According to a ground-breaking study, mountain ecosystems—which are known as hotspots for biodiversity—are rapidly changing due to changing land use practices and global warming. The phenomenon known as “mountain greening,” in which trees and bushes invade broad grasslands and displace specialized low-growing plants, is being accelerated by rising temperatures. With repercussions for ecosystem health and human societies that rely on these surroundings, this phenomenon is changing habitats and endangering the genetic diversity of important species. Under the direction of Spyros Theodoridis, the study emphasizes the dire need for conservation to save these delicate ecosystems and draws attention to the predicament of the therapeutic herb Sideritis.

Genetic Erosion of Sideritis Signals Ecosystem Stress

In the Mediterranean, Sideritis, often called Greek mountain tea, is an essential medicinal plant valued for its ability to heal gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions. In addition to its medicinal and cultural significance, Sideritis is a sign of the condition of open mountain ecosystems. The research team incorporated decades of satellite data, genetic analysis of 1970s herbarium specimens, and contemporary samples gathered from eleven Greek mountain ranges. According to their research, Sideritis‘ genetic diversity has drastically decreased in eight different regions, with up to 20% of the plant’s genome exhibiting inbreeding in some of these sites. This genetic erosion indicates declining population densities and decreased resilience and is connected to the quick spread of trees and shrubs into grasslands. According to co-author David Nogus-Bravo, “the loss of genetic diversity hinders the ability of species like Sideritis to adapt to begin to adapt to environmental stresses such as disease and drought.” These culturally important plants are at greater risk of long-term extinction due to this loss.

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Innovative Methods and Urgent Conservation Needs

The study’s innovative combination of genetics and remote sensing provides a potent tool for monitoring biodiversity. Even in isolated alpine regions, scientists can forecast decreases in genetic diversity by linking genetic alterations with satellite-measured increases in vegetation density. According to Thomas Hickler, co-author and professor at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, “this method opens new avenues for monitoring biodiversity, especially in hard-to-access regions.” Direct genetic comparisons over a half-century were made possible by historical herbarium collections. The results demonstrate the extensive effects of mountain greening and the pressing need for focused conservation initiatives. “Expanding this approach to other species and regions is essential to counteract the genetic erosion threatening mountain biodiversity worldwide,” Spyros Theodoridis stressed. Protecting these habitats is essential to maintaining their ecological and cultural significance as global warming speeds up.

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