Kryštof Chytrý
@krystofchytry.bsky.social
Plant ecologist from Central Europe.
University of Vienna & Masaryk University, Brno.
Microclimate, mountains, grasslands, species distributions & climate change 🌱
University of Vienna & Masaryk University, Brno.
Microclimate, mountains, grasslands, species distributions & climate change 🌱
Second, we tried to narrow this diversity down, keeping on mind all to colinearity in these data. It's dificult to put it in 250 words, so just check our paper. ;-)
Eventually we foud out that only 6 variables are enough to model even a quite large number of species. Out of 250!
Eventually we foud out that only 6 variables are enough to model even a quite large number of species. Out of 250!
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Second, we tried to narrow this diversity down, keeping on mind all to colinearity in these data. It's dificult to put it in 250 words, so just check our paper. ;-)
Eventually we foud out that only 6 variables are enough to model even a quite large number of species. Out of 250!
Eventually we foud out that only 6 variables are enough to model even a quite large number of species. Out of 250!
First, we looked at how they correlate with species distributions, comparing them with Bioclim variables most commonly used for this purpose.
And, a first surprise, they were not doing well at all. That's not a criticism of Bioclim, but for microclimate-based models, they are probably not the best.
And, a first surprise, they were not doing well at all. That's not a criticism of Bioclim, but for microclimate-based models, they are probably not the best.
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
First, we looked at how they correlate with species distributions, comparing them with Bioclim variables most commonly used for this purpose.
And, a first surprise, they were not doing well at all. That's not a criticism of Bioclim, but for microclimate-based models, they are probably not the best.
And, a first surprise, they were not doing well at all. That's not a criticism of Bioclim, but for microclimate-based models, they are probably not the best.
Even though we only used soil temperature from our Schrankogel loggers, we reached approximately 250 temperature variables.
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Even though we only used soil temperature from our Schrankogel loggers, we reached approximately 250 temperature variables.
The story started sometime in 2023 when I wanted to test if microclimate temperatures are indeed multifaceted as Christian Körner and Erika Hiltbrunner emphasized in their 90 ways to describe plant temperature. doi.org/10.1016/j.pp...
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The story started sometime in 2023 when I wanted to test if microclimate temperatures are indeed multifaceted as Christian Körner and Erika Hiltbrunner emphasized in their 90 ways to describe plant temperature. doi.org/10.1016/j.pp...
This paper was the most frustrating journey I've ever gone through...
Nevertheless, after nearly two years, the paper is finally published.
Nevertheless, after nearly two years, the paper is finally published.
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
This paper was the most frustrating journey I've ever gone through...
Nevertheless, after nearly two years, the paper is finally published.
Nevertheless, after nearly two years, the paper is finally published.
This year we’re, in addition to the regular business, using our fine-scale temperature maps to explore isolated cold spots in lower elevations to see if nival species survive there. Quite dangerous sites these cold spots…
June 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This year we’re, in addition to the regular business, using our fine-scale temperature maps to explore isolated cold spots in lower elevations to see if nival species survive there. Quite dangerous sites these cold spots…
Fieldwork in the Alps. 5th year on the same mountain. Even this calf wonders why are we still doing that.
June 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Fieldwork in the Alps. 5th year on the same mountain. Even this calf wonders why are we still doing that.
I suspect a badger. Someone was repeatedly pulling off our EMS water potential logger (whole buried) while leaving TMS-4 standing right next to it... So now the EMS WP's got a fancy 2-sided + top cage that enables readout from a side. Let's see if that works.
April 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I suspect a badger. Someone was repeatedly pulling off our EMS water potential logger (whole buried) while leaving TMS-4 standing right next to it... So now the EMS WP's got a fancy 2-sided + top cage that enables readout from a side. Let's see if that works.
When you're already out of wood for this heating season (yes, my case) but you need to heat the room a bit... 🫠
April 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
When you're already out of wood for this heating season (yes, my case) but you need to heat the room a bit... 🫠
Over the last few days, I've prepared an "initial distribution" of our target species for simulation models.
I used 1 m2 resolution topography, interpolated microclimatic variables, soil properties and snow from permanent cameras. We also gathered multispectral data with a helicopter.
I used 1 m2 resolution topography, interpolated microclimatic variables, soil properties and snow from permanent cameras. We also gathered multispectral data with a helicopter.
February 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Over the last few days, I've prepared an "initial distribution" of our target species for simulation models.
I used 1 m2 resolution topography, interpolated microclimatic variables, soil properties and snow from permanent cameras. We also gathered multispectral data with a helicopter.
I used 1 m2 resolution topography, interpolated microclimatic variables, soil properties and snow from permanent cameras. We also gathered multispectral data with a helicopter.
Working with red wine is always so satisfying. Bottling a batch feels almost like getting a paper published after all the waiting and reviewing. Anyway, these still have a long way ahead. 2024 was very special vintage with an extreme drought shortly before harvest. Tricky for natural winemakers.
January 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Working with red wine is always so satisfying. Bottling a batch feels almost like getting a paper published after all the waiting and reviewing. Anyway, these still have a long way ahead. 2024 was very special vintage with an extreme drought shortly before harvest. Tricky for natural winemakers.
While that is likely true, Georgians are brave runner-ups.
January 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
While that is likely true, Georgians are brave runner-ups.
I don't usually do these games, but I also like bridges.
-> If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.
Georgia, vegetation sampling in 2017. I'd been listening to the Goodbye Blu Sky by Pink Floyd while driving over. Remember this very well. 😅
-> If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.
Georgia, vegetation sampling in 2017. I'd been listening to the Goodbye Blu Sky by Pink Floyd while driving over. Remember this very well. 😅
January 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I don't usually do these games, but I also like bridges.
-> If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.
Georgia, vegetation sampling in 2017. I'd been listening to the Goodbye Blu Sky by Pink Floyd while driving over. Remember this very well. 😅
-> If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.
Georgia, vegetation sampling in 2017. I'd been listening to the Goodbye Blu Sky by Pink Floyd while driving over. Remember this very well. 😅
We found following:
🌻 Overall, sawing Rhinanthus was significantly better than just mowing once in a season
🌻 Suppression of bushgrass was more efficient under warmer and drier macroclimates
🌻 Effects on vegetation was very clear, with Arthropods the picture was more nuanced.
🌻 Overall, sawing Rhinanthus was significantly better than just mowing once in a season
🌻 Suppression of bushgrass was more efficient under warmer and drier macroclimates
🌻 Effects on vegetation was very clear, with Arthropods the picture was more nuanced.
January 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
We found following:
🌻 Overall, sawing Rhinanthus was significantly better than just mowing once in a season
🌻 Suppression of bushgrass was more efficient under warmer and drier macroclimates
🌻 Effects on vegetation was very clear, with Arthropods the picture was more nuanced.
🌻 Overall, sawing Rhinanthus was significantly better than just mowing once in a season
🌻 Suppression of bushgrass was more efficient under warmer and drier macroclimates
🌻 Effects on vegetation was very clear, with Arthropods the picture was more nuanced.
It is a classic before-after-control-treatment but applied on 21 sites across 🇨🇿 and 🇸🇰. Treatments included mowing once, mowing twice, both with and without sawing of Rhinanthus alectorolophus. Apart from studying vegetation, we also focused on spiders, true hoppers and true bugs.
January 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
It is a classic before-after-control-treatment but applied on 21 sites across 🇨🇿 and 🇸🇰. Treatments included mowing once, mowing twice, both with and without sawing of Rhinanthus alectorolophus. Apart from studying vegetation, we also focused on spiders, true hoppers and true bugs.
Paper alert.
You might have heard about some trials of using hemi-parasitic plants to enhance biological restoration of grasslands. Yet it has been documented only from a few small experiment. However, a few years ago, Jakub Tesitel carried out an experiment to test this in different macroclimates.
You might have heard about some trials of using hemi-parasitic plants to enhance biological restoration of grasslands. Yet it has been documented only from a few small experiment. However, a few years ago, Jakub Tesitel carried out an experiment to test this in different macroclimates.
January 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Paper alert.
You might have heard about some trials of using hemi-parasitic plants to enhance biological restoration of grasslands. Yet it has been documented only from a few small experiment. However, a few years ago, Jakub Tesitel carried out an experiment to test this in different macroclimates.
You might have heard about some trials of using hemi-parasitic plants to enhance biological restoration of grasslands. Yet it has been documented only from a few small experiment. However, a few years ago, Jakub Tesitel carried out an experiment to test this in different macroclimates.
3️⃣1️⃣ The last day of 2024 and of our calendar.
Juncus jacquinii grows only in the Alps and northern Apennines. It prefers rather moist grassy sites within the alpine, usually not above 3'000 m.
Named after N. J. von Jacquin, a professor of botany and dir. of the botanical garden at @univie.ac.at
Juncus jacquinii grows only in the Alps and northern Apennines. It prefers rather moist grassy sites within the alpine, usually not above 3'000 m.
Named after N. J. von Jacquin, a professor of botany and dir. of the botanical garden at @univie.ac.at
December 31, 2024 at 9:35 AM
3️⃣1️⃣ The last day of 2024 and of our calendar.
Juncus jacquinii grows only in the Alps and northern Apennines. It prefers rather moist grassy sites within the alpine, usually not above 3'000 m.
Named after N. J. von Jacquin, a professor of botany and dir. of the botanical garden at @univie.ac.at
Juncus jacquinii grows only in the Alps and northern Apennines. It prefers rather moist grassy sites within the alpine, usually not above 3'000 m.
Named after N. J. von Jacquin, a professor of botany and dir. of the botanical garden at @univie.ac.at
2️⃣9️⃣ Ranunculus alpestris. Restricted only to European mountains (Pyrenees, Alps & Carpathians). Not as tough as R. glacialis, usually not getting above 2.5k m (as far as I know at least). Slightly prefers calcareous bedrock and sites with long lying snow cover.
December 29, 2024 at 11:29 AM
2️⃣9️⃣ Ranunculus alpestris. Restricted only to European mountains (Pyrenees, Alps & Carpathians). Not as tough as R. glacialis, usually not getting above 2.5k m (as far as I know at least). Slightly prefers calcareous bedrock and sites with long lying snow cover.
2️⃣7️⃣ Oxyria dygina. Similar to Persicaria vivipara covers nearly all arctic alpine habitats of northern Hemisphere. Rather specialized species, restricted to wet screes, making it common on gravelly bars and banks of alpine rivers or glacier forefields. In the Alps, usually above 2000 meters.
December 27, 2024 at 9:36 PM
2️⃣7️⃣ Oxyria dygina. Similar to Persicaria vivipara covers nearly all arctic alpine habitats of northern Hemisphere. Rather specialized species, restricted to wet screes, making it common on gravelly bars and banks of alpine rivers or glacier forefields. In the Alps, usually above 2000 meters.
Delicious. Tastes really different from baked potatoes as thanks to the burnt crust, they better keep moisture. And the slight touch of the smoke makes them just special.
December 26, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Delicious. Tastes really different from baked potatoes as thanks to the burnt crust, they better keep moisture. And the slight touch of the smoke makes them just special.
Home alone only with the dog: Day 1.
The dinner is a traditional Slavic dish, ash potatoes.
The dinner is a traditional Slavic dish, ash potatoes.
December 26, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Home alone only with the dog: Day 1.
The dinner is a traditional Slavic dish, ash potatoes.
The dinner is a traditional Slavic dish, ash potatoes.
2️⃣5️⃣ Bistorta vivipara. I'd say (one of) the most common arcto-alpine species distributed over the northern hemisphere. It's a generalist (but nice one) growing on various bedrocks and throughout elevations. Probably not too surprising that it's also a common target plant of various research projects.
December 25, 2024 at 10:04 PM
2️⃣5️⃣ Bistorta vivipara. I'd say (one of) the most common arcto-alpine species distributed over the northern hemisphere. It's a generalist (but nice one) growing on various bedrocks and throughout elevations. Probably not too surprising that it's also a common target plant of various research projects.
Interpolated temperature images have the same scale. The data come from 895 temperature loggers and are averages from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2024.
It's thanks to the ERC project Microclim that I can play with such great toys like 900 loggers. ❤️🇪🇺
www.mountainresearch.at/microclim/
It's thanks to the ERC project Microclim that I can play with such great toys like 900 loggers. ❤️🇪🇺
www.mountainresearch.at/microclim/
December 23, 2024 at 11:38 PM
Interpolated temperature images have the same scale. The data come from 895 temperature loggers and are averages from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2024.
It's thanks to the ERC project Microclim that I can play with such great toys like 900 loggers. ❤️🇪🇺
www.mountainresearch.at/microclim/
It's thanks to the ERC project Microclim that I can play with such great toys like 900 loggers. ❤️🇪🇺
www.mountainresearch.at/microclim/