Summary
This systematic review synthesises evidence from long-term monitoring and published studies in the European Alps to quantify how climate warming since 1970 has driven phenological and elevational shifts across biodiversity. Terrestrial insects and reptiles show the most pronounced earlier spring activity (−5.7 to −6.0 days per decade), whilst plants show intermediate shifts (−2.4 to −2.8 days per decade). Plant, animal and fungal species have shifted their elevational optima upslope at comparable rates of +18–25 metres per decade, indicating systematic range redistribution across the Alpine system.
Regional applicability
The findings are directly applicable to understanding climate-driven biodiversity changes in European mountain systems, including the UK Lake District, Scottish Highlands and Welsh mountains, where similar phenological and elevational responses are likely occurring. However, the review focuses on Alpine ecology; direct transferability to lower British uplands requires assessment of local climate gradients and species ranges.
Key measures
Spring phenological shift rates (days per decade); elevational range shift rates (metres per decade); temperature increase rate (°C per decade)
Outcomes reported
The review synthesised long-term monitoring data on spring phenological shifts and elevational distribution changes across plants, animals and fungi in the European Alps. It quantified rates of earlier spring activity and upslope elevational shifts across multiple taxonomic groups over four decades of climate warming.
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