Abstract

This study was conducted in the Swedish sub-Arctic, 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.

Keywords

Sub-Arctic; Vegetation change; Treeline; Biomass; Birch forest

Published in

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2011, Volume: 40, number: 6, pages: 672-682
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Olsson, Håkan

  • Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0173-1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/57899