Data from: The snow and the willows: earlier spring snowmelt reduces performance in the low-lying alpine shrub Salix herbacea ...

• Main Authors: Wheeler, Julia A., Cortés, Andres J., Sedlacek, Janosch, Karrenberg, Sophie, Van Kleunen, Mark, Wipf, Sonja, Hoch, Guenter, Bossdorf, Oliver, Rixen, Christian
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2017
• Subjects: dwarf shrub; clonal reproduction; non-structural carbohydrates; flowering; Salix herbacea; early snowmelt; Arctic; Climate change; Tundra
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6js40; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.6js40

Current changes in shrub abundance in alpine and arctic tundra ecosystems are primarily driven by climate change. However, while taller shrub communities are expanding, dwarf shrub communities show reductions under climate warming, and the mechanisms driving the latter (such as warming temperatures or accelerated spring snowmelt) may be complex. To determine and disentangle the response of a widespread arctic-alpine prostrate dwarf shrub to both climate warming and changes in snowmelt time, we investigated phenology, clonal and sexual reproduction, leaf size, wood tissue carbon balance and leaf damage in 480 patches of Salix herbacea, along its elevational and snowmelt microhabitat range over three years in a space-for-time substitution. Earlier snowmelt was associated with longer phenological development periods, an increased likelihood of herbivory and fungal damage, lower stem density, smaller leaves and lower end-of-season wood reserve carbohydrates. Furthermore, while early snowmelt was associated with ... : Trait and environmental data for Salix herbacea in SwitzerlandTrait and environmental data for Salix herbacea in the eastern Swiss Alps, Davos Switzerland, collected from plants in the field 2011-2013. Data saved in Excel file. See associated metadata in README.xlsx for variable abbreviations.sal_11_13_simplified_dryad.xlsx ...