Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities
Recent research using repeat photography, long-term ecological monitoring and dendrochronology has documented shrub expansion in arctic, high-latitude and alpine tundra ecosystems. Here, we (1) synthesize these findings, (2) present a conceptual framework that identifies mechanisms and constraints o...
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ftanucanberra:oai:openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au:1885/153329 2024-01-14T10:04:12+01:00 Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities Myers-Smith, Isla Forbes, Bruce C. Wilmking, Martin Hallinger, Martin Lantz, Trevor Blok, Daan Tape, Ken D. Macias-Fauria, Marc Sass-Klaassen, Ute Levesque, Esther Venn, Susanna application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/1885/153329 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153329/5/01_Myers-Smith_Shrub_expansion_in_tundra_2011.pdf.jpg unknown IOP Publishing 1748-9326 http://hdl.handle.net/1885/153329 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153329/5/01_Myers-Smith_Shrub_expansion_in_tundra_2011.pdf.jpg Environmental Research Letters Keywords: alpine Arctic climate change disturbance ecosystem function ecosystem structure feedbacks shrubs tundra vegetation Journal article ftanucanberra https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 2023-12-15T09:36:27Z Recent research using repeat photography, long-term ecological monitoring and dendrochronology has documented shrub expansion in arctic, high-latitude and alpine tundra ecosystems. Here, we (1) synthesize these findings, (2) present a conceptual framework that identifies mechanisms and constraints on shrub increase, (3) explore causes, feedbacks and implications of the increased shrub cover in tundra ecosystems, and (4) address potential lines of investigation for future research. Satellite observations from around the circumpolar Arctic, showing increased productivity, measured as changes in 'greenness', have coincided with a general rise in high-latitude air temperatures and have been partly attributed to increases in shrub cover. Studies indicate that warming temperatures, changes in snow cover, altered disturbance regimes as a result of permafrost thaw, tundra fires, and anthropogenic activities or changes in herbivory intensity are all contributing to observed changes in shrub abundance. A large-scale increase in shrub cover will change the structure of tundra ecosystems and alter energy fluxes, regional climate, soil–atmosphere exchange of water, carbon and nutrients, and ecological interactions between species. In order to project future rates of shrub expansion and understand the feedbacks to ecosystem and climate processes, future research should investigate the species or trait-specific responses of shrubs to climate change including: (1) the temperature sensitivity of shrub growth, (2) factors controlling the recruitment of new individuals, and (3) the relative influence of the positive and negative feedbacks involved in shrub expansion. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change permafrost Tundra Australian National University: ANU Digital Collections Arctic Environmental Research Letters 6 4 045509 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Australian National University: ANU Digital Collections |
op_collection_id |
ftanucanberra |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Keywords: alpine Arctic climate change disturbance ecosystem function ecosystem structure feedbacks shrubs tundra vegetation |
spellingShingle |
Keywords: alpine Arctic climate change disturbance ecosystem function ecosystem structure feedbacks shrubs tundra vegetation Myers-Smith, Isla Forbes, Bruce C. Wilmking, Martin Hallinger, Martin Lantz, Trevor Blok, Daan Tape, Ken D. Macias-Fauria, Marc Sass-Klaassen, Ute Levesque, Esther Venn, Susanna Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
topic_facet |
Keywords: alpine Arctic climate change disturbance ecosystem function ecosystem structure feedbacks shrubs tundra vegetation |
description |
Recent research using repeat photography, long-term ecological monitoring and dendrochronology has documented shrub expansion in arctic, high-latitude and alpine tundra ecosystems. Here, we (1) synthesize these findings, (2) present a conceptual framework that identifies mechanisms and constraints on shrub increase, (3) explore causes, feedbacks and implications of the increased shrub cover in tundra ecosystems, and (4) address potential lines of investigation for future research. Satellite observations from around the circumpolar Arctic, showing increased productivity, measured as changes in 'greenness', have coincided with a general rise in high-latitude air temperatures and have been partly attributed to increases in shrub cover. Studies indicate that warming temperatures, changes in snow cover, altered disturbance regimes as a result of permafrost thaw, tundra fires, and anthropogenic activities or changes in herbivory intensity are all contributing to observed changes in shrub abundance. A large-scale increase in shrub cover will change the structure of tundra ecosystems and alter energy fluxes, regional climate, soil–atmosphere exchange of water, carbon and nutrients, and ecological interactions between species. In order to project future rates of shrub expansion and understand the feedbacks to ecosystem and climate processes, future research should investigate the species or trait-specific responses of shrubs to climate change including: (1) the temperature sensitivity of shrub growth, (2) factors controlling the recruitment of new individuals, and (3) the relative influence of the positive and negative feedbacks involved in shrub expansion. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Myers-Smith, Isla Forbes, Bruce C. Wilmking, Martin Hallinger, Martin Lantz, Trevor Blok, Daan Tape, Ken D. Macias-Fauria, Marc Sass-Klaassen, Ute Levesque, Esther Venn, Susanna |
author_facet |
Myers-Smith, Isla Forbes, Bruce C. Wilmking, Martin Hallinger, Martin Lantz, Trevor Blok, Daan Tape, Ken D. Macias-Fauria, Marc Sass-Klaassen, Ute Levesque, Esther Venn, Susanna |
author_sort |
Myers-Smith, Isla |
title |
Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
title_short |
Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
title_full |
Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
title_fullStr |
Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
title_full_unstemmed |
Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
title_sort |
shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |
publisher |
IOP Publishing |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/1885/153329 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153329/5/01_Myers-Smith_Shrub_expansion_in_tundra_2011.pdf.jpg |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Climate change permafrost Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change permafrost Tundra |
op_source |
Environmental Research Letters |
op_relation |
1748-9326 http://hdl.handle.net/1885/153329 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/153329/5/01_Myers-Smith_Shrub_expansion_in_tundra_2011.pdf.jpg |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 |
container_title |
Environmental Research Letters |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
045509 |
_version_ |
1788058805642199040 |