Differential Regional Treeline Dynamics in the Scandes Mountains

Dalén, Linda; Hofgaard, Annika

doi:10.1657/1523-0430(2005)037[0284:drtdit]2.0.co;2

Cited by 106 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…The three findings of the present study point to increased future forest growth and higher actual and UPCEFL. Such findings are also supported in other parts of the Nordic region, but many of these studies have not clearly separated the effect of regrowth after human disturbance from that of recent climate change (Kullmann 2000; Kaplan et al 2003, Dalen & Hofgaard 2005Wielgolaski 2005;Kullman & Kjällgren 2006). This separation is crucial in order to understand and single out the effects of present and future climate change on the uppermost forest limits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Forest in situ height growth seems to respond quickly to climate changes, whereas forest expansion, including dispersal and seedling establishment, is much more dependent on optimum climatic conditions and human land-use (Fig. 2) (Mork 1960;Dullinger et al 2004;Dalen & Hofgaard 2005;Kullmann 2007). This is probably strengthened at NORSK GEOGRAFISK TIDSSKRIFT 62 (2008) Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway 261 the upper forest limits, close to the species' existence limit (Hofgaard 1997;Danby & Hik 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The in situ forest height growth of Norway spruce does not seem to be regulated by yearly changes in the snow cover in this region (Mork 1968), whereas between-site snow cover differences probably will affect between-site differences in forest height growth. This was found to be the case in Canada by Gamache & Payette (2004), where increased snow cover seemed to have depressed the height growth of black spruce (Picea mariana) at the forest margins, indicating the importance of future snow cover changes on the upper forest limits (Dalen & Hofgaard 2005). Mountain birch seems generally more dependent on air and soil humidity than do Norway spruce and Scots pine (Wielgolaski 2005).…”

Section: Climate Projection Uncertainties and Climate Simplificationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…ISSN 0029-1951 the Nordic countries focusing on the effects of climate alone have found contrasting results. Dalen & Hofgaard (2005) found very little evidence for recent mountain birch treeline progress in their study of the Scandinavian mountain chain. Kullman (2006;, on the other hand, found that climate improvement in recent decades has led to an increase in Scots pine populations and the raising of pine forest limits to higher altitudes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation?

Bryn¹

2008

Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography

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Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation? ANDERS BRYN Bryn, A. 2008. Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation? Norsk Geografisk TidsskriftÁNorwegian Journal of Geography Vol. 62, 251Á270. Oslo. ISSN 0029-1951.The forest limits of south-east Norway have expanded to higher altitudes. Two main processes are believed to cause these changes: regrowth after abandonment of human utilisation and recent climate changes. The article aims at separating the effects of these two processes on the upper forest limits and recent forest expansion. Four datasets representing 161.5 km 2 have been used: climate data, downscaled climate change scenario data, forest height growth, and four vegetation maps. The maps represent the years 1959 and 2001, potential natural vegetation (PNV), and a climate change scenario (CCS). The recent upper potential climatic and edaphic forest limit (UPCEFL) was used to define the potential for forest regrowth after the abandonment of human utilisation. Forest height growth and climate data were then used to analyse any supplementary effect of recent climate change. The projected future forest limits were based on the IPCC IS92a scenario for 2020Á2049. The results show that raised forest limits and forest range expansion often attributed to recent climate change is rather the product of regrowth, a process that was climatically retarded from 1959 to 1995. For the period 1995Á2006, the data indicate a preliminary effect of climate change escalating the regrowth and probably pushing the future forest limits to higher altitudes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Climate Projection Uncertainties and Climate Simplificationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation?

Bryn¹

2008

Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography

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“…According to Myking & Heide (1995), there is little risk of chilling deficit in birch in Scandinavia, even with a climatic warming of 7 to 8°C in winter. Seedlings and young trees are generally more susceptible to spring frosts than adult trees because of earlier budbreak (Vitasse et al 2014b) Grazing by sheep and reindeer has formed the treeline as well as the forest line in northern Norway (Tømmervik et al 2004, Dalen & Hofgaard 2005, and mammals or insects may have modifying effects on treelines in a variety of environments (e.g. Cairns et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioclimatic effects on different mountain birch populations in Fennoscandia

Skre¹,

Wertz²,

Wielgolaski³

et al. 2017

Clim. Res.

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Mountain birch Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa is the main treeline species in northern Europe, and the recent increase in treeline elevation in Fennoscandia due to climate change and land use has made mountain birch an important bioindicator. Birch seedlings from 10 populations were therefore transplanted to 3 northern Fennoscandian sites (1 oceanic, 1 continental mountain and 1 Arctic coastal site). Annual measurements were carried out on growth parameters and phenology (date of budbreak) from 1992 onwards. At the coastal site, measurements covered the whole period 1993 to 2010, while at the 2 other sites measurements covered only the period 1993 to 1997 (mountain site) and 2010 to 2014 (both sites). During the last period (2010 to 2014), measurements were made on a new set of seedlings, transplanted in 2002. The plants suffered a temporary transplantation stress because of root damage. In general, budburst occurred earlier in populations from northern and continental sites than from southern and coastal sites. Survival rates were dependent on climate and were generally higher at the oceanic than at the mountain site, due to more autumn frost and insect damage at the latter. At the mountain site, survival rates were lowest in oceanic and southern populations; at the Arctic site, survival rates were lowest in continental populations; while at the oceanic site, only small differences were found between populations. The present results seem to indicate that climate is an important driver of change at the mountain birch treeline, although land-use changes may be more important in the short term. In the future, when a warmer climate is predicted, plants that are adapted to a coastal climate may expand their range, and increased winter temperatures are expected to favour insect-resistant polycormic birch inbreeding with dwarf birch Betula nana.

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Limited decadal growth of mountain birch saplings has minor impact on surrounding tundra vegetation

Scharn

Negri

Sundqvist

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Temperatures over the Arctic region are increasing at three times the rate of the global average. Consequently, Arctic vegetation is changing and trees are encroaching into the tundra. In this study, we examine the establishment and growth of mountain birch ( Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa ), which forms the treeline in subarctic Europe, and its impact on community composition across the treeline ecotone nearby Abisko, Sweden. Birch advancement along elevational gradients was studied by comparing data collected in 2016 with data collected 10 and 15 years previously. Species identity, cover, and phylogenetic relatedness were used to assess the impact of birch encroachment on community composition. Our results show that birch occurrence above the treeline did not affect plant community composition, probably owing to the observed lack of significant growth due to herbivore browsing, nitrogen limitation, or a reduction in snow cover. Independent of birch performance, the tundra community structure shifted toward a novel community dissimilar from the forest plant community found below the treeline. Taken together, our findings are explained by species‐specific responses to climate change, rather than by a linear forest advance. Future treeline advancements are likely more restricted than previously expected.

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Differential Regional Treeline Dynamics in the Scandes Mountains

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 106 publications

References 59 publications

Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation?

Recent forest limit changes in south-east Norway: Effects of climate change or regrowth after abandoned utilisation?

Bioclimatic effects on different mountain birch populations in Fennoscandia

Limited decadal growth of mountain birch saplings has minor impact on surrounding tundra vegetation

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