A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage
Numerous studies have reported that treelines are moving to higher elevations and higher latitudes. Most treelines are temperature limited and warmer climate expands the area in which trees are capable of growing. Hence, climate change has been assumed to be the main driver behind this treeline move...
Published in: | Journal of Mountain Science |
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Online Access: | http://ir.imde.ac.cn/handle/131551/57220 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 |
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ftchinacadscimhe:oai:ir.imde.ac.cn:131551/57220 2023-06-11T04:17:25+02:00 A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage Hansson, A Dargusch, P Shulmeister, J 2021 http://ir.imde.ac.cn/handle/131551/57220 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 英语 eng JOURNAL OF MOUNTAIN SCIENCE http://ir.imde.ac.cn/handle/131551/57220 doi:10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 cn.org.cspace.api.content.CopyrightPolicy@1de3a0f0 Treeline advance Treeline migration Forest dynamics Alpine forests Ecosystem carbon storage Carbon sequestration Global meta-analysis 期刊论文 2021 ftchinacadscimhe https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 2023-04-28T00:15:46Z Numerous studies have reported that treelines are moving to higher elevations and higher latitudes. Most treelines are temperature limited and warmer climate expands the area in which trees are capable of growing. Hence, climate change has been assumed to be the main driver behind this treeline movement. The latest review of treeline studies was published in 2009 by Harsch et al. Since then, a plethora of papers have been published studying local treeline migration. Here we bring together this knowledge through a review of 142 treeline related publications, including 477 study locations. We summarize the information known about factors limiting tree-growth at and near treelines. Treeline migration is not only dependent on favorable growing conditions but also requires seedling establishment and survival above the current treeline. These conditions appear to have become favorable at many locations, particularly so in recent years. The review revealed that at 66% of these treeline sites forest cover had increased in elevational or latitudinal extent. The physical form of treelines influences how likely they are to migrate and can be used as an indicator when predicting future treeline movements. Our analysis also revealed that while a greater percentage of elevational treelines are moving, the latitudinal treelines are capable of moving at greater horizontal speed. This can potentially have substantial impacts on ecosystem carbon storage. To conclude the review, we present the three main hypotheses as to whether ecosystem carbon budgets will be reduced, increased or remain the same due to treeline migration. While the answer still remains under debate, we believe that all three hypotheses are likely to apply depending on the encroached ecosystem. Concerningly, evidence is emerging on how treeline migration may turn tundra landscapes from net sinks to net sources of carbon dioxide in the future. Report Tundra IMHE OpenIR (Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Journal of Mountain Science 18 2 291 306 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
IMHE OpenIR (Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences) |
op_collection_id |
ftchinacadscimhe |
language |
English |
topic |
Treeline advance Treeline migration Forest dynamics Alpine forests Ecosystem carbon storage Carbon sequestration Global meta-analysis |
spellingShingle |
Treeline advance Treeline migration Forest dynamics Alpine forests Ecosystem carbon storage Carbon sequestration Global meta-analysis Hansson, A Dargusch, P Shulmeister, J A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
topic_facet |
Treeline advance Treeline migration Forest dynamics Alpine forests Ecosystem carbon storage Carbon sequestration Global meta-analysis |
description |
Numerous studies have reported that treelines are moving to higher elevations and higher latitudes. Most treelines are temperature limited and warmer climate expands the area in which trees are capable of growing. Hence, climate change has been assumed to be the main driver behind this treeline movement. The latest review of treeline studies was published in 2009 by Harsch et al. Since then, a plethora of papers have been published studying local treeline migration. Here we bring together this knowledge through a review of 142 treeline related publications, including 477 study locations. We summarize the information known about factors limiting tree-growth at and near treelines. Treeline migration is not only dependent on favorable growing conditions but also requires seedling establishment and survival above the current treeline. These conditions appear to have become favorable at many locations, particularly so in recent years. The review revealed that at 66% of these treeline sites forest cover had increased in elevational or latitudinal extent. The physical form of treelines influences how likely they are to migrate and can be used as an indicator when predicting future treeline movements. Our analysis also revealed that while a greater percentage of elevational treelines are moving, the latitudinal treelines are capable of moving at greater horizontal speed. This can potentially have substantial impacts on ecosystem carbon storage. To conclude the review, we present the three main hypotheses as to whether ecosystem carbon budgets will be reduced, increased or remain the same due to treeline migration. While the answer still remains under debate, we believe that all three hypotheses are likely to apply depending on the encroached ecosystem. Concerningly, evidence is emerging on how treeline migration may turn tundra landscapes from net sinks to net sources of carbon dioxide in the future. |
format |
Report |
author |
Hansson, A Dargusch, P Shulmeister, J |
author_facet |
Hansson, A Dargusch, P Shulmeister, J |
author_sort |
Hansson, A |
title |
A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
title_short |
A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
title_full |
A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
title_fullStr |
A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
title_full_unstemmed |
A review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
title_sort |
review of modern treeline migration, the factors controlling it and the implications for carbon storage |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
http://ir.imde.ac.cn/handle/131551/57220 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 |
genre |
Tundra |
genre_facet |
Tundra |
op_relation |
JOURNAL OF MOUNTAIN SCIENCE http://ir.imde.ac.cn/handle/131551/57220 doi:10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 |
op_rights |
cn.org.cspace.api.content.CopyrightPolicy@1de3a0f0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6221-1 |
container_title |
Journal of Mountain Science |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
291 |
op_container_end_page |
306 |
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1768376586452598784 |