community-weighted mean, diversity,
plasticity, snowbed.
- Id:
- 34306
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Monday, 18 April 2022 00:40