Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type
determined by topography and climate

J 2016

Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate

HAIS, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Michal HORSÁK

Basic information

Original name

Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate

Authors

HAIS, Martin (203 Czech Republic), Milan CHYTRÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Michal HORSÁK (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Arid Environments, 2016, 0140-1963

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.835

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00088190

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.011

UT WoS

000387836500010

Keywords in English

Dry continental climate; Effective topographic heterogeneity; Environmental heterogeneity; Forest-steppe; Siberia; Topography

Abstract

V originále

Topographic heterogeneity under dry continental climate can create a landscape mosaic called “exposure-related forest-steppe”, characterized by a regular pattern of forest on the north- and steppe on the south-facing slopes. Here we identify the climatic and topographic determinants of this landscape type, using a model of the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia because they (1) contain large areas of foreststeppe together with forested and steppe landscapes, and (2) possess well-preserved natural land-cover. Based on the Landsat land-cover classification and digital elevation model we identified areas containing exposure-related forest-steppe and modeled their climatic and topographic thresholds using regression trees. The models showed that in the Altai exposure-related forest-steppe is most common in topographically heterogeneous areas with MayeSeptember precipitation of 226e377 mm and a mean July temperature of 13.8e15.6 _C. Its existence is jointly determined by hilly topography and a climate that is moist enough to support tree growth on north-facing slopes, but insufficiently so to support woodland development on south-facing slopes. This is consistent with the concept of effective topographic heterogeneity, suggesting that topographic heterogeneity on the landscape level is translated into high habitat diversity and species diversity only within a certain range of climatic conditions.

Links

GAP504/11/0454, research and development project

Name: Změny biodiverzity na přechodu pleistocénu a holocénu: současné analogie v reliktních ekosystémech Sibiře

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

HAIS, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Michal HORSÁK. Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate. Journal of Arid Environments. 2016, vol. 135, December, p. 75-84. ISSN 0140-1963. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.011.

@article{1355415,
   author = {Hais, Martin and Chytrý, Milan and Horsák, Michal},
   article_number = {December},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.011},
   keywords = {Dry continental climate; Effective topographic heterogeneity; Environmental heterogeneity; Forest-steppe; Siberia; Topography},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0140-1963},
   journal = {Journal of Arid Environments},
   title = {Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate},
   url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316301537},
   volume = {135},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1355415
AU  - Hais, Martin - Chytrý, Milan - Horsák, Michal
PY  - 2016
TI  - Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate
JF  - Journal of Arid Environments
VL  - 135
IS  - December
SP  - 75-84
EP  - 75-84
SN  - 01401963
KW  - Dry continental climate
KW  - Effective topographic heterogeneity
KW  - Environmental heterogeneity
KW  - Forest-steppe
KW  - Siberia
KW  - Topography
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196316301537
N2  - Topographic heterogeneity under dry continental climate can create a landscape mosaic called “exposure-related forest-steppe”, characterized by a regular pattern of forest on the north- and steppe on the south-facing slopes. Here we identify the climatic and topographic determinants of this landscape type, using a model of the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia because they (1) contain large areas of foreststeppe together with forested and steppe landscapes, and (2) possess well-preserved natural land-cover. Based on the Landsat land-cover classification and digital elevation model we identified areas containing exposure-related forest-steppe and modeled their climatic and topographic thresholds using regression trees. The models showed that in the Altai exposure-related forest-steppe is most common in topographically heterogeneous areas with MayeSeptember precipitation of 226e377 mm and a mean July temperature of 13.8e15.6 _C. Its existence is jointly determined by hilly topography and a climate that is moist enough to support tree growth on north-facing slopes, but insufficiently so to support woodland development on south-facing slopes. This is consistent with the concept of effective topographic heterogeneity, suggesting that topographic heterogeneity on the landscape level is translated into high habitat diversity and species diversity only within a certain range of climatic conditions.
ER  -

HAIS, Martin, Milan CHYTRÝ and Michal HORSÁK. Exposure-related forest-steppe: a diverse landscape type determined by topography and climate. \textit{Journal of Arid Environments}. 2016, vol.~135, December, p.~75-84. ISSN~0140-1963. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.08.011.

Detailed Information on Publication Record