Global evidence that cold rocky landforms support icy springs in warming mountains

• Autores: Brighenti, Stefano; Millar, Constance; Hotaling, Scott; Reato, Agustina; Wiegand, Tim; Hayashi, Masaki; Carturan, Luca; Morriss, Matthew; Bearzot, Francesca; Lencioni, Valeria; Scotti, Alberto; Janicke, Andrina; Fischer, Melina Andrea; Larsen, Stefano; Benech, Andrea; Gschwentner, Andreas; Tolotti, Monica; Bruno, Maria Cristina; Finn, Debra S.; Freppaz, Michele; Herbst, David; Tronstad, Lusha; Comiti, Francesco; Colombo, Nicola
• Año de publicación: 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: icy seeps; ice-embedded moraine; talus; coarse blocky surface; surface; ice-rock features; climate change; cold habitat
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Climate change is reducing the extent of cold aquatic habitats and their unique biodiversity in mountain areas. However, a variety of cold rocky landforms (CRLs) are thermally buffered and feed cold springs (< 2°C) that may represent climate refugia for cold-adapted organisms. These landforms, hitherto overlooked by freshwater research, include rock glaciers, debris-covered glaciers, talus slopes, protalus ramparts, and young moraines. Here, we investigated the warm-season water temperature of 228 springs from clean (ice) glaciers, CRLs, and reference slopes (not sourced by any of these features) in 13 mountain ranges of Europe, South America, and North America. Only springs from glaciers (90%) and CRLs (45%) had average stream temperatures below the thermal optimum for coldwater organisms of 2°C. Springs fed by CRLs were 3-5°C (up to 9°C) colder than those from nearby reference slopes. In general, cold springs were rarer in mediterranean/semi-arid climates than in temperate and sub-polar climates. Landforms comprising barren and coarse rocky surfaces or ice/rock mix, having a simple or absent soil/vegetation structure, and higher likelihood of permafrost more often supported cold springs. When water temperatures were compared to air temperature, most CRL springs were thermally buffered against warm periods, cumulative heat, and daily temperature fluctuations. With cold conditions maintained in a variety of climates and mountain landscapes, CRL springs in mountains likely have high conservation value. We call for integrated ecological and hydrological research for these ecosystems, aimed at understanding their potential as climate refugia.
Fil: Brighenti, Stefano. Eco Research; Italia. Free University of Bolzano; Italia
Fil: Millar, Constance. United States Department of Agriculture; Estados Unidos
Fil: Hotaling, Scott. State University of Utah; Estados Unidos
Fil: Reato, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica; Argentina
Fil: Wiegand, Tim. University of Wuerzburg; Alemania
Fil: Hayashi, Masaki. University of Calgary; Canadá
Fil: Carturan, Luca. Università di Padova; Italia
Fil: Morriss, Matthew. Utah Geological Survey; Estados Unidos
Fil: Bearzot, Francesca. University of Calgary; Canadá
Fil: Lencioni, Valeria. Muse-museo Delle Scienze; Italia
Fil: Scotti, Alberto. Apem Ltd.; Reino Unido
Fil: Janicke, Andrina. Institute For Interdisciplinary Mountain Research ; Austrian Academy Of Sciences;
Fil: Fischer, Melina Andrea. Institute For Interdisciplinary Mountain Research ; Austrian Academy Of Sciences; . Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Larsen, Stefano. Research And Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach,; Italia
Fil: Benech, Andrea. University Of Turin; Italia
Fil: Gschwentner, Andreas. Institute For Interdisciplinary Mountain Research ; Austrian Academy Of Sciences;
Fil: Tolotti, Monica. Research And Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach; Italia
Fil: Bruno, Maria Cristina. Research And Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach; Italia
Fil: Finn, Debra S.. Missouri State University; Estados Unidos
Fil: Freppaz, Michele. University Of Turin; Italia
Fil: Herbst, David. Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Tronstad, Lusha. University Of Wyoming (uw);
Fil: Comiti, Francesco. Università di Padova; Italia
Fil: Colombo, Nicola. University Of Turin; Italia