Herbivory and nutrient limitation protect warming tundra from lowland species’ invasion and diversity loss

• Published in: Global Change Biology
• Main Authors: Eskelinen, Anu, Kaarlejärvi, Elina, Olofsson, Johan
• Other Authors: Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Suomen Akatemia, Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, Vetenskapsrådet
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Tundra
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13397; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fgcb.13397; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.13397

Abstract Herbivory and nutrient limitation can increase the resistance of temperature‐limited systems to invasions under climate warming. We imported seeds of lowland species to tundra under factorial treatments of warming, fertilization, herbivore exclusion and biomass removal. We show that warming alone had little impact on lowland species, while exclusion of native herbivores and relaxation of nutrient limitation greatly benefitted them. In contrast, warming alone benefitted resident tundra species and increased species richness; however, these were canceled by negative effects of herbivore exclusion and fertilization. Dominance of lowland species was associated with low cover of tundra species and resulted in decreased species richness. Our results highlight the critical role of biotic and abiotic filters unrelated to temperature in protecting tundra under warmer climate. While scarcity of soil nutrients and native herbivores act as important agents of resistance to invasions by lowland species, they concurrently promote overall species coexistence. However, when these biotic and abiotic resistances are relaxed, invasion of lowland species can lead to decreased abundance of resident tundra species and diminished diversity.