Tree characteristics, biomass and vegetation cover near Abisko Research Station in 1997 and 2010, supplement to: Hedenås, Henrik; Olsson, Håkan; Jonasson, Christer; Bergstedt, Johan; Dahlberg, Ulrika; Callaghan, Terry V (2011): Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic. AMBIO, 40(6), 672-682

• Main Authors: Hedenås, Henrik, Olsson, Håkan, Jonasson, Christer, Bergstedt, Johan, Dahlberg, Ulrika, Callaghan, Terry V
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA - Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science 2011
• Subjects: International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY; Abisko; Arctic; International Polar Year; IPY
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.810621; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.810621

This study was conducted in the Swedish sub-Arctic, near Abisko, in order to assess the direction and scale of possible vegetation changes in the alpine-birch forest ecotone. We have re-surveyed shrub, tree and vegetation data at 549 plots grouped into 61 clusters. The plots were originally surveyed in 1997 and re-surveyed in 2010. Our study is unique for the area as we have quantitatively estimated a 19% increase in tree biomass mainly within the existing birch forest. We also found significant increases in the cover of two vegetation types - "birch forest-heath with mosses" and "meadow with low herbs", while the cover of snowbed vegetation decreased significantly. The vegetation changes might be caused by climate, herbivory and past human impact but irrespective of the causes, the observed transition of the vegetation will have substantial effects on the mountain ecosystems. : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150