Variation in Alpine Plant Diversity and Soil Temperatures in Two Mountain Landscapes of South Patagonia

Alpine environments and their temporal changes are rarely studied at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. We analyzed alpine plants, soil temperatures, growing-season length mountains of two landscapes South Patagonia (46° to 56° SL): three summits (814–1085 m a.s.l) surrounded by foothill grasslands Santa Cruz province (SC), four (634–864 a.s.l.) sub-Antarctic forests Tierra del Fuego (TF). Sampling followed protocolized methodology Global Observational Research Initiative Environments (GLORIA). Factors were topography (elevation cardinal aspect) time (baseline vs. re-sampling for five annual periods temperatures), assessed univariate multivariate tests. Plant composition reflected lowland surrounding landscapes, with only 9 mountain species on 52 totals SC 3 30 TF. Richness was higher than baseline, being assemblages more influenced aspect elevation. Mean temperature length, which varied topography, related Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation Index (MEI) but did not show clear warming trends over time. highlight importance long-term studies mountainous regions extreme latitudes, where factors other (e.g., climate events) explain variations.