Moss and vascular plant cover across elevational gradients in a changing alpine climate
Abstract
Mosses are foundational members of alpine plant communities but are often excluded from vegetation monitoring. In this study, I surveyed moss and vascular plant cover across five alpine ridges near Gothic, Colorado to understand how environmental variables shape moss abundance. I analyzed vegetation composition using data and related moss prevalence to elevation, slope, wetness, and climate trends. Moss presence was low across all sites, with most quadrats containing less than 5% moss cover. Wetness emerged as the strongest predictor of moss prevalence, with slope and elevation also influencing patterns in combination. Moss response to climate change was site-specific: rates of change in growing degree days and snowpack persistence over the past 2-3 decades showed inconsistent effects, with only one site (Crystal) showing a positive relationship between warming and moss prevalence. These findings suggest mosses occupy a narrow and shifting niche in alpine habitats, shaped by fine-scale topography and moisture availability. The patchy, low-cover distributions documented here highlight the need for continued monitoring of mosses in alpine climate change research.
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