The slide deck for Dr. Christophe Randin's lecture to LAS students on LETS Day, 2 October 2015, just before they fanned out across the hillside for their research.

1. Why ecological studies in mountain
regions?
Dr. Christophe RANDIN
Leysin, October 2 2015 - LAS

2. Variation of elevation
= changes in climate condition = changes in species composition + diversity of habitats
Photo: C.Randin
Why are mountain ecosystems so important?

3. Elevation
Photo: P. Vittoz and C.Randin

4. http://www.leysin-commune.ch
Leysin 1350 m  Top of Tour d’Aï 2330 m
Almost 1000 m vertical
Forecasted temperature in Leysin (8-10 am) : 6.4 – 9.2 °C
Temperature on the top of Tour d’Aï? 0.9 – 3.7 °C

5. Temperature shows similar trends with elevation and latitude
(a) (b)
ΔΤ of 10°C : Δlatitude = 1800 km ~ Δelevation = 2500
m
Scandinavia Eastern Swiss Alps
Harbritter et al., 2013

6. Why are mountain ecosystems so important?
Mountains create their own climate!
Photo: C. Randin

8. Photos: C.Randin
Why are mountain ecosystems so important?
Mountains are Islands in the Sky

9. Systems ± connected
High endemism = Species Factories
Cold adapted species
Exposed to climate warming
Why are mountain ecosystems so important?
Mountains are Islands in the Sky

10. Why are mountain ecosystems so important?
Photo: C.Randin &M. Wilhelm

11. http://www.leysin-commune.ch

12. Photo: C.Randin

13. Photo: C.Randin
The treeline ecotone

14. Körner, C. & Paulsen, J. (2004) A world-wide study of high altitude treeline temperatures. Journal of Biogeography, 31, 713-732.
Photo: C.Randin

15. Aeschimann D, Burdet H (1994) Flore de la Suisse et des territoires limitrophes, le nouveau Binz. 2ndedition, Editions du Griffon, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Theurillat JP (1991) Les étages de végétation dans les Alpes centrales occidentales (Vegetationlevels in the western Central Alps). Saussurea, 22. 103-147.

16. Gran Sasso, Italy (42° N)Tromsø, Norway (70° N) Chimborazo, Equateur (0°)
> 300 m a.s.l. > 2600 m a.s.l. > 4000 m a.s.l.
Photos: C.Randin

17. Photo: C.Randin
Stone pine on the Clochers
d’Arpette – 2800 m

18. Predicted treeline shift for the XXIst century
Actuelle: ~2250 m
2050: ~3500 m
2030: ~2700 m

19. Trees on the top of Mt Blanc?
Photo: C.Randin

20. Photo: C.Randin
Above the treeline?

21. Scherrer, D. & Koerner, C. (2010) Infra-red thermometry of alpine landscapes challenges climatic warming projections. Global Change Biology, 16, 2602-2613.
Scherrer, D. & Korner, C. (2011) Topographically controlled thermal-habitat differentiation buffers alpine plant diversity against climate warming. Journal of
Biogeography, 38, 406-416.

22. Forts contrastes de versant!
3. Le climat de l’étage alpin
Körner, C. (2003) Alpine plant life, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin.
Photo: C.Randin

23. Topographic factors
Photos: C.Randin

24. (Loiseleuria procumbens)

25. Photos: C.Randin

26. Körner, C. (2003) Alpine plant life, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin.

27. (Salix reticulata)
Photos: C.Randin & M.Wilhelm

28. Photo: C.RandinRebetez and Reinhard (2007) Theoretical and Applied Climatology
The starting point
(It’s Getting Hot In
Here!)
Château-d’Oex – Western Swiss Alps
Northern
hemisphere
Temperature anomalies for the 20st century
1.5
Switzerland
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000

29. Thank you for your attention!