Ecology of Alpine Snowbeds and the Impact of Global Change

Björk, Robert G.; Molau, Ulf

doi:10.1657/1523-0430(2007)39[34:eoasat]2.0.co;2

Cited by 180 publications

(170 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(148 reference statements)

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“…In addition to forest changes, we observed a particularly dramatic decrease of snowbed vegetation confirming the prediction that snowbed plant communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change (Björk and Molau 2007). The decrease of snowbed vegetation reflects a shift from a sparse vegetation cover to denser vegetation characterized by species found in the surrounding vegetation (Heegard 2002;Heegaard and Vandvik 2004;Björk and Molau 2007).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The decrease of snowbed vegetation reflects a shift from a sparse vegetation cover to denser vegetation characterized by species found in the surrounding vegetation (Heegard 2002;Heegaard and Vandvik 2004;Björk and Molau 2007). It is suggested that snowbed plants are restricted by growing season length and the availability of phosphorus (Björk and Molau 2007). Earlier studies indicate, however, that the immediate response of snowbed species to changed snow-depth and growing season length is highly speciesspecific (Galen and Stanton 1995;Sandvik et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plants restricted to snowbeds are suggested to be particularly susceptible to decreased snow-fall and longer growing seasons Björk and Molau 2007). However, it could also be suspected that heaths dominated by dwarf shrubs may be converted to heaths dominated by graminoids or larger shrubs, as experiments suggest that shrubs and graminoids may increase following warming (e.g., Walker et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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This study was conducted in the Swedish subArctic, near Abisko, in order to assess the direction and scale of possible vegetation changes in the alpine-birch forest ecotone. We have re-surveyed shrub, tree and vegetation data at 549 plots grouped into 61 clusters. The plots were originally surveyed in 1997 and re-surveyed in 2010. Our study is unique for the area as we have quantitatively estimated a 19% increase in tree biomass mainly within the existing birch forest. We also found significant increases in the cover of two vegetation types-''birch forest-heath with mosses'' and ''meadow with low herbs'', while the cover of snowbed vegetation decreased significantly. The vegetation changes might be caused by climate, herbivory and past human impact but irrespective of the causes, the observed transition of the vegetation will have substantial effects on the mountain ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Hedenås

Olsson

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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“…The speed of vegetation green-up increased in home ranges experiencing higher winter and spring precipitation, and in those located at higher elevations. This effect is consistent with results from other rangeland systems, and is likely due to a greater flush of available moisture for plant growth in the spring, thereby accelerating green-up of vegetation (Walker et al 1993;Walker et al 1995;Bjork & Molau 2007, Christianson et al 2013). …”

Section: Weather Topography and Vegetation Phenologysupporting

confidence: 88%

Asynchronous vegetation phenology enhances winter body condition of a large mobile herbivore

et al. 2015

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Article (refereed) -postprintSearle, Kate R.; Rice, Mindy B.; Anderson, Charles R.; Bishop, Chad; Hobbs, N.T. 2015. Asynchronous vegetation phenology enhances winter body condition of a large mobile herbivore. Oecologia, 179 (2). 377-391. 10.1007/s00442-015-3348-9 Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. AbstractUnderstanding how spatial and temporal heterogeneity influence ecological processes forms a central challenge in ecology. Individual responses to heterogeneity shape population dynamics, therefore understanding these responses is central to sustainable population management. Emerging evidence has shown that herbivores track heterogeneity in nutritional quality of vegetation by responding to phenological differences in plants. We quantified the benefits mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) accrue from accessing habitats with asynchronous plant phenology in northwest Colorado over three years. Our analysis examined both the direct physiological and indirect environmental effects of weather and vegetation phenology on mule deer winter body condition. We identified several important effects of annual weather patterns and topographical variables on vegetation phenology in the home ranges of mule deer. Crucially, temporal patterns of vegetation phenology were linked with differences in body condition, with deer tending to show poorer body condition in areas with less asynchronous vegetation green-up and later vegetation onset. The direct physiological effect of previous winter precipitation on mule deer body condition was much less important than the indirect effect mediated by vegetation phenology. Additionally, the influence of vegetation phenology on body fat was much stronger than that of overall vegetation productivity. In summary, changing annual weather patterns, particularly in relation to seasonal precipitation, have the potential to alter body condition of this important ungulate species during the critical winter period. This finding highlights the importance of maintaining large contiguous areas of spatially and temporally variable resources to allow animals to compensate behaviourally for changing climate-driven resource patterns.

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Climate change shifts population structure and demographics of an alpine herb,Anemone narcissiflora ssp. sachalinensis(Ranunculaceae), along a snowmelt gradient

Kawai

Kudo

2021

Population Ecology

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Alpine ecosystems, characterized by cold climates and short growing seasons, are thought to be most vulnerable to climate change. Warmer temperatures and earlier snowmelt extend the growing season length and increase drought stress for alpine plants, resulting in changes to their distribution. Anemone narcissiflora ssp. sachalinensis is a perennial herb that grows in the alpine snow‐meadows of northern Japan. In the last few decades, its distribution has shifted toward later snowmelt habitat in the Taisetsu Mountains of Hokkaido. We recorded demographic data for this species at early, middle and late snowmelt habitats over four years (2009–2012), and constructed transition matrix models to evaluate how demographic parameters and population growth rate vary between local habitats along a snowmelt gradient. The proportion of reproductive plants was low and seed production was limited in the early snowmelt habitat, with drier soil conditions, in comparison to the middle and late snowmelt habitats, with moist soil conditions. Evidence of the transition from small plants to those in the reproductive stage was limited in the early snowmelt habitat, suggesting that growth was inhibited; the local population in this habitat was estimated to be sustained by seed migration from later snowmelt habitats. These results indicate that advancing snowmelt under climate change may decrease the reproductive activity and population growth rate of snow‐meadow plants if seed migration from later snowmelt populations is limited, resulting in the extinction of local populations.

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Ecology of Alpine Snowbeds and the Impact of Global Change

Cited by 180 publications

References 59 publications

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Changes in Tree Growth, Biomass and Vegetation Over a 13-Year Period in the Swedish Sub-Arctic

Asynchronous vegetation phenology enhances winter body condition of a large mobile herbivore

Climate change shifts population structure and demographics of an alpine herb,Anemone narcissiflora ssp. sachalinensis(Ranunculaceae), along a snowmelt gradient

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