Alpine and Arctic tundra shrub populations show similar ontogenetic growth trends but differing absolute growth rates and lifespan

Lehejček, Jiří; Trkal, František; Doležal, Jiří; Čada, Vojtěch

doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2022.126046

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…However, our results suggest that Icelandic long‐lived woody species are currently experiencing a pervasive boost in secondary growth, with tundra shrub rapidly growing and most likely expanding its distribution. In fact, the typical age‐related trend in RW for most shrub species living in heat‐limited environments should be almost flat (Carrer et al, 2023; Lehejček et al, 2023) rather than monotonically increasing (Figure 3). The majority of evergreen trees, especially lodgepole pine, will likely track shrub behaviour (Figure 3; Jónsdóttir et al, 2005; Myers‐Smith et al, 2011; Myers‐Smith, Elmendorf, et al, 2015; Normand et al, 2013; Zhang et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth form and leaf habit drive contrasting effects of Arctic amplification in long‐lived woody species

Frigo

Eggertsson²,

Prendin

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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Current global change is inducing heterogeneous warming trends worldwide, with faster rates at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, tundra vegetation is experiencing an increase in growth rate and uneven but expanding distribution. Yet, the drivers of this heterogeneity in woody species responses are still unclear. Here, applying a retrospective approach and focusing on long‐term responses, we aim to get insight into growth trends and climate sensitivity of long‐lived woody species belonging to different functional types with contrasting growth forms and leaf habits (shrub vs. tree and deciduous vs. evergreen). A total of 530 samples from 7 species (common juniper, dwarf birch, woolly willow, Norway spruce, lodgepole pine, rowan, and downy birch) were collected in 10 sites across Iceland. We modelled growth trends and contrasted yearly ring‐width measurements, filtering in high‐ and low‐frequency components, with precipitation, land‐ and sea‐surface temperature records (1967–2018). Shrubs and trees showed divergent growth trends, with shrubs closely tracking the recent warming, whereas trees, especially broadleaved, showed strong fluctuations but no long‐term growth trends. Secondary growth, particularly the high‐frequency component, was positively correlated with summer temperatures for most of the species. On the contrary, growth responses to sea surface temperature, especially in the low frequency, were highly diverging between growth forms, with a strong positive association for shrubs and a negative for trees. Within comparable vegetation assemblage, long‐lived woody species could show contrasting responses to similar climatic conditions. Given the predominant role of oceanic masses in shaping climate patterns in the Arctic and Low Arctic, further investigations are needed to deepen the knowledge on the complex interplay between coastal tundra ecosystems and land‐sea surface temperature dynamics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth form and leaf habit drive contrasting effects of Arctic amplification in long‐lived woody species

Frigo

Eggertsson²,

Prendin

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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“…We employed the serial sectioning method (Kolischuk 1990) to detect missing or wedging rings, which are a common phenomenon in climate-limited environments (Owczarek and Opała 2016). This entailed taking tree-ring measurements of cross-sections cut at different heights and cross-dating the obtained series at the intra-individual level (Lehejček et al 2023). The rst cross-section was always cut at the root collar and was followed by cross-sections evenly spaced across the shrub body so that the distances between the cross-sections were approximately 3 cm.…”

Section: Study Species and Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant–soil interactions in a deglaciated landscape: Root exudation reflects environmental severity.

Lehejček,

Huseynli,

Luláková

et al. 2024

Preprint

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The growth of shrubs in the Arctic is a key factor affecting environmental and vegetation changes framed by the currently accelerated dynamics of global warming. One of the phenomena involved in the shrubification of the Arctic is root exudation, which plays a part in nutrient acquisition by plants and thus the growth of both individual plants and whole communities. It is not known, however, to what extent root exudation differs across different environments in the Arctic tundra, how importantits role is in covering the nutrient demands of plants and what significance this might have for soil properties and vegetation succession. To shed light on the topic, we studied the content of biogenic elements in soils of different maturity following deglaciation, the age structure of the climax species Salix polaris, exudation by its roots,and the concentrations of different nutrients in its roots and leaves in the forefield of the Nordenskiöld glacier in the Svalbard archipelago. Our results reveal that polar willow shrubs have a greater relative propensity towards exudation, and thus larger potential for investing into growth, under more severe environmental conditions, which may be attributable to the stage of their root system development or the level of competition they face. This finding should be taken into consideration when interpreting current vegetation development and plant succession in the Arctic. Nevertheless, to what extent this relationship stays stable in the context of ongoing climate change remains a question to be explored.

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“…Ever since, our knowledge of tundra shrub-dominated ecosystems has grown decently (see e.g. Woodcock, Bradley 1994;Schmidt et al 2006;Buchwal et al 2013;Myers-Smith et al 2015;Wilmking et al 2018;Lehejček et al 2023). Those and other studies portray shrub-dominated ecosystems as one of the most heavily affected by current climate change because they are predominantly situated in climatically extreme regions beyond latitudinal and elevational tree lines.…”

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confidence: 99%

Old Juniper Troll stand - The oldest shrub population from Scandinavia

Lehejček,

Roman,

Lexa

et al. 2024

J. For. Sci.

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Recent nature conservation and climate change mitigation initiatives increasingly focus on research and protection of ancient woodlands and primary forests, as ecologists better understand and recognise their multiple and unique environmental benefits (Pimm et al. 2018;Di Marco et al. 2019), including their key role as carbon sinks (Luyssaert et al. 2008;Keith et al. 2022). Ecosystems with the presence of old individuals promote -among other ecosystem services -further carbon storage because of their

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Alpine and Arctic tundra shrub populations show similar ontogenetic growth trends but differing absolute growth rates and lifespan

Cited by 6 publications

References 50 publications

Growth form and leaf habit drive contrasting effects of Arctic amplification in long‐lived woody species

Growth form and leaf habit drive contrasting effects of Arctic amplification in long‐lived woody species

Plant–soil interactions in a deglaciated landscape: Root exudation reflects environmental severity.

Old Juniper Troll stand - The oldest shrub population from Scandinavia

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