Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems
Abstract: Little of our knowledge about invasibility comes from arctic and alpine ecosystems, despite increasing plant migration and invasion in those regions. Here, we examine how community type, altitude, and small-scale disturbances affect invasibility in a subarctic ecosystem. Over a period of 4...
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1100830151162165141 |
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ftunivantwerpen:c:irua:110083 2023-07-16T03:56:58+02:00 Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems Milbau, Ann Shevtsova, Anna Osler, Nora Mooshammer, Maria Graae, Bente J. 2013 https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1100830151162165141 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/NPH.12054 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000313266000032 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess 0028-646X New phytologist Biology info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2013 ftunivantwerpen https://doi.org/10.1111/NPH.12054 2023-06-26T22:16:53Z Abstract: Little of our knowledge about invasibility comes from arctic and alpine ecosystems, despite increasing plant migration and invasion in those regions. Here, we examine how community type, altitude, and small-scale disturbances affect invasibility in a subarctic ecosystem. Over a period of 4 yr, we studied seedling emergence and establishment in 17 species sown in gaps or undisturbed vegetation in four subarctic community types (Salix scrub, meadow, rich heath, poor heath) along an elevation gradient. Invasibility was lowest in rich heath and highest in Salix scrub. Small disturbances significantly increased the invasibility in most communities, thereby showing the importance of biotic resistance to invasion in subarctic regions. Unexpectedly, invasibility did not decrease with increasing elevation, and it was also not related to summer temperature. Our data suggest that biotic resistance might be more important than abiotic stress for invasibility in subarctic tundra and that low temperatures do not necessarily limit seedling establishment at high altitudes. High elevations are therefore potentially more vulnerable to invasion than was originally thought. Changes in community composition as a result of species migration or invasion are most likely to occur in Salix scrub and meadow, whereas Empetrum-dominated rich heath will largely remain unchanged. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Subarctic Tundra IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen Arctic New Phytologist 197 3 1002 1011 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen |
op_collection_id |
ftunivantwerpen |
language |
English |
topic |
Biology |
spellingShingle |
Biology Milbau, Ann Shevtsova, Anna Osler, Nora Mooshammer, Maria Graae, Bente J. Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
topic_facet |
Biology |
description |
Abstract: Little of our knowledge about invasibility comes from arctic and alpine ecosystems, despite increasing plant migration and invasion in those regions. Here, we examine how community type, altitude, and small-scale disturbances affect invasibility in a subarctic ecosystem. Over a period of 4 yr, we studied seedling emergence and establishment in 17 species sown in gaps or undisturbed vegetation in four subarctic community types (Salix scrub, meadow, rich heath, poor heath) along an elevation gradient. Invasibility was lowest in rich heath and highest in Salix scrub. Small disturbances significantly increased the invasibility in most communities, thereby showing the importance of biotic resistance to invasion in subarctic regions. Unexpectedly, invasibility did not decrease with increasing elevation, and it was also not related to summer temperature. Our data suggest that biotic resistance might be more important than abiotic stress for invasibility in subarctic tundra and that low temperatures do not necessarily limit seedling establishment at high altitudes. High elevations are therefore potentially more vulnerable to invasion than was originally thought. Changes in community composition as a result of species migration or invasion are most likely to occur in Salix scrub and meadow, whereas Empetrum-dominated rich heath will largely remain unchanged. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Milbau, Ann Shevtsova, Anna Osler, Nora Mooshammer, Maria Graae, Bente J. |
author_facet |
Milbau, Ann Shevtsova, Anna Osler, Nora Mooshammer, Maria Graae, Bente J. |
author_sort |
Milbau, Ann |
title |
Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
title_short |
Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
title_full |
Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
title_fullStr |
Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
title_full_unstemmed |
Plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
title_sort |
plant community type and small-scale disturbances, but not altitude, influence the invasibility in subarctic ecosystems |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10067/1100830151162165141 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Subarctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Subarctic Tundra |
op_source |
0028-646X New phytologist |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/NPH.12054 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000313266000032 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/NPH.12054 |
container_title |
New Phytologist |
container_volume |
197 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
1002 |
op_container_end_page |
1011 |
_version_ |
1771543499687067648 |