Pollinators of vegetation of Arctic-Alpine snow-rich habitats

The class Salicetea herbaceae, originally defined within the framework of Central European phytosociology, encompasses pioneer plant communities that colonize bare, moist soils following snowmelt. These formations, dominated by low-growing woody species such as Salix herbacea, along with hardy hemicryptophytes and cryptogams, represent a unique intersection between plant life and the dynamic processes of the snow cycle.This book aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the vegetation associated with Salicetea herbaceae, from both an ecological and phytosociological perspective. It explores the distribution of these communities across alpine and arctic regions, analyzes their main alliances and associations, and discusses the environmental factors that determine their composition, structure, and dynamics. It also examines their relevance in the context of climate change, as these communities are highly sensitive indicators of variations in snow cover duration and global warming.