Whoever spends time in the mountains still sees lush meadows and colourful flowers. But Europe’s plant life is already changing in the background — quietly, but profoundly. Cold-adapted species are disappearing, and this is happening particularly fast on mountain peaks.
A new study published in the journal Nature shows how differently Europe’s ecosystems are responding to rising temperatures. It was initiated at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research in Leipzig (iDiv). Scientists from Leipzig University, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Senckenberg Institute for Plant Diversity Jena were also involved. The study does not just offer snapshots: it is based on long-term observations from across Europe.
Mountain peaks are changing the fastest
These changes are particularly pronounced in the mountains. On mountain peaks, plant communities are changing about five times faster than in meadows and forests. Cold-loving species are declining especially quickly there, while warmth-loving species are hardly increasing. More generally, plant communities in all the habitats studied are responding more slowly to warming than temperatures are rising. This delay was most pronounced among plants growing beneath the forest canopy.
The study does not explain in detail why individual ecosystems respond so differently. But it clearly shows that the effects of warming do not unfold in the same way everywhere. Depending on the ecosystem, the pace of change varies considerably. For researchers, this is an important indication that the consequences of climate change do not follow the same pattern across all landscapes.
