High-Altitude Ecosystems under Global Change: Biodiversity, Refugia, and Conservation Strategies

High-altitude ecosystems represent some of the most climate-sensitive environments worldwide. Alpine and subalpine grasslands, montane wetlands, and summit systems host unique assemblages of endemic and relict amphibian and reptile species shaped by complex biogeographic histories, including their role as glacial refugia. These habitats are currently experiencing accelerated warming rates, leading to range shifts, habitat contraction, altered phenology, and increasing fragmentation.

In addition to climate change, land-use dynamics, particularly the abandonment or intensification of traditional grazing and agricultural practices, are reshaping ecological equilibria that have persisted for centuries. These systems are logistically challenging to study and remain underrepresented in long-term monitoring efforts, despite their high conservation value.

This Research Topic aims to collect quantitative, spatially explicit, and management-oriented contributions addressing biodiversity patterns, ecological processes, and conservation strategies in high-altitude systems.

Topics of Interest (non-exhaustive):

- Biogeography and macroecological patterns of endemic, rare, or threatened high-altitude species of amphibians and reptiles

- High-altitude ecosystems as glacial refugia: phylogeographic and evolutionary perspectives

- Climate and land-use change impacts on alpine and subalpine biodiversity

- Species distribution modelling (SDMs), connectivity modelling, and landscape analyses

- Remote sensing applications for monitoring mountain ecosystems

- Effects of grazing, pastoralism, and land abandonment

- Management and restoration strategies for high-altitude ecosystems

- Role of Protected Areas and OECMs in mountain conservation

- Case studies of conservation success or failure

-Integration of SDG 13 and SDG 15 into mountain biodiversity governance

If you are interested in submitting or have any questions please contact the journal email: amphibianandreptilescience@frontiersin.org

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

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Article types

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

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Alpine Biodiversity, Climate Change Impacts, High-Altitude Ecosystems, Glacial Refugia, Land-Use Dynamics, Species Distribution Modelling (SDMs), Mountain Biogeography, Endemic Species, Conservation Management, Remote Sensing Applications

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.