High Mountain Meadows Research Articles

Bunchgrass Meadows — Among Our Wetlands of Distinction

In the northeast corner of Washington State sit the Selkirk and Kettle mountain ranges. There, woodland caribou, grizzly bear, and gray wolves freely roam 1.5 million acres of spruce and fir forest, talus, and river valleys. Within this geographic area is Bunchgrass Meadows, a 711-acre (288-hectare) wetland complex within the Colville National Forest that stands out as one of the many gems on our public lands and one of the newest “Wetlands of Distinction”. Bunchgrass Meadows is at the headwaters of Harvey Creek and at the crossroads of Kootenai, Colville, Kalispel, Spokane, and Okanogan traditional tribal lands (Figure 1). This relatively high-elevation feature (about 5,084 ft., 1,550 m) is found in the Canadian Rocky Mountain ecoregion near the boundary between Washington and Idaho. Snowmelt and rain confined by the surrounding hillslopes collect and linger on a slow meander to Harvey Creek at the northeastern end, sustaining an exceptionally rich and diverse array of wetland habitats (riverine, lacustrine, slope, and depressional; Figure 2). Multiple natural resource management agencies have compiled documentation on the unique structure and composition of this wetland complex. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) designated Bunchgrass Meadows as a Research Natural Area (RNA) in 2008. The USFS’ regional RNA Committee found Bunchgrass Meadows to be exemplary of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems, including high elevation mountain meadow,

A review of the Anatolian Gomphocerus Thunberg, 1815 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) via morphological and bioacoustics characters: data suggesting a new species, a new subgenus and three new statuses.

Gomphocerus Thunberg, 1815 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae) is an interesting genus with clavate antennae, differing from the other genera by the pyriform (pear-shaped) anterior tibiae in the male and being represented by 17 taxa species-subspecies in the Palaearctic region. Anatolian species of this genus have not been adequately studied, and almost all of them are cold tolerance species and live in high mountain meadows. The previous studies indicate that the taxa belonging to Gomphocerus have some taxonomic problems in both Turkey and the Palaearctic region. For this reason, the genus needs taxonomic revision due to its biogeographical, biodiversity, taxonomical and faunistic issues for which morphological and bioacoustics characteristics are to be used. This study was carried out between the years 2015 and 2021 at different altitudes and habitats of the mountains, where Gomphocerus specimens were collected from various localities in Anatolia. Since the species belonging to the genus have distinct morphological differences, the genus is divided into two subgenera: the nominate subgenus and a new subgenus Bolivarianus Mol, subgen. n. In addition, a new species of the nominate subgenus Gomphocerus (Gomphocerus) eyluldenizi Mol, sp.n. is described from Erzurum province (Eastern Anatolia) and when both morphology and bioacoustics characteristics are evaluated, three subspecies of the genus distributed in Anatolia are designated at species level: Gomphocerus (Gomphocerus) turcicus Mistshenko, 1951 stat. n. et sp. rev., Gomphocerus (Bolivarianus) acutus Karaba, 1957 stat. n., and Gomphocerus (Bolivarianus) hemipterus Karaba, 1953 stat. n. Furthermore, a key to the subgenus and species level for Anatolian members of Gomphocerus is provided with original figures, a distributional map and suggestions for conservation status according to IUCN categories are presented.

New Data on the Occurrence of Scarabaeoid Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Serbia

The Serbian fauna of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is relatively well-known compared to the neighbouring countries. Many common species known from Serbia’s neighbouring countries are not recorded in Serbia, despite the richness of the country’s habitats, such as high-mountain meadows, pastures, deep gorges, riverbanks (including the exceptionally valuable sandy banks of the Danube) and old forests. Therefore, we aim to supplement the current information on the distribution of the species of the Serbian scarabaeoid beetles. The presented scarabaeoid beetles were caught during seven expeditions in 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 (two expeditions), 2021, and 2022. As a result, 2031 beetles belonging to 120 species and five families of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Lucanidae, Glaphyridae, Scarabaeidae) were observed. In less than two months of the faunistic study, the authors confirmed the occurrence in Serbia of 49.5% of the scarabaeoid species previously known from this country and added 13 new species that had not been previously recorded: Eulasia pareyssei (Brullé, 1832), Pygopleurus apicalis (Brullé, 1832), Melinopterus reyi (Reitter, 1892), Nimbus johnsoni (Baraud, 1976), Planolinoides borealis (Gyllenhal, 1827), Copris hispanus Linnaeus, 1764, C. umbilicatus Abeille de Perrin, 1901, Cheironitis furcifer (P. Rossi, 1792), Onthophagus dellacasai Pittino & Mariani, 1981, O. similis (Scriba, 1790), Chaetonyx schatzmayri Mariani, 1946, Holochelus costulatus (Frivaldszky, 1835), and Omaloplia corcyrae (Baraud, 1965). Eight species and one subspecies typical for the Balkan Peninsula were also found: Jekelius punctulatus (Jekel, 1866), Pygopleurus apicalis, P. chrysonotus (Brullé, 1832), Onthophagus dellacasai, Chaetonyx robustus robustus Schaum, 1862, Ch. schatzmayri, Omaloplia corcyrae, O. illyrica (Baraud, 1965), and Triodontella dalmatica (Baraud, 1962). Thus, the number of currently known scarabaeoid species in Serbia has increased to 229. Our results indicate insufficient knowledge of the Scarabaeoidea of Serbia. Therefore, further research and new expeditions to Serbia are highly desirable. High-mountain and Danubian communities of dung beetles are priceless and deserve protection. Twenty-one species of scarabaeoid beetles are illustrated.

Quantitative assessment of mudflow risk in the Greater Caucasus of Azerbaijan (on the example of the northeastern slope)


 
 
 The recreational and tourist direction of Azerbaijan’s development planned the development of hard-to-reach mountainous areas, where construction of various engineering structures will be carried out. Mudflows are the most destructive geological processes, since mountain geosystems are characterized by favourable conditions for their occurrence – high seismicity (8–9 points), increased moisture (700 mm or more), intense weathering of rocks and accumulation of loose clastic material, etc. Thus, the territory of the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus is classified as a mudflow hazardous area. This takes into account the areas of mudflow basins, the intensity of the passage of diverse mudflows, their quantitative characteristics, the conditions of formation, as well as the amount of damage caused to both the infrastructure and the residential complex. The purpose of article. The article considers the results of field ecogeomorphological studies on the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, dedicated to the quantitative assessment of mudflow risk for the period from 1990 to 2020. The research methods. Large-scale topographic maps (Scale 1:100000) were used to assess the degree of mudflow risk on the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus in order to obtain morphometric characteristics (including about the incline of the slopes, the length and shape of the slopes, the areas of mudflow cen- ters), as well as materials of interpretation of different-scale and different-time ASI. On the example of the basins of the mudflow-prone rivers Gusarchay and Velvelichaу, ASI M 1: 60000 1996-2020 from the Landsat satellite were used to determine the quantitative indi- cators of the areas of mudflow centers. The results of research: Based on the interpretation of the ASP within the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, according to the degree of danger of mudflow processes (the amount of removed material, the erosive effect of the flow on the valley, taking into account the occurrence of mudflows in tributaries and the basin as a whole, as well as the prevailing types and classes of mudflows, geomorphological conditions of formation, forming and the passage of mudflows and the statistical data on past mudflows), and on the actual and possible damage to the population from mudflows, a mudflow risk map was compiled on a 5-point scale. Conclusions. The reasons for the acceleration of the frequency of passage of destructive mudflows made up of dirt, stones and mud on the northeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus are related to the degradation of high-mountain meadow and moun- tain forest landscapes of the Gudyalchay–Velvelichay, Davachichay–Atachay and other interfluves. Based on the decoding of the ASI from 1996–2020 from the Landsat satellite (M 1:60000) mudflow sources in the basins of the most mudflow-bearing rivers Gusarchay and Velvelichay for the period 1990–2020 were calculated. The research results will make it possible to use the obtained data for the development of a program for the safe and sustainable functioning and development of the hard-to-reach mountainous geosystems of Azerbaijan for recreation and tourism development.
 
 

New Data on the Occurrence of Scarabaeoid Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in Montenegro.

Simple SummaryThe Montenegrin insect fauna is still insufficiently researched compared to neighbouring countries. The authors focus on scarabaeoid beetles. The dominant trophic group among scarabaeoid beetles are dung beetles. Dung beetles accelerate the decomposition of faeces, increase soil aeration and reduce parasite (flies and nematodes) numbers. Due to their role in nature, they are sometimes called meadow and forest scavengers. We collected 2130 scarabaeoid beetles belonging to 107 species and 5 families in 34 localities. Collected beetles constitute 54.2% of scarabaeoid beetles recognised so far from Montenegro. Among the fauna collected in this study, 63 species were dung beetles and 16 species were found in Montenegro for the first time. These included Odonteus armiger, Trox sabulosus, Ochodaeus integriceps, Agrilinus convexus, Melinopterus reyi, M. sphacelatus, Phalacronothus biguttatus, Trichonotulus scrofa, Psammodius nocturnus, Platytomus tibialis, Pleurophorus mediterranicus, P. pannonicus, Rhyssemus berytensis, Onthophagus ovatus, Rhizotrogus aestivus and Chaetopteroplia segetum. The discovery of so many species in a relatively short time of fieldwork indicates the need to continue and intensify our surveys in the future. Recommendations for the conservation of Montenegrin biodiversity are given.The Montenegrin fauna of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea is not satisfactorily studied. This is evidenced by the small number of species from this superfamily reported from Montenegro, despite the richness of the country’s habitats, especially high-mountain meadows, pastures, lush canyons, riverside, coastal dunes and old forests. Moreover, significant is the greater number of species of scarabaeoid beetles in neighbouring countries. Therefore, we aim to supplement the current information on the distribution of the taxa of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea in the country. The presented scarabaeoid beetles were caught during three expeditions: the first in May/June 2019, the second in May/June 2021, and the third in July 2021. As a result of this study, we have collected 2130 beetles belonging to 107 species and five families of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae, Trogidae, Lucanidae, Ochodaeidae and Scarabaeidae. The 28 days of the faunistic study confirmed the occurrence in Montenegro of 54.2% of the scarabaeoid species hitherto known from this country and added 16 new species that had not been previously recorded: Odonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772), Trox sabulosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Ochodaeus integriceps Semenov, 1891, Agrilinus convexus (Erichson, 1848), Melinopterus reyi (Reitter, 1892), M. sphacelatus (Panzer, 1798), Phalacronothus biguttatus (Germar, 1824), Trichonotulus scrofa (Fabricius, 1787), Psammodius nocturnus Reitter, 1892, Platytomus tibialis (Fabricius, 1798), Pleurophorus mediterranicus Pittino & Mariani, 1986, P. pannonicus Petrovitz, 1961, Rhyssemus berytensis Marseul, 1878, Onthophagus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1767), Rhizotrogus aestivus (Olivier, 1789) and Chaetopteroplia segetum (Herbst, 1783). Six species and three subspecies that are typical for the Balkan Peninsula were also found: Trypocopris alpinus balcanicola (Mikšić, 1954), Onthophagus panici Petrovitz, 1964, Amphimallon solstitiale simplicissimum (Müller, 1902), Omaloplia illyrica (Baraud, 1965), Triodontella dalmatica (Baraud, 1962), Chaetopteroplia segetum straminea (Brullé, 1832), Anomala matzenaueri Reitter, 1918, Exomala adriatica (Petrovitz, 1968) and Oxythyrea dulcis Reitter, 1899. Thus, the number of currently known scarabaeoid species in Montenegro has increased to 184. Twenty-four species of scarabaeoid beetles are illustrated. Our results indicate insufficient knowledge of the Scarabaeoidea of Montenegro and, at the same time, their diversity and the presence of rare species among them. High-mountain and coastal communities of coprophagic scarabaeoid beetles, as well as communities of scarabaeoid beetles inhabiting coastal dunes, are especially valuable, worthy of protection. Therefore, further research and new expeditions to Montenegro are highly desirable.

Review: Veratrum californicum Alkaloids.

Veratrum spp. grow throughout the world and are especially prevalent in high mountain meadows of North America. All parts of Veratrum plants have been used for the treatment of ailments including injuries, hypertension, and rheumatic pain since as far back as the 1600s. Of the 17–45 Veratrum spp., Veratrum californicum alkaloids have been proven to possess favorable medicinal properties associated with inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) pathway signaling. Aberrant Hh signaling leads to proliferation of over 20 cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, prostate and colon among others. Six of the most well-studied V. californicum alkaloids are cyclopamine (1), veratramine (2), isorubijervine (3), muldamine (4), cycloposine (5), and veratrosine (6). Recent inspection of the ethanolic extract from V. californicum root and rhizome via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry has detected up to five additional alkaloids that are proposed to be verazine (7), etioline (8), tetrahydrojervine (9), dihydrojervine (10), 22-keto-26-aminocholesterol (11). For each alkaloid identified or proposed in V. californicum, this review surveys literature precedents for extraction methods, isolation, identification, characterization and bioactivity to guide natural product drug discovery associated with this medicinal plant.

Individual and group parameters of Rumex alpinus L. (Polygonaceae) as an indicator of the degree of disturbance to the Carpathian high-mountain meadow ecosystems

Вивчено індивідуальні (висоту генеративного пагона, довжину сегментів кореневища та їхню кількість на осі наростання) і групові параметри (проєктивне покриття, щільність імматурних особин, генеративних і вегетативних пагонів) клонального високотравного виду – Rumex alpinus у популяціях, що перебувають на різних стадіях антропогенної сукцесії в Карпатах. Цей вид здатний утворювати зімкнені рудеральні угруповання – щавельники (Rumiceta alpini) на угноєному ґрунті біля стійбищ худоби. Видові властивий тривалий онтогенез і наявність довговічних масивних кореневищ, у яких розмір сегментів відображає життєвість особини у минулі роки. Досліджені показники характеризують ступінь антропогенних змін у лучних екосистемах Карпат на різних етапах їх дигресивно-демутаційних перетворень. Значна кількість імматурних особин насіннєвого походження свідчить про молодий вік популяції і служить індикатором дигресивного спрямування змін в екосистемі. Натомість, у сформованих щільних щавельниках особини насіннєвого походження (зокрема імматурні) майже або цілком відсутні, оскільки у самовідновленні переважає вегетативне розмноження. Найвищі індивідуальні і групові параметри R. alpinus відзначено на площах, що зазнають підживлення гноївкою. Припинення господарського впливу призводить до розрідження популяцій та їх поступового згасання. В інвазійних популяціях відзначено послідовне збільшення річних приростів кореневищ, натомість у регресивних – їхнє скорочення. Rumex alpinus є також компонентом деяких корінних непорушених угруповань, де виявляє невисоку життєвість особин і низьку щільність популяцій. Отже, високі значення індивідуальних і групових показників цього виду є індикатором значного порушення території та її низької цінності з природоохоронної точки зору, натомість його нечасте трапляння лише на окремих невеликих ділянках може свідчити про відсутність або незначний ступінь девастації гірської лучної екосистеми.

Report on the Emergence Time of a Species of Thitarodes Ghost Moth (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), Host of the Caterpillar Fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Ascomycota: Ophiocordycipitaceae) in Uttarakhand, India.

Ghost moths in the genus Thitarodes Viette, 1968, are hosts of the economically important caterpillar fungus, which is harvested in high mountain meadows across the Hengduan mountains and the Himalayas. In northwestern India, although caterpillar fungus has been collected in the state of Uttarakhand, no adults of Thitarodes species have been recorded. We report the sighting of a female pupa of Thitarodes sp. and its last-instar molt at Munsiyari, Uttarakhand, India, on 5 July 2019 and estimate that the adult emergence time in this habitat should be late July or early August. Although the habitats of caterpillar fungus in Uttarakhand are geographically closer to those in Nepal, they are climatically more similar to habitats of caterpillar fungus in Qinghai province in China. Among records at the same elevation, climatic variables are highly predictive of the emergence date of Thitarodes adults (adjusted-R2: 0.7925, F = 6.27, P = 0.03). Our result highlights the role of the Himalayan mountains as both a north-south climatic barrier and an east-west climatic gradient. We encourage local stakeholders and scientists in Uttarakhand to survey adult emergences of Thitarodes from July to mid-August.

‘Looking for the tombs of dragons’: preliminary results of archaeo-geochemical prospecting studies at Tirinkatar - Karmir Sar area, southern slopes of Mt Aragats, Armenia

An interdisciplinary archaeogeochemical research on vishaps (stone stelae also known as dragon stones) has been carried out for the first time in Armenia. The survey area is situated in the neighborhood of Tirinkatar and Karmir Sar volcanoes on southern slopes of Mt. Aragats. The geochemical prospecting studies have been realised on a high mountain meadow (2850 m asl) with 12 vishaps and numerous circular stone structures known as cromlechs. Five cromlechs excavated until now did not yield any human remains and the main aim of the geochemical prospection was to check whether other cromlechs detected by archaeological surface survey and by ground-penetrating radar contained burials. The geochemical haloes of some chemical elements indicate their anthropogenic character and a very high probability that some of the cromlechs were tombs.

Agro-ecological and agro-economic potential of the high mountain meadows of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Agro-ecological and agro-economic potential of the high mountain meadows of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Динамика растительности урочища Джилы-Су (Центральный Кавказ) на фоне изменений характера антропогенной нагрузки на луговые экосистемы за последние 35 лет

High-mountain meadow phytocenoses in the upper Malka-river of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Central Caucasus) have been long used by the local population in cattle-breeding, and the unique thermal spring of mineral water “Dzhily-Su” has been put to medicinal use. The pasture/recreation ratio of anthropogenic impact on meadow ecosystems of this region has varied with time. Vegetation has varied correspondingly. The comparative geobotanical vegetation analysis of meadow phytocenoses in Dzhily-Su stow using the data on five model plots in the subalpine belt over the years of 1983, 2010 and 2017 was performed. The long-term absence (10–20 years) or insignificant pasture load on high-mountain meadows of Dzhily-Su stow facilitates restoration of the initial state in the pasture ecosystem. The following moderate grazing in the same areas doesn’t cause pasture degradation and improves feeding properties of arable lands. High parameters of grass projective cover and average grass height are preserved, species abundance of phytocenoses increases, species of higher feeding value (Kobresiacapilliformis, Bromopsisvariegata) displace Festucaworonowii, and Veratrumlobelianum abundance declines. Conversely, intensive recreational load on mountain-meadow pasture ecosystems of the initial state decreases total grass projective cover with active ruderal species invasion of free plots including synanthropic species. The long-term (over 30 years) overgrazing causes phytocenosis degradation: decrease of grass projective cover, grass height, reserves of living superterraneanphytomass, and distribution of ruderal species, poisonous species and inedible species in phytocenoses. Weed phytocenosis of low-feeding value-, inedible-, and partly nitrophilious species is formed instead of the degraded pasture under attendant soil nitrate pollution.

Geomorphic edge effects in response to abiotic and anthropogenic disturbances in forest ecosystems of the Gorce Mountains, Western Carpathians

In the present paper we report on the only known example of a hummocky meadow in Poland. The area of the Hala Długa in the Gorce Mountains is a hotspot of complex geomorphic edge effects that have been widely studied in relation to human impacts and forest disturbances. Applying an interdisciplinary approach, we aimed to study the geomorphic activity in edge conditions between two contrasting ecosystems, a high-mountain meadow and a forest. Several methods were applied: geomorphic mapping, radiocarbon dating, soil analysis, geomorphometry, wood anatomy, and investigations of historical maps. These methods enabled us to reconstruct the history of the Hala Długa over the past ca 300 years, and to evaluate geomorphic activity and soil dynamics in this area.The treethrow pit-mound microtopography (hummocky meadow, Buckelwiese) of this area was formed under forest conditions, but due to long-term human impacts linked to sheep grazing and mowing, was preserved as a distinct topography for at least 100 years. While this topography was still clearly visible in the 1950s, when it was first reported, it is currently gradually disappearing under trees that have formed a belt around the study area. Soils of the study site were disturbed by tree uprooting, with many key features identified during the soil profile analysis: spots of coarse partly oriented sandstone fragments in pits, patches of organic matter in the metamorphic B horizon, and a large number of root remnants and pieces of charcoal in different parts of treethrow mounds and pits. We suggest a non-linear or even polygenetic soil evolution due to altered vegetation and disturbance regimes. The evaluation of wood remnants revealed that the majority of uprooted tree species were Picea abies (L.) H. Karst and Larix decidua Mill. We conclude that in the Gorce Mountains geomorphic edge effects can form hotspots of geomorphic activity driven by human impacts, natural disturbances, and the specific hydrological regime in the highest parts of the massif.

Structure of vegetation and phytomass and mortmass stocks in Mongun-Taiga mountain tundra-steppe ecosystems

The species composition and quantitative indicators of fractions aboveground and underground phytomass and mortmass of tundra-steppe ecosystems of the northern macroslope of the Mongun-Taiga Mountain. Steppe communities are submitted to such mountain-steppe species as Koeleria altaica, Bupleurum multinerve, Carex ediformis, Festuca kryloviana, Potentilla sericea, Artemisia commutata, Aster alpinus. Tundra formations are high-mountain meadow and tundra species Astragalus adsurgens, Oxytropis intermedia, Stellaria petraea, Festuca altaica u Artemisia frigida. The total stock of plant matter and the main stock of green phytomass are formed by the types of dominants, such as Oxytropis intermedia, Carex rupestris u Festuca altaica. The ecological interpretation of the values of species composition in the formation of stocks of plant matter and the features of the functioning of tundra-steppe ecosystems is presented on the basis of established values of the ratio of aboveground and underground phytomass and mortmass fractions.

New Olonbulukia material and its related assemblage reveal an early radiation of stem Caprini along the north of the Tibetan Plateau

AbstractLiving Caprini are dominant bovids in the pan-Tibetan area that are strongly adapted to dry steppe and high-mountain meadow habitats. Some taxa with Holarctic distributions, e.g., Ovis Linnaeus, 1758, were thought to originate on the Tibetan Plateau and subsequently dispersed elsewhere, which was depicted as an ‘out of Tibet’ story. However, except for some information on a stem caprine assemblage from the Qaidam Basin, the early evolution of Caprini around the Tibetan Plateau is poorly known. Here, we report new material of Olonbulukia tsaidamensis Bohlin, 1937, which was a member of this stem caprine assemblage, from the Wuzhong region, northern China, confirming the similarity of the Wuzhong Fauna and ‘Qaidam Fauna.’ Based on a biometric study of horncores from the ‘Qaidam’ and Wuzhong faunas, we recognize six taxa from this stem caprine assemblage: O. tsaidamensis, O. sp., Qurliqnoria cheni Bohlin, 1937, Tossunnoria pseudibex Bohlin, 1937, ?Protoryx cf. P. enanus Köhler, 1987, and cf. Pachytragus sp. Among these taxa, Q. cheni and T. pseudibex are probably related to some extant Tibetan endemic species, e.g., the Tibetan antelope, Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel, 1826), and the Himalayan tahr, Hemitragus jemlahicus (Smith, 1826). Others might be ancestral to the Turolian caprine assemblages and even possibly gave rise to the extant Caprina. This work reveals an early radiation of stem caprines along the northern side of the rising Tibetan Plateau and indicates a mixed pattern of pan-Tibetan stem caprine evolution prior to their dispersal out of the Tibetan Plateau.

Man-induced transformation of mountain meadow soils of Aragats mountain massif (Armenia)

The article considers issues of degradation of mountain meadow soils of the Aragats mountain massif of the Republic of Armenia and provides the averaged research results obtained for 2013 and 2014. The present research was initiated in the frames of long-term complex investigations of agroecosystems of Armenia’s mountain massifs and covered sod soils of high mountain meadow pasturelands and meadow steppe grasslands lying on southern slope of Mt. Aragats. With a purpose of studying the peculiarities of migration and transformation of flows of major nutrients namely carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus in study mountain meadow and meadow steppe belts of the Aragats massif we investigated water migration of chemical elements and regularities of their leaching depending on different belts. Field measurement data have indicated that organic carbon and humus in a heavily grazed plot are almost twice as low as on a control site. Lysimetric data analysis has demonstrated that heavy grazing and illegal deforestation have brought to an increase in intrasoil water acidity. The results generated from this research support a conclusion that a man’s intervention has brought to disturbance of structure and nutrient and water regimes of soils and loss of significant amounts of soil nutrients throughout the studied region.

Cyclopamine bioactivity by extraction method from Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum, commonly referred to as corn lily or Californian false hellebore, grows in high mountain meadows and produces the steroidal alkaloid cyclopamine, a potent inhibitor of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. The Hh pathway is a crucial regulator of many fundamental processes during vertebrate embryonic development. However, constitutive activation of the Hh pathway contributes to the progression of various cancers. In the present study, a direct correlation was made between the extraction efficiency for cyclopamine from root and rhizome by eight methods, and the associated biological activity in Shh-Light II cells using the Dual-Glo® Luciferase Assay System. Alkaloid recovery ranged from 0.39 to 8.03mg/g, with ethanol soak being determined to be the superior method for obtaining biologically active cyclopamine. Acidic ethanol and supercritical extractions yielded degraded or contaminated cyclopamine with lower antagonistic activity towards Hh signaling.

Dataset of Phenology of Mediterranean high-mountain meadows flora (Sierra Nevada, Spain).

Sierra Nevada mountain range (southern Spain) hosts a high number of endemic plant species, being one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean basin. The high-mountain meadow ecosystems (borreguiles) harbour a large number of endemic and threatened plant species. In this data paper, we describe a dataset of the flora inhabiting this threatened ecosystem in this Mediterranean mountain. The dataset includes occurrence data for flora collected in those ecosystems in two periods: 1988–1990 and 2009–2013. A total of 11002 records of occurrences belonging to 19 orders, 28 families 52 genera were collected. 73 taxa were recorded with 29 threatened taxa. We also included data of cover-abundance and phenology attributes for the records. The dataset is included in the Sierra Nevada Global-Change Observatory (OBSNEV), a long-term research project designed to compile socio-ecological information on the major ecosystem types in order to identify the impacts of global change in this area.

Controlling factors limiting timberline position and shifts in the Sudetes: A review

Three isolated massifs in the Sudetes, Central Europe, are elevated sufficiently high to allow for the development of the treeline ecotone. These are the Karkonosze/Krkonose in the West Sudetes and Hruby Jesenik and Masyw Śnieznika/Kralický Sněžnik in the East Sudetes. The upper limit of closed tree stands (i.e. timberline) is located at c. 1250 m a.s.l. on average in the Krkonose, but with significant variability spanning more than 500 m. In the East Sudetes the respective elevation is higher, above 1300 m a.s.l., and the variability is smaller. While temperature is the primary factor governing the uppermost tree stands, second-order climatic factors play an important role in shaping treeline ecotone position, particularly wind and snow accumulation patterns. Active surface processes such as debris flows and snow avalanches force the timberline to descend and account for its locally very irregular course. There is a history of long-term human impact on the position of the timberline, with its peak in the 17-19th centuries when high-mountain meadows were extensively used for grazing and haymaking. In the last century the overall trend of timberline ascent associated with abandonment of agricultural land and temperature rise has been interrupted by the episode of catastrophic forest decline due to air pollution.

The Impact of Summer Cattle Grazing on Surface Water Quality in High Elevation Mountain Meadows

Surface waters were tested before and after the arrival of cattle to summer grazing allotments for pathogenic bacteria indicators E. coli, fecal coliform bacteria, and total coliform bacteria in the high elevation mountains of the Stanislaus National Forest, California, USA. Water samples were collected from one control/ungrazed stream site and at four grazed stream sites before cattle grazing began and during the time when livestock were present. All sample sites were higher than 1900 meters in elevation. Samples were transported within 6 hours to a water analysis laboratory, where they were analyzed following standardized lab methods. Results showed that individual and average concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria in surface waters were below regulatory thresholds at the ungrazed site and at the grazed sites before cattle arrived. Mean fecal coliform concentration increased from 9 to 350 CFU/100 mL, and mean E. coli increased from 8 to 240 CFU/100 mL, respectively, after grazing. The increase in mean concentration of fecal coliform at each grazed site was significant (p<0.05). Total coliform bacteria and E. coli concentrations showed the same pattern. Cattle grazing in the sampled high elevation Sierra Nevada meadows resulted in a significant increase in indicator bacteria.

Soil nutrient elements of trampling disturbance Kobresia humilis communities along the highway in Na’qu, Tibet

The change of soil nutrient elements during restoration succession processes of high mountain meadow in Na’qu County, Tibet, was investigated. The results showed that with the trampling disturbance, the normal structure of soil is violated, soil quality worsened, leading to soil erosion and nutrient loss. The recoverage of soil is lagged behind vegetation when change depends on elements of soil nutrient increase in mass. The content of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium changed accordingly with total nutrient, and is remarkably correlated to the content of organic matter. The content of available phosphorus is complex and changes with biomass and soil pH. The content of available potassium change was different from that of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium, and was increasing with trampling, and the change was relatively little during successive stages.