Earth and Planetary Sciences
4 years ago

Climate change pushing forest-steppe ecotone downward, threatening biodiversity and habitats.

Forests
Climate-Driven Holocene Migration of Forest-Steppe Ecotone in the Tien Mountains
Ying Cheng, Hongyan Liu, Hongya Wang, Qian Hao, Yue Han, Keqin Duan, Zhibao Dong

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Climate change affects the forest-steppe ecotone in arid mountain areas. By studying pollen diversity in the Tien Mountains, researchers found that the forest-steppe ecotone moved in response to climate change during the Holocene period. Warmer and wetter conditions led to the expansion of the forest belt, while colder and wetter climates caused it to move downward. Moisture loss poses a significant threat to the narrow forest-steppe ecotone. Temperature and moisture together influence the forest belt change, determining the migration of the forest-steppe ecotone.