We present climate-dependent changes in the high-mountain forest ecotone, old-growth forests, alpine phytocenoses, and deglaciated forelands in the Aktru glacial basin (Altai Republic, Russia). A number of independent sources (variations in upper treeline altitude, dendrochronological data, analysis of lacustrine sediments and botanical and geographical studies linked with the dynamics of glacial-dammed lakes in the Chuya and Kurai intermountain depressions) suggest Holocene temperatures reached about 4 °C higher than today. Unlike the European Alps, glaciers in the continental Altai Mountains disappeared before forming again. Also, the upper altitudinal limit of mountain forests during the Holocene was greater than in the European Alps. The high variability of mountain ecosystems in southern Siberia suggests their potential instability in a currently changing climate. However, periglacial successions associated with the strong continental climate and glacier retreat represent an area of increasing biodiversity and plant cover. The historical and current sensitivity of the continental mountains to climate variations which exceeds that of the European Alps requires greater understanding, environmental protection, and increased social responsibility for the consequences of anthropogenic contributions to climate change: the isolated Altai areas contribute little to climate changes, but are greatly affected by them.

我们展示了阿克特鲁冰川盆地（俄罗斯阿尔泰共和国）的高山森林交错带、古老森林、高山植物群落和消融前陆的气候变化。许多独立来源（高层林线海拔变化、树木年代学数据、湖泊沉积物分析以及与 Chuya 和 Kurai 山间洼地冰川堰塞湖动态相关的植物学和地理学研究）表明全新世温度升高了约 4 °C比今天。与欧洲阿尔卑斯山不同，阿尔泰大陆山脉的冰川在再次形成之前就消失了。此外，全新世山地森林的海拔上限高于欧洲阿尔卑斯山。西伯利亚南部山区生态系统的高度变异性表明，它们在当前气候变化的情况下存在潜在的不稳定性。然而，与强烈的大陆性气候和冰川退缩相关的冰缘演替代表了生物多样性和植物覆盖不断增加的区域。大陆山脉在历史和当前对气候变化的敏感性超过了欧洲阿尔卑斯山，需要更多的了解、环境保护和对人为对气候变化造成的后果承担更多的社会责任：孤立的阿尔泰地区对气候变化的贡献很小，但受他们的影响很大。