Mountain ecosystems are among the environments responding particularly rapidly to climate change. Rising temperatures, changes in the amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation, shorter periods of snow cover, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are altering the conditions experienced by many plant and animal species. Because many mountain species are adapted to relatively narrow ranges of temperature and other environmental conditions, their ability to escape or adjust to rapid environmental change may be limited.
The event will begin with a short interactive lecture explaining why mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate change and identifying some of the major threats to their biodiversity. Visitors will learn how species can respond to changing conditions through changes in behaviour, activity, physiology and geographic distribution, and why different species vary in their capacity to respond. Particular attention will be given to the links between climatic conditions, the rhythms of animal life and the functioning of ecosystems.
In the second part of the event, visitors will be guided through research facilities at the National Institute of Biology. We will present laboratories and climate chambers in which researchers can precisely control temperature, light, humidity and other environmental variables and investigate how organisms respond to different climatic scenarios. Examples from ongoing research will demonstrate how experiments can be used to determine the effects of environmental warming on animal activity, physiology, survival and other biological processes.
The event will provide visitors with direct insight into scientific research and demonstrate how field observations, laboratory experiments and modern research methods can be combined to understand the consequences of climate change. Its aim is to bring biodiversity research closer to the public, encourage young people to take an interest in science and research careers, and strengthen understanding of the role of scientific evidence in protecting vulnerable mountain ecosystems.