Changes in the Altitudinal Distribution of Alpine Plants in Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Central Altai) Revealed on the Basis of Multiyear Monitoring Data

Abstract

In order to reveal climate-related changes in the plant diversity of alpine ecosystems in recent decades, a target region of the GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) worldwide network consisting of four mountain summits representing an elevation gradient from the subalpine to the upper part of alpine ecotone (2181, 2231, 2358, and 2475 m above sea level) has been established in Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Russia, Central Altai). In the course of the observation period (2005–2015), species in the target region have shifted towards higher altitudes by 5.3 m on average. The plant species richness has increased on the three higher summits and decreased on the lowest summit.