Winter climate is changing. Winters get warmer and wetter in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. The loss of snow cover combined with increased air temperature variability complicates projections of growing conditions. Frost events in winter and spring, however, will occur even in a warmer climate. The interaction between climatic drivers and particularly the presence or absence of snow cover drives ecological response to winter climate change. Yet, vegetation response to winter climate is complex, even in simplified experiments. The reactions depend on interactions between climate drivers in addition to simple frequency and magnitude of the climate manipulations as well as on species interactions, species identities, and within-species differentiation (local adaptations). Diversification at all levels (within species, in community compositions, and in land use) appears to be a promising adaptation strategy in forestry, agronomy, and nature conservation. Assisted colonization of genotypes is but one aspect of such a strategy.

ISBN 978-1-4614-8252-9