Increasing shrub abundance in the Arctic

Sturm, Matthew; Racine, Charles H.; Tape, K. D.

doi:10.1038/35079180

Cited by 1,197 publications

(1,035 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…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%

“…However, it could also be suspected that heaths dominated by dwarf shrubs may be converted to heaths dominated by graminoids or larger shrubs, as experiments suggest that shrubs and graminoids may increase following warming (e.g., Walker et al 2006). Indeed, comparison of old and new photographs has revealed an expansion of large shrubs throughout the Arctic (Sturm et al 2001;Tape et al 2006;Forbes et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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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.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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“…In Canada, an increase in the density of black spruce (Picea mariana) has occurred at the Arctic treeline [42]. In Alaska, an increase in the density and latitudinal position of shrubs and trees such as green alder (Alnus crispa) and white spruce (Picea glauca) has been reported from Arctic treelines [43,44], leading to an estimated expansion of forest across $11 600 km 2 of tundra over the past 50 years [45]. However, despite the theoretical predictions outlined above, reports of latitudinal range retractions remain rare.…”

Section: Glossarymentioning

confidence: 99%

The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species

Jump

Mátyás

Peñuelas

2009

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

427

369

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Increasing temperatures are driving rapid upward range shifts of species in mountains. An altitudinal range retreat of 10 m is predicted to translate into a $10-km latitudinal retreat based on the rate at which temperatures decline with increasing altitude and latitude, yet reports of latitudinal range retractions are sparse. Here, we examine potential climatic, biological, anthropogenic and methodological explanations for this disparity. We argue that the lack of reported latitudinal range retractions stems more from a lack of research effort, compounded by methodological difficulties, rather than from their absence. Given the predicted negative impacts of increasing temperatures on wide areas of the latitudinal distributions of species, the investigation of range retractions should become a priority in biogeographical research.Climate change and shifting plant distribution The geographical distribution of plants is strongly influenced by climate [1]. Minimum temperatures are particularly important in limiting the poleward (see Glossary) expansion of plant species, whereas limited water availability interacts with high temperatures to exert a direct climatic limitation on their expansion in the opposite, or equatorial, direction in many regions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Changes in climate are, therefore, predicted to alter the geographic distribution of plant species at global to local scales.Contemporary plant range shifts are most frequently reported from mountain regions, with elevational shifts of the mountain treeline being the most commonly documented response to increasing temperatures [8][9][10][11][12]. The distributions of species in mountain regions are typically restricted to relatively narrow and well-delineated altitudinal bands, in comparison with often broad and poorly defined latitudinal distributions in the lowlands. This strong altitudinal zonation of mountain vegetation, and its climatic sensitivity [13], makes mountains ideal 'natural laboratories' and favoured locations for the study of climate change impacts worldwide [13][14][15].The altitudinal compression of montane vegetation zones is due to a rapid decrease in temperature with increasing elevation ($5-6.5 8C per 1000 m) [3,14], which contrasts with a similar temperature decline occurring over $1000 km of latitude (6.9 8C at 458 N or S) [3]. An implication of this altitude-for-latitude temperature model is that general biogeographical patterns resulting from the climatic limitations imposed on plants in mountains should also be observed in neighbouring lowland regions with similar temperature and moisture regimes. Distributional shifts already observed in mountain plants [8,[16][17][18] should, therefore, be mirrored by lowland range changes occurring over distances that are several orders of magnitude larger (Figure 1).Here, we discuss the implications of the altitude-forlatitude model for shifts in plant distributions and examine why lowland range shifts, particularly range retractions, are rarely reported. We discuss potential climati...

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“…Elevational and latitudinal vegetation patterns are largely determined by temperature and moisture gradients (Pielou 1994, Arris andEagleson 1989), factors which in turn define the length and intensity of the growing season. In general, the duration and intensity of the growing season decreases with both elevation and latitude (Billings 1973, Krebs 1985, promoting the growth of prostrate shrubs at the expense of trees (Sturm et al 2001). …”

Section: Elevational Gradients and Patterns Of Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%