Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches
Abstract Much of the Arctic is experiencing rapid change in the productivity and recruitment of tall, deciduous shrubs. It is well established that shrub expansion can alter tundra ecosystem composition and function; however, less is known about the degree to which variability in the physical struct...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ad1e471287cf47868fa666ed84130b63 2023-05-15T15:15:26+02:00 Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches Cory A. Wallace Jennifer L. Baltzer 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/article/ad1e471287cf47868fa666ed84130b63 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/article/ad1e471287cf47868fa666ed84130b63 Ecosphere, Vol 13, Iss 9, Pp n/a-n/a (2022) Alnus alnobetula green alder shrub expansion snow depth species richness topographic position Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 2022-12-30T21:05:42Z Abstract Much of the Arctic is experiencing rapid change in the productivity and recruitment of tall, deciduous shrubs. It is well established that shrub expansion can alter tundra ecosystem composition and function; however, less is known about the degree to which variability in the physical structure of shrub patches might mediate these changes. There is also limited information as to how different physical attributes of shrub patches may covary and how they differ with topography. Here, we address these knowledge gaps by measuring the physical structure, abiotic conditions, and understory plant community composition at sampling plots within undisturbed green alder patches at a taiga–tundra ecotone site in the Northwest Territories, Canada. We found surprisingly few associations between most structural variables and abiotic conditions at the plot scale, with the notable exceptions of canopy complexity and snow depth. Importantly, neither patch structure nor abiotic conditions were associated with the vegetation community at the plot scale when among‐patch variation was accounted for. However, among‐patch variation in plant community composition was significant and represented a gradient in the richness of tundra specialists and Sphagnum moss abundance. This gradient was strongly associated with mean patch snow depth, which was likely controlled at least in part by mean patch canopy complexity. Overall, natural variability in green alder patch structure had less of an association with abiotic conditions than expected, suggesting future changes in physical structure at undisturbed sites may have limited environmental impact at the plot scale. However, at the patch scale, increases in snow depth, likely related to canopy complexity, were negatively associated with tundra specialist richness, potentially due to phenological limitations associated with shortened growing seasons. In summary, our data suggest emergent properties exist at the patch scale that are not apparent at the plot scale such that plot‐scale ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Northwest Territories taiga Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Canada Northwest Territories Ecosphere 13 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Alnus alnobetula green alder shrub expansion snow depth species richness topographic position Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Alnus alnobetula green alder shrub expansion snow depth species richness topographic position Ecology QH540-549.5 Cory A. Wallace Jennifer L. Baltzer Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
topic_facet |
Alnus alnobetula green alder shrub expansion snow depth species richness topographic position Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Much of the Arctic is experiencing rapid change in the productivity and recruitment of tall, deciduous shrubs. It is well established that shrub expansion can alter tundra ecosystem composition and function; however, less is known about the degree to which variability in the physical structure of shrub patches might mediate these changes. There is also limited information as to how different physical attributes of shrub patches may covary and how they differ with topography. Here, we address these knowledge gaps by measuring the physical structure, abiotic conditions, and understory plant community composition at sampling plots within undisturbed green alder patches at a taiga–tundra ecotone site in the Northwest Territories, Canada. We found surprisingly few associations between most structural variables and abiotic conditions at the plot scale, with the notable exceptions of canopy complexity and snow depth. Importantly, neither patch structure nor abiotic conditions were associated with the vegetation community at the plot scale when among‐patch variation was accounted for. However, among‐patch variation in plant community composition was significant and represented a gradient in the richness of tundra specialists and Sphagnum moss abundance. This gradient was strongly associated with mean patch snow depth, which was likely controlled at least in part by mean patch canopy complexity. Overall, natural variability in green alder patch structure had less of an association with abiotic conditions than expected, suggesting future changes in physical structure at undisturbed sites may have limited environmental impact at the plot scale. However, at the patch scale, increases in snow depth, likely related to canopy complexity, were negatively associated with tundra specialist richness, potentially due to phenological limitations associated with shortened growing seasons. In summary, our data suggest emergent properties exist at the patch scale that are not apparent at the plot scale such that plot‐scale ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cory A. Wallace Jennifer L. Baltzer |
author_facet |
Cory A. Wallace Jennifer L. Baltzer |
author_sort |
Cory A. Wallace |
title |
Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
title_short |
Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
title_full |
Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
title_fullStr |
Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
title_full_unstemmed |
Scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
title_sort |
scale‐dependent responses of understory vegetation to the physical structure of undisturbed tundra shrub patches |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/article/ad1e471287cf47868fa666ed84130b63 |
geographic |
Arctic Canada Northwest Territories |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada Northwest Territories |
genre |
Arctic Northwest Territories taiga Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Northwest Territories taiga Tundra |
op_source |
Ecosphere, Vol 13, Iss 9, Pp n/a-n/a (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.4218 https://doaj.org/article/ad1e471287cf47868fa666ed84130b63 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4218 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
9 |
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1766345795063250944 |