Periglacial microclimate in low-altitude scree slopes supports relict biodiversity

• Published in: Journal of Natural History
• Main Authors: Růžička, V. (Vlastimil), Zacharda, M., Němcová, L., Šmilauer, P., Nekola, J. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: periglacial microclimate; habitat islands; arthropods; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2012.707248; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0211428

Air circulation through talus slopes creates unique microclimates, with some of the most interesting being low elevation mid-latitude scree in areas with frequent snow-free <0°C (eg. “black frost”) days that allow for development of year-round ice accumulations. Here, we document this phenomenon on Kamenec Hill in North Bohemia (Czech Republic) located at an altitude of 330 m a.s.l., where mean annual temperatures under 0°C are maintained in a narrow strip along the slope’s lower margin. This microhabitat, as well as intersticial spaces between scree blocks elsewhere on this slope, supports an important assemblage of boreal and/or arctic bryophytes, pteridophytes and arthropods that are disjunct from their normal ranges far to the north. This freezing scree slope represents a classic example of a paleorefugium that significantly contributes to protection and maintenance of regional landscape biodiversity.