Impacts and Adaptations in Montane Ecosystems Facing Climate Change

Montane ecosystems are unique environments characterized by their varied climatic gradients and specialized habitats, making them particularly sensitive to climate change. These ecosystems are crucial due to their high biodiversity, including numerous endemic species. Recent changes in global climate, such as increased temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and altered seasonal cycles are posing severe threats to the biodiversity in these regions. The repercussions include shifts in habitats, changes in species distributions, and a potential loss in biodiversity, which needs urgent and comprehensive research.

This Research Topic aims to provide an extensive examination of the effects of climate change on montane ecosystems and explore adaptive strategies that could mitigate these impacts. The focus will be on understanding how alterations in temperature and precipitation affect montane biodiversity, examining phenological shifts and their consequences on ecosystem dynamics, and investigating the potential for genetic and phenotypic adaptations among mountain species.

To gather further insights in these specific dynamics within montane regions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-Impact of temperature and precipitation changes on montane ecosystems
-Species range shifts due to climatic changes
-Phenological adjustments in flora and fauna and their impact on interspecies relationships
-Effects of habitat and ecosystem fragmentation on biodiversity
-Effectiveness of ecological corridors and other conservation strategies
-Genetic adaptations in montane species to evolving climate conditions
-Resilience of montane ecosystems to climatic stressors
-Adaptive management practices and policy adaptations for conservation
-Case studies from diverse montane regions on local climate change impacts and responses
-Importance and strategies of long-term ecological monitoring

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Climate Change, Montane Biodiversity, Mountain Ecosystems, Climatic Gradients, Global Warming, Precipitation Patterns, Seasonal Cycles, Endemic Species, Species Interactions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.