Growth rings show limited evidence for ungulates’ potential to suppress shrubs across the Arctic

Author:

Vuorinen KatariinaORCID,Austrheim Gunnar,Tremblay Jean-Pierre,Myers-Smith Isla H.,Hortman Hans Ivar,Frank Peter,Barrio Isabel C.,Dalerum Fredrik,Björkman Mats P.,Björk Robert G.ORCID,Ehrich Dorothee,Sokolov Aleksandr,Sokolova Natalia,Ropars Pascale,Boudreau Stephane,Normand Signe,Prendin Angela Luisa,Schmidt Niels Martin,Pacheco Arturo,Post EricORCID,John Christian,Kerby Jeff T,Sullivan Patrick F,Le Moullec Mathilde,Hansen Brage Bremset,Van der Wal Rene,Pedersen Åshild Ønvik,Sandal Lisa,Gough Laura,Young Amanda,Li Bingxi,Magnússon Rúna Íris,Sass-Klaassen Ute,Buchwal AgataORCID,Welker Jeffery M,Grogan PaulORCID,Andruko Rhett,Morrissette-Boileau Clara,Volkovitskiy Alexander,Terekhina Alexandra,Speed James David Mervyn

Abstract

Abstract Global warming has pronounced effects on tundra vegetation, and rising mean temperatures increase plant growth potential across the Arctic biome. Herbivores may counteract the warming impacts by reducing plant growth, but the strength of this effect may depend on prevailing regional climatic conditions. To study how ungulates interact with temperature to influence growth of tundra shrubs across the Arctic tundra biome, we assembled dendroecological data from 20 sites, comprising 1,153 individual shrubs and 22,363 annual growth rings. Evidence for ungulates suppressing shrub radial growth was only observed at intermediate summer temperatures (6.5-9°C), and even at these temperatures the effect was not strong. Multiple factors, including forage preferences and landscape use by the ungulates, and favourable climatic conditions enabling effective compensatory growth of shrubs, may weaken the effects of ungulates on shrubs, possibly explaining the weakness of observed ungulate effects. Earlier local studies have shown that ungulates may counteract the impacts of warming on tundra shrub growth, but we demonstrate that ungulates’ potential to suppress shrub radial growth is not always evident, and may be limited to certain climatic conditions. 

Funder

BIRD Project of TeSAF Department University of Padova

USRA

UK Natural Environment Research Council ShrubTundra Grant

Villum Young Investigator Programme

Darwin Center for Biogeosciences

Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research

NWO Earth and Life Sciences

Norwegian Polar Institute

The Swedish Research Council

National Science Foundation-Arctic Observing Network

Polish-US Fulbright Commission

Toolik Field Station Environmental Data Center

Arctic LTER

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada

Norges Forskningsråd

Russian Fund of Basic Research

Icelandic Research Fund

National Geographic Society for Research and Exploration

Fram Centre

Office of Polar Programs

National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation (United States), Division of Environmental Biology

Aarhus University Research Foundation

Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas

Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development

State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game

ArcticNet

Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs

Glencore

Hydro Québec

Fédération des pourvoiries du Québec

NSERC Discovery

Makivik Corporation

Publisher

IOP Publishing

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,General Environmental Science,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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