Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic
Abstract: Background and Aims: In a future warmer subarctic climate, the soil temperatures experienced by dispersed seeds are likely to increase during summer but may decrease during winter due to expected changes in snow depth, duration and quality. Because little is known about the dormancy-breaki...
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ftunivantwerpen:c:irua:78287 2023-07-16T03:57:46+02:00 Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic Milbau, Ann Graae, Bente Jessen Shevtsova, Anna Nijs, Ivan 2009 https://hdl.handle.net/10067/782870151162165141 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000268106300008 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1093/AOB/MCP117 info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess 0305-7364 Annals of botany Biology info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2009 ftunivantwerpen https://doi.org/10.1093/AOB/MCP117 2023-06-26T22:14:06Z Abstract: Background and Aims: In a future warmer subarctic climate, the soil temperatures experienced by dispersed seeds are likely to increase during summer but may decrease during winter due to expected changes in snow depth, duration and quality. Because little is known about the dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of subarctic species, how warming may influence the timing and level of germination in these species was examined. Methods: Under controlled conditions, how colder winter and warmer summer soil temperatures influenced germination was tested in 23 subarctic species. The cold stratification and warm incubation temperatures were derived from real soil temperature measurements in subarctic tundra and the temperatures were gradually changed over time to simulate different months of the year. Key Results: Moderate summer warming (+2·5 °C) substantially accelerated germination in all but four species but did not affect germination percentages. Optimum germination temperatures (20/10°C) further decreased germination time and increased germination percentages in three species. Colder winter soil temperatures delayed the germination in ten species and decreased the germination percentage in four species, whereas the opposite was found in Silene acaulis. In most species, the combined effect of a reduced snow cover and summer warming resulted in earlier germination and thus a longer first growing season, which improves the chance of seedling survival. In particular the recruitment of (dwarf) shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, Betula nana), trees (Alnus incana, Betula pubescens) and grasses (Calamagrostis lapponica, C. purpurea) is likely to benefit from a warmer subarctic climate. Conclusions: Seedling establishment is expected to improve in a future warmer subarctic climate, mainly by considerably earlier germination. The magnitudes of the responses are species-specific, which should be taken into account when modelling population growth and migration of subarctic species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Betula nana Silene acaulis Subarctic Tundra IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen Annals of Botany 104 2 287 296 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
IRUA - Institutional Repository van de Universiteit Antwerpen |
op_collection_id |
ftunivantwerpen |
language |
English |
topic |
Biology |
spellingShingle |
Biology Milbau, Ann Graae, Bente Jessen Shevtsova, Anna Nijs, Ivan Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
topic_facet |
Biology |
description |
Abstract: Background and Aims: In a future warmer subarctic climate, the soil temperatures experienced by dispersed seeds are likely to increase during summer but may decrease during winter due to expected changes in snow depth, duration and quality. Because little is known about the dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of subarctic species, how warming may influence the timing and level of germination in these species was examined. Methods: Under controlled conditions, how colder winter and warmer summer soil temperatures influenced germination was tested in 23 subarctic species. The cold stratification and warm incubation temperatures were derived from real soil temperature measurements in subarctic tundra and the temperatures were gradually changed over time to simulate different months of the year. Key Results: Moderate summer warming (+2·5 °C) substantially accelerated germination in all but four species but did not affect germination percentages. Optimum germination temperatures (20/10°C) further decreased germination time and increased germination percentages in three species. Colder winter soil temperatures delayed the germination in ten species and decreased the germination percentage in four species, whereas the opposite was found in Silene acaulis. In most species, the combined effect of a reduced snow cover and summer warming resulted in earlier germination and thus a longer first growing season, which improves the chance of seedling survival. In particular the recruitment of (dwarf) shrubs (Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, Betula nana), trees (Alnus incana, Betula pubescens) and grasses (Calamagrostis lapponica, C. purpurea) is likely to benefit from a warmer subarctic climate. Conclusions: Seedling establishment is expected to improve in a future warmer subarctic climate, mainly by considerably earlier germination. The magnitudes of the responses are species-specific, which should be taken into account when modelling population growth and migration of subarctic species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Milbau, Ann Graae, Bente Jessen Shevtsova, Anna Nijs, Ivan |
author_facet |
Milbau, Ann Graae, Bente Jessen Shevtsova, Anna Nijs, Ivan |
author_sort |
Milbau, Ann |
title |
Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
title_short |
Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
title_full |
Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
title_fullStr |
Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
title_sort |
effects of a warmer climate on seed germination in the subarctic |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10067/782870151162165141 |
genre |
Betula nana Silene acaulis Subarctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Betula nana Silene acaulis Subarctic Tundra |
op_source |
0305-7364 Annals of botany |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/isi/000268106300008 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1093/AOB/MCP117 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/AOB/MCP117 |
container_title |
Annals of Botany |
container_volume |
104 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
287 |
op_container_end_page |
296 |
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1771544475962703872 |