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[HEALTH] · Austria, Switzerland, Georgia, Italy · 21 sources

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European mountain plant species face loss due to rising temperatures

A study published in the journal Science reveals that rising temperatures in European mountains are causing a complex shift in biodiversity. While the overall number of plant species on mountain peaks is increasing as warmer-climate plants migrate to higher altitudes, specialized high-mountain species are simultaneously disappearing.

Researchers from the University of Vienna and other institutions analyzed data from 62 European mountain peaks, including sites in the Alps, Pyrenees, and the Caucasus, collected via the Gloria monitoring network between 2001 and 2022. The findings indicate a direct correlation between local temperature increases and the loss of cold-adapted species.

As lower-altitude plants move upward, they create increased competition and density, causing specialized species to lose their competitive advantage. In the Alps, species such as Glacier Buttercup, Single-flowered Stonecrop, and Alpine Avens are among those facing disappearance due to these changing conditions.

Entities

Austrian Academy of Sciences · Europe · Gloria Monitoring Network · Johannes Wessely · Science · Stefan Dullinger · University of Montana · University of Vienna

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6 days ago