High arctic plant community responses to a decade of ambient warming

TY - JOUR

T1 - High arctic plant community responses to a decade of ambient warming

AU - Schmidt, Niels Martin

AU - Kristensen, Ditte Katrine

AU - Michelsen, Anders

AU - Bay, Christian

N1 - CENPERM[2012]

PY - 2012/9

Y1 - 2012/9

N2 - The Arctic biome is subject to large climatic changes. Pivotal to our understanding of the ecological consequences of these changes is the understanding of how the vegetation responds to the altered abiotic conditions. To examine this, we conducted detailed vegetation composition analyses in permanent, replicated plots in eight widespread, distinct plant communities within the Zackenberg Valley in high Arctic Greenland in 1997 and 2008. This period was characterised by a considerable increase in summer temperature and declining spring snow cover. Across plant communities, we found substantial changes in cover of several functional groups and species, biodiversity and community structure. The fen area in particular had markedly changed, most likely in response to a decreasing supply of melt water. Other vegetation types, however, seemed resistant towards the changed environmental conditions. Hence, while some general patterns emerged, the response differed markedly between plant communities, and often with contrasting responses. Our results stress that although some high Arctic plant communities exhibit a relatively high degree of resistance towards environmental changes, the derived ecological effects of climate change in other plant communities may be substantial even on a decadal scale, and, hence, occur at a fast pace.

AB - The Arctic biome is subject to large climatic changes. Pivotal to our understanding of the ecological consequences of these changes is the understanding of how the vegetation responds to the altered abiotic conditions. To examine this, we conducted detailed vegetation composition analyses in permanent, replicated plots in eight widespread, distinct plant communities within the Zackenberg Valley in high Arctic Greenland in 1997 and 2008. This period was characterised by a considerable increase in summer temperature and declining spring snow cover. Across plant communities, we found substantial changes in cover of several functional groups and species, biodiversity and community structure. The fen area in particular had markedly changed, most likely in response to a decreasing supply of melt water. Other vegetation types, however, seemed resistant towards the changed environmental conditions. Hence, while some general patterns emerged, the response differed markedly between plant communities, and often with contrasting responses. Our results stress that although some high Arctic plant communities exhibit a relatively high degree of resistance towards environmental changes, the derived ecological effects of climate change in other plant communities may be substantial even on a decadal scale, and, hence, occur at a fast pace.

U2 - 10.1080/14888386.2012.712093

DO - 10.1080/14888386.2012.712093

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1488-8386

VL - 13

SP - 191

EP - 199

JO - Biodiversity

JF - Biodiversity

IS - 3-4

ER -