Expected changes in the floristic structure of hygro-cryophilic and snowbed plant communities from the Romanian Carpathians, caused by climate change and human impact

In the Romanian Carpathians, there are only 6 massifs where glacial forms (valleys and cirques) occupy sufficiently large areas to support typical high altitude wetlands and snowbed vegetation. We have analyzed 424 releves with this type of vegetation published in Romanian literature in the past century from these massifs. The cryophilic vegetation was grouped in 17 plant associations, 4 alliances and 3 Natura 2000 habitats. A total of 150 subalpine-alpine plant species (11 endemic) were registered in these communities (27% of the total 550 high mountain taxa found in the entire Romanian Carpathian range). Future scenarios for the glacial landforms of the Carpathians suggest a temperature increase of about 2.5 o C in 2050 and 3 o C in 2070. Species adapted to cool humid environments (Soldanella rugosa, Soldanella pusilla, Lychnis nivalis, Carex lachenalis, Chrysosplenium alpinum, Carex nigra subsp. dacica, Carex pyrenaica, Carex bicolor, Juncus castaneus, Juncus triglumis, Plantago gentianoides) are the most exposed to the threat of climate warming, as the disappearance of their typical habitat would mean extinction. Aside from the endemic flora, other cryophilic alpine taxa are also threatened. Natura 2000 habitats typical to these landforms (6150, 7240* and 3220) are being monitored in all 6 massifs, but there are no current administrative measures to monitor the presence of cryophilic species or plans to place glacial landforms under strict protection (IUCN category 1a), measures needed as human impact is more and more present at high altitudes.