Ecosystem Response to Climatic Change: The Importance of the Cold Season

Bokhorst, Stef; Bjerke, Jarle W.; Tømmervik, Hans; Preece, Catherine; Phoenix, Gareth K.

doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0310-5

Cited by 57 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In the past several decades, the peak flow of many rivers in North America, Europe, and Asia occurred approximately 30-40 days earlier (Arnell, 1999;Stewart et al, 2004); the snow cover duration was shortened for approximately 1 month (W. Zhang, Kang, et al, 2017). Earlier and slower snowmelt can also influence the ecological processes due to the changes in soil moisture and evapotranspiration (Bokhorst et al, 2012;Dunne et al, 2003). Earlier and slower snowmelt can also influence the ecological processes due to the changes in soil moisture and evapotranspiration (Bokhorst et al, 2012;Dunne et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slower Snowmelt in Spring Along With Climate Warming Across the Northern Hemisphere

Che

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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Climate warming is altering historical patterns of snow accumulation and ablation, hence threatening natural water resources. We evaluated the impact of climate warming on snowmelt rates using the GlobSnow v2.0 and the second Modern‐Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications data sets over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) during the past 38 years (1980–2017). Higher ablation rates were found in the locations with deeper snow water equivalent (SWE) because high snow melt rates occurred in late spring and early summer in deep snowpack regions. In addition, due to the reduction of SWE in deep snowpack regions, moderate and high snow ablation rates showed a decreasing trend. Therefore, slower snowmelt rates were found over the entire NH in a warmer climate in general. Based on projections of SWE in Representative Concentration Pathways 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 climate scenarios, slower snowmelt rates in the NH may continue to happen in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slower Snowmelt in Spring Along With Climate Warming Across the Northern Hemisphere

Che

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Therefore, many vascular plants are severely damaged after winter warming events, as shown both by analyses of natural events and field experiments (Bokhorst et al . , , ; Bjerke et al . ; Cooper ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistent reduction of segment growth and photosynthesis in a widespread and important sub‐Arctic moss species after cessation of three years of experimental winter warming

et al. 2016

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Summary Winter is a period of dormancy for plants of cold environments. However, winter climate is changing, leading to an increasing frequency of stochastic warm periods (winter warming events) and concomitant reductions in snow cover. These conditions can break dormancy for some plants and expose them to freeze‐and‐thaw stress. Mosses are a major component of high‐latitude ecosystems, yet the longer‐term impacts of such winter warming events on mosses remain unknown. In order to determine the longer‐term legacy effects of winter warming events on mosses, we undertook a simulation of these events over three consecutive winters in a sub‐Arctic dwarf shrub‐dominated open woodland. The mat‐forming feather moss, Hylocomium splendens (the most abundant cryptogam in this system), is one of the most widespread Arctic and boreal mosses and plays a key functional role in ecosystems. We studied the ecophysiological performance of this moss during the summers of the experimental period (2007–2009) and in the following years (2010–2013). We show that the previously reported warming‐induced reduction in segment growth and photosynthesis during the experimental years was persistent. Four years after the last event, photosynthesis and segment growth were still 30 and 36% lower than control levels, which was only a slight improvement from 44 and 43% 4 years earlier. Winter warming did not affect segment symmetry. During the years after the last simulated event, in both warmed and control plots, chlorophyll fluorescence and segment growth, but not net photosynthesis, increased slightly. The increases were probably driven by increased summer rainfall over the study years, highlighting the sensitivity of this moss to rainfall change. Overall, the legacy effects shown here demonstrate that this widespread and important moss is likely to be significantly disadvantaged in a future sub‐Arctic climate where frequent winter warming events may become the norm. Given the key importance of mosses for soil insulation, shelter and carbon sequestration in high‐latitude regions, such persistent impacts may ultimately affect important ecosystem functions. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12703/suppinfo is available for this article.

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“…The negative influence of the positive temperature values during winter months can be linked to the melting snow cover and the development of a thin ice cover, which can partially damage the previous year dwarf shrub branches. Bokhorst et al (2009Bokhorst et al ( , 2012 reported similar data, that dwarf shrubs in the Arctic area are negatively impacted by extreme warming events during winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Dendrochronology and extreme pointer years in the tree-ring record (AD 1951–2011) of polar willow from southwestern Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway)

Owczarek

Opała

2016

Geochronometria

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Greater warmth and precipitation over the past several decades in the High Arctic, as recorded in meteorological data, have caused shrub expansion and affected growth ring widths. The main aim of the study was to develop a tree-ring chronology of polar willow (Salix polaris Wahlenb.) from southwest Spitsbergen, attempt to explain its extreme pointer years (extremely low value of growthring widths) and to demonstrate the dendrochronological potential of this species. This plant is a deciduous, prostrate, creeping dwarf shrub that produces anatomically distinct annual growth rings with the consistent ring width variation. After using serial sectioning we developed rigorously cross-dated ring width chronology covering the period 1951-2011. Since the beginning of the 1980s an increase of the mean and maximum growth ring width has been observed which is consistent with the increase of both temperature and precipitation in the Arctic reported from meteorological sources. Nine negative extreme years were distinguished and explained by complex hydroclimatic drivers, which highlight the importance of availability of moisture from snowpack and spring precipitation. An additional negative factor present in the years with very low dwarf shrubs growth is rapid thawing and fast freezing during winter as well as low sunshine duration. Our results contradict the prior assumption that inter-annual tree growth variability of dwarf shrubs from polar regions is controlled simply by temperature.

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Ecosystem Response to Climatic Change: The Importance of the Cold Season

Cited by 57 publications

References 51 publications

Slower Snowmelt in Spring Along With Climate Warming Across the Northern Hemisphere

Slower Snowmelt in Spring Along With Climate Warming Across the Northern Hemisphere

Persistent reduction of segment growth and photosynthesis in a widespread and important sub‐Arctic moss species after cessation of three years of experimental winter warming

Dendrochronology and extreme pointer years in the tree-ring record (AD 1951–2011) of polar willow from southwestern Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway)

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