Ecosystem change and stability over multiple decades in the Swedish subarctic: complex processes and multiple drivers.

Sammanfattning

The subarctic environment of northernmost Sweden has changed over the past century, particularly elements of climate and cryosphere. This paper presents a unique geo-referenced record of environmental and ecosystem observations from the area since 1913. Abiotic changes have been substantial. Vegetation changes include not only increases in growth and range extension but also counterintuitive decreases, and stability: all three possible responses. Changes in species composition within the major plant communities have ranged between almost no changes to almost a 50 per cent increase in the number of species. Changes in plant species abundance also vary with particularly large increases in trees and shrubs (up to 600%). There has been an increase in abundance of aspen and large changes in other plant communities responding to wetland area increases resulting from permafrost thaw. Populations of herbivores have responded to varying management practices and climate regimes, particularly changing snow conditions. While it is difficult to generalize and scale-up the site-specific changes in ecosystems, this very site-specificity, combined with projections of change, is of immediate relevance to local stakeholders who need to adapt to new opportunities and to respond to challenges. Furthermore, the relatively small area and its unique datasets are a microcosm of the complexity of Arctic landscapes in transition that remains to be documented.

Nyckelord

subarctic environment; climate change impacts; ecosystem stability

Publicerad i

Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences
2013, volym: 368, nummer: 1624, sidor: 1471-1489

SLU författare

• Thierfelder, Tomas

  • Institutionen för energi och teknik, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Hedenås, Henrik

  • Institutionen för skoglig resurshushållning, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Bokhorst, Stef Frederik

  • Institutionen för skogens ekologi och skötsel, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Globala målen (SDG)

SDG13 Bekämpa klimatförändringarna
SDG15 Ekosystem och biologisk mångfald

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljövetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0488

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/44403