Landscape Influences on Recent Timberline Shifts in the Carpathian Mountains: Abiotic Influences Modulate Effects of Land-Use Change

Weisberg, Peter J.; Shandra, Oleksandra; Becker, Miles E.

doi:10.1657/1938-4246-45.3.404

Cited by 38 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…human activities) cease or lessen, the response might be seen as a swift reforestation (Hofgaard 1997a, Bolli et al 2007, Batllori & Gutiérrez 2008, Bryn 2008. However, summer drought periods or other disturbances may affect tree growth and prevent or delay natural reforestation considerably (Hofgaard 1997a,b, Brandes & Ise 2007, Grunewald & Scheithauer 2008, Gonzáles de Andrés et al 2015, due to the multitude of abiotic and biotic factors controlling changes in both structure and location of the treeline ecotone (Holtmeier & Broll 2005, Hofgaard et al 2012, Weisberg et al 2013, Kulakowski et al 2016.…”

Section: Treeline Ecotonementioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity to environmental change of the treeline ecotone and its associated biodiversity in European mountains

Wielgolaski¹,

Hofgaard²,

Holtmeier³

2017

Clim. Res.

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Transition zones between mountain forests and treeless tundra, i.e. treeline ecotones, are characterized by great regional variety. In this paper, we discuss the biodiversity in various trophic levels in treeline ecotones throughout Europe, with particular focus on recent changes in land use and climate in northern and central mountains. In northernmost Europe, mountain birch prevails, while conifers (spruce, pine, larch) are the dominating species further south. While at continent-wide to global scales, the ecotone position is largely controlled by heat deficiency, it depends on a multitude of partly interacting abiotic and biotic factors other than climate at smaller scales. Climate change is a driving factor in treeline ecotone change, including physiognomic structure and biodiversity, although the effects of climate and other factors often overlap. Historical legacy plays an important role in this respect, and human impacts are particularly important. The recent decline in pastoral use of many European treeline areas often strongly influences plant diversity and re-growth of trees and other woody species. Climate change together with changing tree cover may influence snow cover, moisture regime, and nutrient conditions. Subsequently changed site conditions influence plant−plant interactions, favoring some species and disfavoring others, and plant−animal interactions. Native animals may cause widespread or local disturbances in treeline ecotone areas. Mass outbreaks of leaf-eating insects, for example, usually affect comparatively large forested areas whereas mammalian herbivores and birds have more local impact. However, high numbers of wild or domestic mammalian herbivores may challenge the carrying capacity of treeline ecotone areas at the same time as they preserve an open pasture character. This calls for cross-disciplinary study approaches, addressing the complexity of the ecotone regarding both causal background and biogeographic diversity.

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Section: Treeline Ecotonementioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity to environmental change of the treeline ecotone and its associated biodiversity in European mountains

Wielgolaski¹,

Hofgaard²,

Holtmeier³

2017

Clim. Res.

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“…) and Carpathians (Sitko & Troll ; Weisberg et al. ). In many cases, land abandonment and rising temperatures have occurred simultaneously, making it difficult to disentangle their individual effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Twentieth century treeline ecotone advance in the Sudetes Mountains (Central Europe) was induced by agricultural land abandonment rather than climate change

Treml

Šenfeldr

Chuman

et al. 2016

J Vegetation Science

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Questions What was the main trigger of treeline ecotone advance – rising temperature or agricultural land abandonment? Were the triggering factors of tree expansion homogeneous or did they differ between upper and lower parts of the treeline ecotone? Location Sudetes Mts., Central Europe (50° N, 15‐17° E). Methods Data were gathered from the treeline ecotone formed by Picea abies at elevations ranging from 1250 to 1490 m. The study area experienced a 1 °C temperature increase over the last 100 yr and termination of cattle grazing and grass mowing in the first half of the 20th century. At 38 plots situated at lower (‘timberline’) and middle or upper (‘treeline’ and ‘outpost treeline’) parts of the treeline ecotone, the age structure of all seed origin P. abies was determined. Changes in tree cover and number of trees over the last 60–70 yr were assessed from aerial imagery. The history of agricultural land use for each plot was compiled. Finally, changes in tree establishment were modelled using climatic variables and land‐use intensity. Results We found that tree establishment at treeline had occurred with a 30–40‐yr lag after the main establishment peak at timberline. Whereas all treeline plots showed gradual increases in tree cover, timberline tree cover first increased, with some plots then undergoing thinning. Enhanced tree establishment was dependent mainly upon agricultural land abandonment. The effect of land‐use changes was more important in the lower than in the upper part of the treeline ecotone. Increasing summer temperatures had a negative influence on seedling establishment in the last few decades. Conclusions Treeline ecotone densification was attributable to agricultural land abandonment across the entire treeline ecotone with the most important effect at timberline. More recently, seedling establishment has been limited by the effects of drought and/or absence of suitable microsites. We documented that one or two establishment pulses over 120 yr, together with enhanced growth since the 1980s, were able to trigger treeline ecotone advance.

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“…Recent studies on vegetation of European mountains reported the re-establishment of the forest in subalpine meadows where the upper forest limit was formerly shifted downward by human activity (Kozak 2003, Bolli et al 2007, Holtmeier & Broll 2007, Gehrig-Fasel et al 2007, Tasser et al 2007, Bryn 2008, Albert et al 2008, Sitko & Troll 2008, Chauchard et al 2010, Weisberg et al 2013. It is thought that forest expansion in the subalpine belt is primarily due to land use changes in the last century, mainly the abandonment of hay meadows and pastures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is thought that forest expansion in the subalpine belt is primarily due to land use changes in the last century, mainly the abandonment of hay meadows and pastures. However, the effect of climate change can not be excluded, since favorable climatic conditions may facilitate forest encroachment into subalpine scrubland and grassland (Gehrig-Fasel et al 2007, Weisberg et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid spread of a fleshy-fruited species in abandoned subalpine meadows - formation of an unusual forest belt in the eastern Carpathians

Durak¹,

Żywiec²,

Kapusta³

et al. 2016

iForest

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In recent decades, most subalpine hay meadows and pastures have been abandoned, and trees have been recolonizing these sites where forest existed before agricultural activity. This study examined how woody vegetation, dominated by the deciduous fleshy-fruited tree Sorbus aucuparia (rowan), expanded on subalpine meadows in the Western Bieszczady Mountains (eastern Carpathians, Poland) after the cessation of agricultural use. The aims were to determine the abundance of rowan in the woody vegetation, to estimate the rate of rowan expansion in the studied area, and to characterize the variability of rowan stands and growth forms. Rowan dominated the current plant community of abandoned subalpine meadows, though this species is not considered a rapid colonizer of open areas and was not frequent in the uppermost forest belt before the colonization. The whole area was encroached by rowans in a very short period of time 60-70 years ago. Rowan tree density was similar throughout the elevational gradient but the growth form changed, becoming more shrub-like with increasing elevation. Rowan stands will likely be the main element of the subalpine belt in this region in the upcoming decades. At present, no tree species can be considered a rapid successor to rowan in the area.

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Landscape Influences on Recent Timberline Shifts in the Carpathian Mountains: Abiotic Influences Modulate Effects of Land-Use Change

Cited by 38 publications

References 28 publications

Sensitivity to environmental change of the treeline ecotone and its associated biodiversity in European mountains

Sensitivity to environmental change of the treeline ecotone and its associated biodiversity in European mountains

Twentieth century treeline ecotone advance in the Sudetes Mountains (Central Europe) was induced by agricultural land abandonment rather than climate change

Rapid spread of a fleshy-fruited species in abandoned subalpine meadows - formation of an unusual forest belt in the eastern Carpathians

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