Glacial Retreat Increases Risks of Alpine Plant Extinction

The Alps are famed for their ski slopes, but they are also the iconic alpine flowers' home. Unfortunately, a recent study shows that although some plants may increase with glacial retreat, some may soon become endangered, like the alpine flowers.

Alpine flowers may be driven to extinction after the glacial retreat with the invasion of competitive species terrain higher up the mountain.

Glaciers are retreating at alarming rates, exposing new land for fauna to thrive that may bring short term benefit to delicate alpine species. However, the new land pioneers, which some are endemic, would soon face problems driving them out of their remaining habitat and decreasing biodiversity, warns experts.

Why Glacial Retreat Threatens Alpine Flowers

Alpine flowers are not merely decorative; they are used for medicines, liqueurs and form the foundation of local food chains. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution on January 29, 2021, scientist warns of the uneven consequences of glacial retreat on various plant species.

Dr. Gianalbert Losapio, the lead author of the study from Stanford University, says, "Results indicate that plant diversity will decrease once the glaciers disappear. Up to 22% of the species analyzed may locally disappear or even go extinct."

She adds, "The study shows that not all species are equal before global warming. Some species benefit from global warming while some will suffer."

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Glacial retreats won't only expose newly available land but also changes the diversity and habitability of the downstream ecosystems. Researchers used geological records to reconstruct four glaciers' historical positions in the Italian Alps; this allowed them to approximate the age of downstream communities.

Combining the data gathered with the team's survey of 117 plan species showed that plant distributions have changed over the past 5 millennia via computational models. The models used forecasted the future effects of glacial retreats.

Findings from the study showed shifts in the interactions between the plant communities where competitive species became more prevalent in the long run. Although there was evidence of cooperative species like the Artemisia genipi that first colonized the terrain, its population declined within a hundred years.

On the other hand, there is uncertainty in the calculated dates of older plant communities; researchers received indistinguishable estimates using alternative methods. Findings did not explore the role of evolution; it may be possible that some were able to adapt to the changing conditions of the past.

However, the unprecedented rate of current glacial retreat makes it unlikely for time to allow adaptation today.

The study contributes to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, whose objective is to focus on understanding biodiversity loss mechanisms and the increase in the conservation of sustainable management of threatened species.

Losapio explains that plants are primary produces at the base of every food web, which sustains lives, biodiversity, economies and is key to a healthy ecosystem.

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