Water temperature increases as glacier melt inputs to rivers fall and river banks become less prone to erosion. We then developed 3D landscape models for each decade, and mapped how changes to glaciers will affect river flow conditions as the input of glacial melt decreases. We modelled glacier evolution based on the greenhouse gas emissions scenario that is currently targeted by governments and international treaties (limiting global warming to 2℃).
To generate our projections, we used glacier, landscape and biodiversity mapping data collected across 34,000 sq km of the Alps. Several other species will have to move to cold water habitats at higher elevations where glaciers still persist to survive. We found that some species will lose most of their habitat and disappear from the Alps entirely. In our new study, we projected glacial losses between 20 to assess what impact the changing input of meltwater into alpine rivers would have on the distribution of 15 species of invertebrate, such as stoneflies, non-biting midges, flatworms and mayflies. They perform vital roles in nutrient cycling and, as prey for fish, amphibians, birds and mammals, they transfer organic matter from lower to higher levels of the food chain. Bertrand Launay, CC BY-NC-NDĪnd invertebrates are crucial for wider alpine ecosystems.
The invertebrate species included in the study.
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