Above ground biomass changes in the mountain birch forests and mountain heaths of Finnmarksvidda, northern Norway, in the period 1957–2006

Tømmervik, Hans; Johansen, Bernt; Riseth, Jan Åge; Karlsen, Stein-Rune; Solberg, Birger; Høgda, Kjell Arild

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.08.038

Cited by 91 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 55 publications

(98 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…There were significant transitions in the cover of vegetation types; the cover of ''Meadow with low herbs M(lh)'' and ''Birch forest of heath type with mosses BFo(m)'' increased significantly, while the cover of ''Moderate snowbed vegetation SB(mod)'' decreased significantly. Our study concurs with the results of other studies which suggest that there has been a general increase in cover and biomass of trees and shrubs in sub-Arctic and Arctic areas (e.g., Sturm et al 2001;Tape et al 2006;Danby and Hik 2007;Tømmervik et al 2009;Forbes et al 2010;Hallinger et al 2010;Van Bogaert et al 2011;Rundqvist et al 2011, this issue). Tree biomass increased on average 1.5% per year from 3.5 t ha -1 in 1997 to 4.2 t ha -1 in 2010.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Birches may, however, expand slower in steeper than in flat areas, as they are limited by the lower temperature and shorter growing season upslope (Chapin 1983;Karlsson et al 2005). Our study was located in an area that is steeper than Finnmarksvidda, and we could thus not expect a similar expansion rate as Tømmervik et al (2009) observed. We observed only a minor expansion of the mountain birch forest, and the biomass increase was mainly due to the growth of birches higher than 1.3 m that where already present in 1997.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…Though, it is apparent that individual mountain birch trees may have a relatively high growth potential despite the constraints of climatic conditions and browsing. Tømmervik et al (2009)-using remote sensing techniques-estimated the annual increase in biomass to be *2.7% in Finnmarksvidda, northern Norway over a 43-year period. Birches may, however, expand slower in steeper than in flat areas, as they are limited by the lower temperature and shorter growing season upslope (Chapin 1983;Karlsson et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Models predict that the extent of mountain birch forest in Fennoscandia will increase with climate warming, substantially reducing the areal extent of alpine heaths . Indeed, field studies and remote sensing have revealed a recent increase in altitude of the treeline (e.g., Kullman 2002), and an extension and increased cover of mountain birch forest (Tømmervik et al 2009;Rundqvist et al 2011, this issue). Tømmervik et al (2009) have-based on remote sensing data-estimated that tree biomass has doubled over a 43-year period, within an area of Finnmarksvidda, and Rundqvist et al (2011) have observed an increased density and cover of mountain birch in the treeline over the last three decades, within an area near Abisko village.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study was conducted in the Swedish subArctic, near Abisko, in order to assess the direction and scale of possible vegetation changes in the alpine-birch forest ecotone. We have re-surveyed shrub, tree and vegetation data at 549 plots grouped into 61 clusters. The plots were originally surveyed in 1997 and re-surveyed in 2010. Our study is unique for the area as we have quantitatively estimated a 19% increase in tree biomass mainly within the existing birch forest. We also found significant increases in the cover of two vegetation types-''birch forest-heath with mosses'' and ''meadow with low herbs'', while the cover of snowbed vegetation decreased significantly. The vegetation changes might be caused by climate, herbivory and past human impact but irrespective of the causes, the observed transition of the vegetation will have substantial effects on the mountain ecosystems.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Reindeer pastoralism is seen to cause widespread vegetation changes on the tundra, including the encroachment of birch. For example, Tømmervik et al (2009) found a doubling of birch on the tundra between 1957 and 2006, but report climate change with wetter summers as only one possible additional driver for these changes, while overgrazing is seen as the main cause.…”

Section: The Science Of Overstockingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Misreading the Arctic landscape: A political ecology of reindeer, carrying capacities, and overstocking in Finnmark, Norway

Benjaminsen¹,

Reinert²,

Sjaastad³

et al. 2015

Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sámi reindeer pastoralism in Norway is said to be in a state of crisis that has lasted for several decades and is due to excessive numbers of reindeer. A general overstocking of the range is believed to cause widespread pasture degradation, poor economic performance, and increasing land-use conflicts. These are the main assumptions of a dominant narrative shared by key government and non-governmental actors, most scientists, and the media. The resulting policy focuses on reducing reindeer numbers to set carrying capacities in order to promote ecological sustainability and improve economic performance through the means of increasing carcass weights. The article presents a critical review of the ecological evidence behind the dominant narrative. The authors conclude that the narrative and the associated policy lead to a misreading of the Arctic pastoral landscape that neglects both alternative scientific evidence and interpretations in line with non-equilibrium ecology as well as the indigenous knowledge of the reindeer herders. Hence, such alternative perspectives generally remain invisible to the government institutions that regulate the practice of reindeer management. Further, the authors' study resonates with wider theoretical debates about state governance within political ecology and development studies in general.

show abstract

Transitions in Arctic ecosystems: Ecological implications of a changing hydrological regime

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Numerous international scientific assessments and related articles have, during the last decade, described the observed and potential impacts of climate change as well as other related environmental stressors on Arctic ecosystems. There is increasing recognition that observed and projected changes in freshwater sources, fluxes, and storage will have profound implications for the physical, biogeochemical, biological, and ecological processes and properties of Arctic terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. However, a significant level of uncertainty remains in relation to forecasting the impacts of an intensified hydrological regime and related cryospheric change on ecosystem structure and function. As the terrestrial and freshwater ecology component of the Arctic Freshwater Synthesis, we review these uncertainties and recommend enhanced coordinated circumpolar research and monitoring efforts to improve quantification and prediction of how an altered hydrological regime influences local, regional, and circumpolar-level responses in terrestrial and freshwater systems. Specifically, we evaluate (i) changes in ecosystem productivity; (ii) alterations in ecosystem-level biogeochemical cycling and chemical transport; (iii) altered landscapes, successional trajectories, and creation of new habitats; (iv) altered seasonality and phenological mismatches; and (v) gains or losses of species and associated trophic interactions. We emphasize the need for developing a process-based understanding of interecosystem interactions, along with improved predictive models. We recommend enhanced use of the catchment scale as an integrated unit of study, thereby more explicitly considering the physical, chemical, and ecological processes and fluxes across a full freshwater continuum in a geographic region and spatial range of hydroecological units (e.g., stream-pond-lake-river-near shore marine environments).

show abstract

Above ground biomass changes in the mountain birch forests and mountain heaths of Finnmarksvidda, northern Norway, in the period 1957–2006

Cited by 91 publications

References 55 publications

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Misreading the Arctic landscape: A political ecology of reindeer, carrying capacities, and overstocking in Finnmark, Norway

Transitions in Arctic ecosystems: Ecological implications of a changing hydrological regime

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About