How long can glacier foreland species live?

Abstract

Summary Age determinations provide information on longevity of the species and on their population structure. This knowledge is of particular interest for species involved in succession. On a glacier foreland of the Central Alps age determinations of six target species ( Saxifraga oppositifolia , Oxyria digyna , Artemisia mutellina , Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. alpestris , Trifolium pratense ssp. nivale and Helianthemum grandiflorum ) were carried out by means of herbchronology. The species were selected on three differently aged moraines in order to compare pioneer, early and late successional species. Pioneer species were expected to have young, invasive populations. This was suggested also for populations of late successional species growing towards the glacier front where they substitute the pioneer species. These hypotheses were only confirmed for the pioneer Saxifraga oppositifolia . The longest life span was found for Helianthemum grandiflorum on the oldest moraine. Plant size of all investigated individuals correlated with age. Significant differences where observed between the age of vegetative and generative individuals.