Plant functional trait change across a warming tundra biome

• Published in: Nature
• Main Authors: Bjorkman Anne D., Myers-Smith Isla H., Elmendorf Sarah C., Normand Signe, Rüger Nadja, Beck Pieter S. A., Blach-Overgaard Anne, Blok Daan, Cornelissen J. Hans C., Forbes Bruce C., Georges Damien, Goetz Scott J., Guay Kevin C., Henry Gregory H. R., HilleRisLambers Janneke, Hollister Robert D., Karger Dirk N., Kattge Jens, Manning Peter, Prevéy Janet S., Rixen Christian, Schaepman-Strub Gabriela, Thomas Haydn J. D., Vellend Mark, Wilmking Martin, Wipf Sonja, Carbognani Michele, Hermanutz Luise, Lévesque Esther, Molau Ulf, Petraglia Alessandro, Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A., Spasojevic Marko J., Tomaselli Marcello, Vowles Tage, Alatalo Juha M., Heather D. Alexander35, Alba Anadon-Rosell26, 36 37, Angers-Blondin Sandra, te Beest Mariska, Berner Logan, Björk Robert G., Buchwal Agata, Buras Allan, Christie Katherine, Cooper Elisabeth J., Dullinger Stefan, Elberling Bo, Eskelinen Anu, Frei Esther R., Grau Oriol, Grogan Paul, Hallinger Martin, Harper Karen A., Monique M. P. D. Heijmans55, James Hudson56, Karl Hülber46, Iturrate-Garcia Maitane, Iversen Colleen M., Jaroszynska Francesca, Johnstone Jill F., Jørgensen Rasmus H., Kaarlejärvi Elina, Klady Rebecca, Kuleza Sara, Kulonen Aino, Lamarque Laurent J., Lantz Trevor, Little Chelsea J., Speed James D. M., Michelsen Anders, Milbau Ann, Nabe-Nielsen Jacob, Schøler Nielsen Sigrid, Ninot Josep M., Oberbauer Steven F., Olofsson Joha, Onipchenko Vladimir G., Rumpf Sabine B., Semenchuk Philipp, Shetti Rohan, Siegwart Collier Laura, Street Lorna E., Suding Katharine N., Tape Ken D., Trant Andrew, Treier Urs A., Tremblay Jean-Pierre, Tremblay Maxime, Venn Susanna, Weijers Stef, Zamin Tara, Boulanger-Lapointe Noémie, Gould William A., Hik David S., Hofgaard Annika, Jónsdóttir Ingibjörg S., Jorgenson Janet, Klein Julia, Magnusson Borgthor, Tweedie Craig, Wookey Philip A., Bahn Michael, Blonder Benjamin, van Bodegom Peter M., Bond-Lamberty Benjamin, Campetella Giandiego, Cerabolini Bruno E. L., Chapin III F. Stuart, Cornwell William K., Craine Joseph, Dainese Matteo, de Vries Franciska T., Díaz Sandra, Enquist Brian J., Green Walton, Milla Ruben, Niinemets Ülo, Onoda Yusuke, Ordoñez Jenny C., Ozinga Wim A., Penuelas Josep, Poorter Hendrik, Poschlod Peter, Reich Peter B., Sandel Brody, Schamp Brandon, Sheremetev Serge, Weiher Evan
• Other Authors: Bjorkman Anne, D., Myers-Smith Isla, H., Elmendorf Sarah, C., Normand, Signe, Rüger, Nadja, Beck Pieter, S. A., Blach-Overgaard, Anne, Blok, Daan, Cornelissen, J. Hans C., Forbes Bruce, C., Georges, Damien, Goetz Scott, J., Guay Kevin, C., Henry Gregory, H. R., Hillerislambers, Janneke, Hollister Robert, D., Karger Dirk, N., Kattge, Jen, Manning, Peter, Prevéy Janet, S., Rixen, Christian, Schaepman-Strub, Gabriela, Thomas Haydn, J. D., Vellend, Mark, Wilmking, Martin, Wipf, Sonja, Carbognani, Michele, Hermanutz, Luise, Lévesque, Esther, Molau, Ulf, Petraglia, Alessandro, Soudzilovskaia Nadejda, A., Spasojevic Marko, J., Tomaselli, Marcello, Vowles, Tage, Alatalo Juha, M., Heather D., Alexander35, Alba, Anadon-Rosell26, 36, 37, Angers-Blondin, Sandra, te Beest, Mariska, Berner, Logan, Björk Robert, G., Buchwal, Agata, Buras, Allan, Christie, Katherine, Cooper Elisabeth, J., Dullinger, Stefan, Elberling, Bo, Eskelinen, Anu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Tundra
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11581/422043; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0563-7; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0563-7

The tundra is warming more rapidly than any other biome on Earth, and the potential ramifications are far-reaching because of global feedback effects between vegetation and climate. A better understanding of how environmental factors shape plant structure and function is crucial for predicting the consequences of environmental change for ecosystem functioning. Here we explore the biome-wide relationships between temperature, moisture and seven key plant functional traits both across space and over three decades of warming at 117 tundra locations. Spatial temperature–trait relationships were generally strong but soil moisture had a marked influence on the strength and direction of these relationships, highlighting the potentially important influence of changes in water availability on future trait shifts in tundra plant communities. Community height increased with warming across all sites over the past three decades, but other traits lagged far behind predicted rates of change. Our findings highlight the challenge of using space-for-time substitution to predict the functional consequences of future warming and suggest that functions that are tied closely to plant height will experience the most rapid change. They also reveal the strength with which environmental factors shape biotic communities at the coldest extremes of the planet and will help to improve projections of functional changes in tundra ecosystems with climate warming.