The potential effects of global warming on alpine soils in Australia

High-elevation ecosystems are predicted to be some of the terrestrial habitats most sensitive to climatic changes. However, the ecological consequences of changes in alpine environmental conditions, especially in alpine soils, are still unclear especially in Australia where little or no research has as yet been carried out. These ecosystems are composed of slow growing plants and soils which are dominated by organic matter. Both plant growth and organic matter decomposition are expected to increase with the climate warming, although the relative balance between the two and whether these habitats are carbon sources or sinks for CO2 are still unclear (Chapin et al., 1992; Billings, 1987). Soil properties may also constrain the response of alpine ecosystems to climate change. Alpine terrestrial ecosystems are limited primarily by nitrogen (N) and secondarily by phosphorus (P). The effect of atmospheric warming on the N and P cycles may play a critical role in controlling alpine plant productivity and the carbon balance, which feeds back to global warming (Shaver and Chapin, 1980).