Validation of a simplified point frame method to detect change in tundra vegetation

May, Jeremy L.; Hollister, Robert D.

doi:10.1007/s00300-012-1224-1

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…To ensure accuracy and reproducibility, the same grid frame was used for each measurement, and fixed points at the corner of each plot allowed the frame to be replaced in the same positions within the plot on each measuring occasion. This method has been shown to be accurate in detecting changes in tundra vegetation ( May and Hollister 2012 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bryophyte cover and richness decline after 18 years of experimental warming in alpine Sweden

et al. 2020

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Background and Aims Climate change is expected to affect alpine and Arctic tundra communities. Most previous long-term studies have focused on impacts on vascular plants, this study examined impacts of long-term warming on bryophyte communities. Methods Experimental warming with open-top chambers (OTCs) was applied for 18 years to a mesic meadow and a dry heath alpine plant community. Species abundance was measured in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2013. Key results Species composition changed significantly from original communities in the heath, but remained similar in mesic meadow. Experimental warming increased beta diversity in the heath. Bryophyte cover and species richness both declined with long-term warming, while Simpson diversity showed no significant responses. Over the 18-year period, bryophyte cover in warmed plots decreased from 43% to 11% in heath and from 68% to 35% in meadow (75% and 48% decline, respectively, in original cover), while richness declined by 39% and 26%, respectively. Importantly, the decline in cover and richness first emerged after seven years. Warming caused significant increase in litter in both plant communities. Deciduous shrub and litter cover had negative impact on bryophyte cover. Conclusions We show that bryophyte species do not respond similarly to climate change. Total bryophyte cover declined in both heath and mesic meadow under experimental long-term warming (by 1.5-3°C), driven by general declines in many species. Principal response curve, cover and richness results suggested that bryophytes in alpine heath are more susceptible to warming than in meadow, supporting the suggestion that bryophytes may be less resistant in drier environments than in wetter habitats. Species loss was slower than the decline in bryophyte abundance, and diversity remained similar in both communities. Increased deciduous shrub and litter cover led to decline in bryophyte cover. The non-linear response to warming over time underlines the importance of long-term experiments and monitoring.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bryophyte cover and richness decline after 18 years of experimental warming in alpine Sweden

et al. 2020

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“…At each point on the grid, a graduated ruler was lowered to the first contact (uppermost) within the plant canopy and then to the lowermost contact at that point. This shortcut, omitting intermediate contacts, has been shown to be effective at detecting vegetation change in tundra communities, especially at sites with a leaf area index less than two; however, it does artificially limit cover to 200% (May and Hollister ). At each contact, the species, live/dead status, and height were recorded.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Warming experiments elucidate the drivers of observed directional changes in tundra vegetation

Hollister

May

Kremers

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Few studies have clearly linked long-term monitoring with in situ experiments to clarify potential drivers of observed change at a given site. This is especially necessary when findings from a site are applied to a much broader geographic area. Here, we document vegetation change at Barrow and Atqasuk, Alaska, occurring naturally and due to experimental warming over nearly two decades. An examination of plant cover, canopy height, and community indices showed more significant differences between years than due to experimental warming. However, changes with warming were more consistent than changes between years and were cumulative in many cases. Most cases of directional change observed in the control plots over time corresponded with a directional change in response to experimental warming. These included increases in canopy height and decreases in lichen cover. Experimental warming resulted in additional increases in evergreen shrub cover and decreases in diversity and bryophyte cover. This study suggests that the directional changes occurring at the sites are primarily due to warming and indicates that further changes are likely in the next two decades if the regional warming trend continues. These findings provide an example of the utility of coupling in situ experiments with long-term monitoring to accurately document vegetation change in response to global change and to identify the underlying mechanisms driving observed changes.

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“…To ensure accuracy and reproducibility, the same grid frame was used for each measurement, and fixed points at the corner of each plot allowed the frame to be placed in the same position within the plot at each different measuring point. This method has been shown to be highly accurate for detecting changes in tundra vegetation 56 . For each plot at each time point, the total cover was calculated as the sum of point frame hits from all species.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vascular plant abundance and diversity in an alpine heath under observed and simulated global change

Alatalo

Little

Jägerbrand

et al. 2015

Sci Rep

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Global change is predicted to cause shifts in species distributions and biodiversity in arctic tundra. We applied factorial warming and nutrient manipulation to a nutrient and species poor alpine/arctic heath community for seven years. Vascular plant abundance in control plots increased by 31%. There were also notable changes in cover in the nutrient and combined nutrient and warming treatments, with deciduous and evergreen shrubs declining, grasses overgrowing these plots. Sedge abundance initially increased significantly with nutrient amendment and then declined, going below initial values in the combined nutrient and warming treatment. Nutrient addition resulted in a change in dominance hierarchy from deciduous shrubs to grasses. We found significant declines in vascular plant diversity and evenness in the warming treatment and a decline in diversity in the combined warming and nutrient addition treatment, while nutrient addition caused a decline in species richness. The results give some experimental support that species poor plant communities with low diversity may be more vulnerable to loss of species diversity than communities with higher initial diversity. The projected increase in nutrient deposition and warming may therefore have negative impacts on ecosystem processes, functioning and services due to loss of species diversity in an already impoverished environment.

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Validation of a simplified point frame method to detect change in tundra vegetation

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Bryophyte cover and richness decline after 18 years of experimental warming in alpine Sweden

Bryophyte cover and richness decline after 18 years of experimental warming in alpine Sweden

Warming experiments elucidate the drivers of observed directional changes in tundra vegetation

Vascular plant abundance and diversity in an alpine heath under observed and simulated global change

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