Root Traits Key to Alpine Plant Survival Amid Climate Change.

Alpine ecosystems, among the most sensitive to climate change, are undergoing significant shifts as temperatures rise. A recent study conducted in the Taisetsu mountains of northern Japan has identified key root traits linked to the survival and spread of alpine plants in a changing climate.

Led by Haruka Kobayashi, then a master's student, and Associate Professors Makoto Kobayashi and Gaku Kudo of Hokkaido University, the research focused on plant traits that influence adaptation to environmental stress. The team examined 12 species of broad-leaved herbs growing in an alpine meadow in Goshikigahara. Over the past 40 years, four of these species have declined in number, while eight have become more prevalent.

The researchers aimed to determine whether these population trends correlated with specific plant characteristics, particularly those related to roots and rhizomes. While many past studies have emphasized aboveground features, this research took a closer look at belowground traits.

Their findings, published in Alpine Botany, revealed that species increasing in abundance typically possessed larger rhizomes and longer, thinner fine roots. These traits appear to enhance a plant’s ability to store and distribute resources, as well as improve access to water—critical advantages in increasingly dry conditions.

“Plants with larger rhizomes can better withstand environmental stress by utilizing stored resources, while extended fine roots help tap into more underground moisture,” explained Haruka Kobayashi.

Previous studies in the region, led by Professor Kudo’s lab, have shown that earlier snowmelt due to climate warming has resulted in drier soils, altering the composition of alpine vegetation. The current study confirms that plants with smaller rhizomes and shorter roots may be more susceptible to drought.

Notably, the research found no significant difference in aboveground traits like leaf features between thriving and declining species. This suggests that belowground characteristics are crucial indicators of a species’ resilience in alpine environments under climate change.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-alpine-decline-linked-smaller-rhizomes.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.