Subalpine Belt Research Articles

Conditions for the development of the Pinus pumila zone of Hokkaido, northern Japan

The development of the Pinus pumila zone of Hokkaido, northern Japan is discussed on the basis of an examination of the Warmth Index (WI). The Pinus pumila zone is developed on deforested areas in the boreal subalpine belt, and is characterized by strong wind and heavy snow accumulation in winter, and by the presence of rocky fields. It is concluded that in Japan, including Hokkaido, this high mountain zone generally is intrazonal, belonging mainly to the subalpine belt, and that such zones are not common in Europe and North America. Its formation is due mainly to present-day wind, snow and substrate conditions and partly to conditions prevailing during the glacial period.

Swiss vegetation history during the last 18 000 years

summaryThis paper gives a detailed outline of Swiss vegetation history during the last 18 000 years. For each pollen zone, a map is given showing vegetation development from the late Würmian to the present. A concise historical review of the Swiss pollen analytical research during the last 60 years is presented is followed by some discussion of the central European glacial refugia. Based on a selection of over 100 pollen‐analytically investigated sites, the development of Swiss vegetation since the late Würmian can be presented as follows: Oldest Dryas. After the Wurm maximum the ice network melted back quickly to small mountain glaciers. At some localities, several types of an Artemisia‐Chenopodiaceae‐Jitniperus‐Ephedra‐Helianthemim Poaceae steppe/tundra have been recorded, representing an apparent uniformity over the whole Swiss area. Böiling Interstadial. This first, late Würmian, warm phase is characterized by the occurrence of Betula, Hippophaë, Juniperus, Ephedra and Salix. Older Dryas, Little evidence for this period has yet been found in Switzerland. Alleröd Interstadial. This marked warm phase led to a typical late Wiirmian reforestation, with both Betula and Pinus up to about 1200–1600 m above sea level. Younger Dryas. In the whole alpine area there is good evidence for this last, late Würmian climate deterioration, which led to renewed glacier activity and to an alpine timber‐line depression of 200–300 m. Preboreal. For the central Alps and the Prealps a wide occurrence of Pinus sylvestris/mugo, P. cembra, Larix and Betula has been recorded, whereas in southern Switzerland the first mixed oak forest developed. Boreal. Corytus and mixed oak forest spread in some cases rapidly over a wide area, chiefly in the Prealps, the Plateau, the Jura and in southern Switzerland. In the high mountains Pinus sylvestris/mugo, P. cembra and Larix still dominated. Older Atlantic. In both the Plateau and the Prealps, Corylus and mixed oak forest dominated, whereas in the continental Alps Pinus sylvestris/mugo, P. cembra and Betula grew with some elements of mixed oak forest. In the Orisons the immigration of Picea from east to west has been identified; in the eastern Prealps Abies spread. Younger Atlantic. This period is characterized by a first maximum of the timber‐line extension to an altitude of about 2300 m. The spread ot Fagus from west to east is seen. On both the montane and subalpine belt, first Abies and later Picea dominated. Picea immigration to the west continued. Subboreal. Until 3000 yr B. P. forest achieved its optimum development with a distribution up lo 2000 m above sea level. In both the Plateau and the Jura the major spread of Fagus took place in this period. Picea now reached southwestern Jura and even the Lake Geneva region. Subatlantic. This period is characterized by man's influence on the vegetation. According to the evidence of both pollen analysis and archaeology, the first anthropogenic influences on Swiss vegetation took place between 6000 and 4500 yr B.P. In the anthropogenic timber‐line belt secondary forests of Belula, Alnus and Pinus formed. On the southern alpine border, the Romans introduced Castanea, whereas on the Plateau Picea, Abies and Pinus have been planted.

Holocene history of the forest–alpine tundra ecotone in the Scandes Mountains (central Sweden)

The Holocene history of the forest-alpine tundra ecotone in Central Sweden (Scandes Mountains) is inferred from radiocarbon analyses of subfossil wood remains. Pinus sylvestris was the dominant subalpine tree species during the early Holocene, when it ascended almost 200 m higher than currently. A short climatic episode (less than 100 years) is postulated to have triggered erosional processes around 6300 n.p., and extinguished the upper part of the subalpine pine woodland. Subsequently, a subalpine belt of Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa and Alnus incana developed. A Holocene thermal optimum occurred around 6100 b.p., when the birch/alder belt nourished and the tree-limits probably reached their highest levels during the Holocene. Shortly after 6000 b.p., a long-term pine forest retrogression started and the birch/alder belt was disrupted by expanding snow-beds. Pine receded slightly at its tree-limit, but the uppermost belt of closed pine forest (presently dominated by birch) remained intact until c. 3300 b.p., when a severe climatic deterioration occurred. The present-day subalpine belt of pure birch forest developed successively and increased in vertical extent after c. 5300 b.p., when summer temperature declined. The evolution of the birch belt is postulated to have been ultimately a response to decreased seasonally, which favoured birch at the expense of pine. Because of the 'inertia' characterizing the highest pine forest, the birch belt was relatively narrow until a major thermal decline e. 3300 b.p., when it made a massive downslope expansion. The latest phase of pine recession was during the Little Ice Age, 800-300 b.p.

Der anthropogene Einfluß in der Puna-Region Zentralperus )

After a short phytosociological comparison of the plant communities with the plantgeographical formations the anthropozoogenic influence of the high Andean vegetation of Central Peru is discussed. With the exception of few plant communities (e.g. of the subnival belt or some bogs) most plant communities in the high Andean region are influenced by man. The most important factors, which determine the vegetation, are the overpasture, the employment of fire, the erosion of soils (caused by human activity), the wood-cutting, the irrigation, the sowing of European pasture-plants etc. As original vegetation in the subalpine belt a evergreen bush, in the alpine belt a treeless grassland is supposed.

Environmental Impact in the Afroalpine and Subalpine Belts of Mount Kenya, East Africa

The Afroalpine and subalpine environments (Hagenia Woodland and Bamboo Forest belts) are continually affected by the movements of large animals such as elephant (Loxodonta africana), buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer), small animals such as hyrax ( Procavia johnstoni mackinderi), groove-toothed rat (Otomys orestes orestes), and man. Elephant and buffalo herds and colonies of hyrax and groovetoothed rats range over most of the mountain, whereas human activities tend to be limited primarily to the western approaches and particularly the Teleki Valley and the Sirimon Track. In this paper some of the pristine landforms and soils are described and assessed, and current activities which threaten the environment are discussed and evaluated. Aside from minor amounts of littering and heavy use of wood for fires, the most important impact comes from the foot traffic of tourists and climbers, and the continual pressure placed on herds of large animals by an expanding human population. In an Appendix observations on vegetation cropping by the hyrax and groove-toothed rat are reported. These animals preferred grass and sedge species and the loss of plant cover may affect various geomorphological processes. RESUME Impact sur l'environnement dans les ceintures afroalpine et subalpine du Mont Kenya, Afrique de l'est. Les environnements afroalpin et subalpin (ceintures de for~ts d'Hagenia et for~ts de bambou) sont continuellement affectfs par les d6placements de gros animaux tels que l'6lphant (Loxodonta africana) et le buffle (Syncerus caffer caffer), de petits animaux tels que le daman ( Procaviajohnstoni mackinderi) et le rat B dentition stride (Otomys orestes orestes), et des humains. Les troupeaux d'6lphants, les bandes de buffles, et les colonies de damans et de rats se dfplacent presque partout alors que les activitfs humaines sont restreintes aux voies d'acchs ouest, en particulier la vall6e de Teleki et la piste Sirimnon. Cet article identifie et d~crit un certain nombre de configurations et de sols primitifs, et examine et v es werden gegenwartige, umweltschaiidigende Aktivitiiten diskutiert und bewertet. Die gr6fte Belastung, abgesehen von geringen Abfallmengen und grofem Feuerholzbedarf, entsteht durch Trittbeeintriichtigung von Touristen und Bergsteigern, und die wachsende Bevdlkerungszahl fibt stindigen Druck auf die GroStierherden aus. Im Anhang werden Beobachtungen fiber die Vegetationsvernichtung durch die Klippschliefer und Kerbzahnratte beschrieben. Diese Tiergruppen fra1len Gras und Segge, und die Zerst6rung der Vegetationsdecke kann viele geomorphologische Vorginge beeinflussen.

Zoogeographical Studies on Fennoscandian Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

Forty species of stoneflies, belonging to seven different families, occur in Fennoscandia. In Norway all these families are represented in the inner fjord areas and in the continental lowland. The highest number of species are found in continental areas subject to a wide annual amplitude in temperature and the lowest number in coastal areas with a small temperature amplitude. In Fennoscandia the highest number of different stonefly species have been recorded from areas north of the polar circle and in the continental parts of the boreal and subalpine vegetation belts. The lowest number have been recorded from the coastal areas and on the islands. The former is due to the strong represen- tation of north-eastern species, as exemplified by the genus Nemoura, and the latter phenomenon is also due to special ecological factors. Predatory species are sparsely distributed in the coastal areas in southern Fennoscandia and are absent from islands such as Gotland, Oland and Bornholm. They are commonest at high altitudes and latitudes, being especially abundant in the northernmost parts of Norway, such as the areas close to the North Cape. The herbivorous species of the genus Amphinemura are especially abundant in south-western Norway, also to some extent in the east. Capnia species are most abundant at high altitudes and latitudes and is sparsely distributed in southern Fennoscandia. In northern Norway, Nemoura species are often the most abun- dant herbivores, while N. cinerea is the most successful species in the coastal areas and on islands such as Oland and Gotland. One or two Leuctra species seem to be abundant in most parts of Fennoscandia. The individual stonefly species show local differences in distribution, largely due to differences in dura- tion of their egg incubation periods and in the growth rates of the nymphs.

Larval and pupal descriptions of Asynarchus contumax McLachlan, 1880 and A. lapponicus Zetterstedt, 1840, with notes on bionomics in Centr. Norway (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

AbstractThe larva and pupa of Asynarchus contumax are described for the first time, and compared with these of A. lapponicus. The two species live in temporary and permanent pools and have one year life cycles. Emergence and flight periods of both species were restricted to late June and early July in a pool with a short drying-up period. The flight period of A. lapponicus in a permanent pool was from early July to early September. A. lapponiclls was the dominant species in pools above the tree line, in the 1ow alpine belt, whiter, contumax was dominant in the sub-alpine belt. Neither species had an imaginal diapause. The active life of A. lapponicus and A. contumax, e.g. larval growth, pupation, emergence, mating, egg maturation, and oviposition, lasted 3-5 months, and 7-9 months were passed in a passive stage, probably inside the gelatinous matrix. The egg-masses laid on dry ground in basins during July-August were exposed to air temperatures of -20 to -30°C in late autumn in 1979, but larval hatching was normal next spring.

The Vegetation of Mount Iide, as Representative of Mountains with Heavy Snowfall in Japan

The vegetation on the eastern side of the island of Honshu, Japan, differs greatly from that on the Sea of Japan side where the prevailing northwest winds in winter bring much heavier snowfall. The vegetation on Mount Iide on the windward side was studied in detail. The Fagus crenata forest, the climatic climax forest of the montane belt, is restricted to level areas, moderate slopes, and wide ridges. Steep slopes facing southeast on the leeside are exposed to frequent avalanches and are not forested; scrub vegetation which can withstand avalanching is characteristic. The montane vegetation of Mount Iide can be differentiated into several plant communities related to topography. In the subalpine area there are no coniferous forests except for a few small stands of Tsuga diversifolia. Above the upper limit of the Fagus crenata forest, deciduous broadleaf scrubs and including Acer tsconoskii, Sorbus commixta, Quercus mongolica var. undulatifolia, and Sasa kurilensis scrub; several types of snow-patch meadows are common in nivation hollows. In Japan the subalpine belt with scrub vegetation with no conspicuous coniferous forest has been called the pseudo-subalpine zone.

Further data on the climate of the Alpine Vegetation Belt of eastern Lesotho

Rainfall data from 31 stations in the Alpine Vegetation Belt of eastern Lesotho, together with temperature, relative humidity and evaporation data from Letseng-la-Draai are presented and discussed, and comparisons, where possible, are made with data from Mokhotlong in the Subalpine Belt.

Altitudinal Vegetation Belts of Japan with Special Reference to Climatic Conditions

The altitudinal vegetation belts of Japan are divided into four: (1) the hilly belt, (2) the montane belt, (3) the subalpine belt, and (4) the alpine belt. In Central Japan, the montane belt occurs between elevations of 500 to 1500 m, the subalpine belt, between 1500 to 2500 m, and the alpine belt, over 2500 m. In winter, the Japan Sea side of the islands has heavy snow accumulation in contrast to the Pacific side which is snow-free. The effects of

The Timberline and the Subalpine Belt in the Caucasus Mountains, USSR

The timberline of the Caucasus Mountains has been differentially affected by anthropogenic processes, becoming increasingly lower towards the east and the south. This is because the natural characteristics of the subalpine belt were more favorable to nomadic and seminomadic cattle grazing with increasing continentality of climate. Preservation of even small sections of the natural timberline is extremely rare in the eastern Caucasus, while relatively undisturbed natural ecosystems are much more common in the subalpine belt of the western Caucasus. Anthropogenic effects have increased the predominance of grassy vegetation in this belt which now includes many meadow formations of long-standing hemixerophyllous, and subalpine, tall grass formations. Timberline today varies in altitude between

The Timberline and the Subalpine Belt in the Caucasus Mountains, USSR

The Timberline and the Subalpine Belt in the Caucasus Mountains, USSR

Ecosystem Processes in a Stand of Pinus mugo Turra I. Standing Crop, Dry Matter Production and Litter Fall

The shrub of Pinus mugo Turra luxury developes in high montains and subalpine belt of the Romanian Carpathians (1500–2200 m) forming compact plant communities on large areas. In our estimation the total aerial biomass is of 74.7 t/ha and the subterrain biomass is of 110.9 t/ha dry material. The aerial production of a primary ecosystem of Pinus mugo is of 6.7 t/ha/year dry material, being 4 times higher than the production of a secondary Nardus sticta grassland. The total quantity of the litter occurring yearly on the soil of Pinus mugo vegetation amounts to 2.6 t/ha/year, representing al-. most half of the annual production of this ecosystem

Upper Forest Boundary and the Subalpine Belt in the Mountains of the Southern USSR and Adjacent Countries

Upper Forest Boundary and the Subalpine Belt in the Mountains of the Southern USSR and Adjacent Countries

Plant succession on Greywacke gravel and scree in the Subalpine Belt in Canterbury, New Zealand

Summary Transects to measure changes in plant cover over a 10-year period were laid out on recently deposited river gravel and along the margins of a scree. On the former, Epilobium melanocaulon and the mat plant Raoulia tenuicaulis increased most rapidly and provided most of the cover. Under most circumstances, much slower-growing but longer-living species could be expected to replace these pioneers to form a stony herbfield, although in this particular instance the presence of seedlings of Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides indicator that the succession would be to beech forest. Margins between scree and stable vegetation proved to be remarkably permanent, although in most of the transects there was a transitional zone with a sparse cover of rhizomatous plants, usually Muehlenbeckia axillaris. The largest linear gain by vegetation at the expense of scree (19 cm) was by the prostrate shrub Podocarpus nivalis.

Biological flora of New Zealand 5. Olearia colensoi Hook.f. (Compositae) Leatherwood, Tupari

Summary Olearia colensoi is a tall shrub which is extensively dominant in the subalpine belt in high-rainfall areas, occurring mainly on the axial ranges of the North Island, the westernmost ranges of the South Island, and on Stewart Island. It includes the varieties colensoi north of lat. 43 °S, and argentea to the south. This paper gives information relevant to its ecology, a distribution map based on its presence or absence in grid squares, discussion of its geographic variation, and bibliographic references to other information. The very distinct O. colensoi var. grandis of the Stewart Island coast and neighbouring islands, which is probably conspecific with O. lyallii of the Snares and Auckland Islands, is considered only so far as is necessary to compare its morphology and ecology with those of the other varieties.

Subarctic and Subalpine: Where and What?

A review is given of the origin, history, and use of the terms subarctic and subalpine. It is suggested that North American scientists join in the European trend towards a standardization of the nomenclature for latitudinal zones and altitudinal belts. The subarctic zone and the subalpine belt are redefined as covering the forest-tundra ecotone at high latitudes and

Significance of xeromorphic features in humid subalpine environments in New Zealand

In the vegetation of New Zealand, xeromorphic characters of various kinds are present to an extent that seems out of keeping with the predominantly moist, mild climates. The subalpine belt in the North Island, west of the Main Divide in the South Island, and in Stewart Island surely experiences one of the wettest and cloudiest climates in the world, yet even here there is a predominance of plants with features that would generally be regarded as xeromorphic. This leads mc to suggest that at least some of these features have evolved, not in response to drought, but in response to the need to make the most effective use of radiant energy received in short spells of fine weather. This hypothesis is developed as a corollary to the principle, clearly described by Gates (1965), that direct solar radiation warms a leaf until it reaches a temperature at which incoming heat is balanced by release of heat through re-radiation, convection from both surfaces of the leaf, and loss of latent heat in transpiration. The ...

From Field and Study

A Nesting Census from the Subalpine Belt of Colorado Get access Tom C. McHugh Tom C. McHugh 17004 Lakewood Heights Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Condor, Volume 50, Issue 5, 1 September 1948, Pages 227–228, https://doi.org/10.2307/1364544 Published: 01 September 1948