Baseline for climate change impacts on biodiversity in the Andes: establishment and preliminary results of long-term GLORIA monitoring sites

HALLOY, STEPHAN; BECK, STEPHAN; GRAU, ALFREDO; JÁCOME, JORGE; TUPAYACHI, ALFREDO; YAGER, KARINA; AGUIRRE, NIKOLAY; CARILLA, JULIETA; CUELLO, SOLEDAD; CUESTA, FRANCISCO; DOMIC, ALEJANDRA; FARFÁN, JIM; GARCÍA, CAROLINA; LEÓN, BLANCA; MENESES, ROSA ISELA; OYOS, ERIK; SALGADO, SILVIA; SEIMON, ANTON; SEIMON, TRACIE; SUÁREZ, DAVID; YOUNG, KENNETH; VINAS, PAUL

Perth

Conferencia; 5th International GLORIA meeting; 2010

Austrian Academic od Science

It has been shown that predicted warming and increased frequency of extreme weather events increases with altitude in the Andes. Combined with enormous topographic (and hence precipitation) heterogeneity, poverty and intensive use, this creates a situation of high vulnerability to global change. Since 2002 a network of Global Research Initiative in Alpine Environment (GLORIA) sites have been progressively installed in Andean countries to monitor changes, document the type and magnitude of impacts and provide guidance to develop adaptation strategies for biodiversity, humans, and productive systems. We report on preliminary results from 10 of those sites (Chingaza, El Angel, Podocarpus, Pacaipampa, Abiseo, Vilcanota, Sajama, Apolobamba, Tuni-Condoriri, Huaca Huasi), in addition to new sites planned in South America. These sites provide baseline data and identify processes and patterns in biodiversity and productive systems across different geographic contexts. Our research considers complementary modules of investigation that contextualize the challenges and opportunities of adaptation for biodiversity and socio-economic components, providing measures of trends as well as effectiveness of adaptive management strategies.