The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2003 Treelines have been the focus of intense research for nearly a hundred years, also because they represent one of the most visible boundaries between two ecological systems. In recent years however, treelines have been studied, because changes...
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ftunivalaska:oai:scholarworks.alaska.edu:11122/8671 2023-05-15T15:16:37+02:00 The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between Wilmking, Martin Juday, Glenn Patrick 2003 http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8671 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8671 Department of Forest Sciences Ecology Forestry Environmental science Dissertation phd 2003 ftunivalaska 2023-02-23T21:37:06Z Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2003 Treelines have been the focus of intense research for nearly a hundred years, also because they represent one of the most visible boundaries between two ecological systems. In recent years however, treelines have been studied, because changes in forest ecosystems due to global change, e.g. treeline movement, are expected to manifest first in these areas. This dissertation focuses on the elevational and latitudinal treelines bordering the boreal forest of interior Alaska. After development of a conceptional model of ecotones as three-dimensional spaces between ecosystems, we offer a historical perspective on treeline research and its broader impact in the Brooks Range, Alaska. Dendrochronological analysis of >1500 white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench [Voss])) at 13 treeline sites in Alaska revealed both positive and negative growth responses to climate warming, challenging the widespread assumption that northern treeline trees grow better with warming climate. Hot Julys decreased growth of ~40% of white spruce at treeline in Alaska, whereas warm springs enhanced growth of others. Growth increases and decreases appear at temperature thresholds, which have occurred more frequently in the late 20th century. Based on these relationships between tree-growth and climate as well as using landscape characteristics, we modeled future tree-growth and distribution in two National Parks in Alaska and extrapolated the results into the 21 st century using climate scenarios from five General Circulation Models. In Gates of the Arctic National Park, our results indicate enhanced growth at low elevation, whereas other areas will see changes in forest structure (dieback of tree-islands, infilling of existing stands). In Denali National Park, our results indicate possible dieback of white spruce at low elevations and treeline advance and infilling at high elevations. This will affect the road corridor with a forest increase of about 50% along the road, which will decrease ... Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Arctic Brooks Range Alaska University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA Arctic Fairbanks |
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University of Alaska: ScholarWorks@UA |
op_collection_id |
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topic |
Ecology Forestry Environmental science |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Forestry Environmental science Wilmking, Martin The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
topic_facet |
Ecology Forestry Environmental science |
description |
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2003 Treelines have been the focus of intense research for nearly a hundred years, also because they represent one of the most visible boundaries between two ecological systems. In recent years however, treelines have been studied, because changes in forest ecosystems due to global change, e.g. treeline movement, are expected to manifest first in these areas. This dissertation focuses on the elevational and latitudinal treelines bordering the boreal forest of interior Alaska. After development of a conceptional model of ecotones as three-dimensional spaces between ecosystems, we offer a historical perspective on treeline research and its broader impact in the Brooks Range, Alaska. Dendrochronological analysis of >1500 white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench [Voss])) at 13 treeline sites in Alaska revealed both positive and negative growth responses to climate warming, challenging the widespread assumption that northern treeline trees grow better with warming climate. Hot Julys decreased growth of ~40% of white spruce at treeline in Alaska, whereas warm springs enhanced growth of others. Growth increases and decreases appear at temperature thresholds, which have occurred more frequently in the late 20th century. Based on these relationships between tree-growth and climate as well as using landscape characteristics, we modeled future tree-growth and distribution in two National Parks in Alaska and extrapolated the results into the 21 st century using climate scenarios from five General Circulation Models. In Gates of the Arctic National Park, our results indicate enhanced growth at low elevation, whereas other areas will see changes in forest structure (dieback of tree-islands, infilling of existing stands). In Denali National Park, our results indicate possible dieback of white spruce at low elevations and treeline advance and infilling at high elevations. This will affect the road corridor with a forest increase of about 50% along the road, which will decrease ... |
author2 |
Juday, Glenn Patrick |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Wilmking, Martin |
author_facet |
Wilmking, Martin |
author_sort |
Wilmking, Martin |
title |
The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
title_short |
The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
title_full |
The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
title_fullStr |
The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Treeline Ecotone In Interior Alaska: From Theory To Planning And The Ecology In Between |
title_sort |
treeline ecotone in interior alaska: from theory to planning and the ecology in between |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8671 |
geographic |
Arctic Fairbanks |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Fairbanks |
genre |
Arctic Brooks Range Alaska |
genre_facet |
Arctic Brooks Range Alaska |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8671 Department of Forest Sciences |
_version_ |
1766346919957757952 |