Keywords

tundra, vegetation change, plant functional trait, latitudinal gradient, communityweighted mean (CWM)

Disciplines

Biology

Abstract

The Arctic is warming more than twice the global average. Graminoids, deciduous shrubs, and evergreen shrubs have been shown to increase in cover in some regions, but not others. To better understand why plant response varies across regions, we compared change in cover over time with nine functional traits of twelve dominant species at three regions in northern Alaska (Utqiaġvik, Atqasuk, and Toolik Lake). Cover was measured three times from 2008 to 2018. Repeated measures ANOVA found one species showed a significant change in cover over time; Carex aquatilis increased at Atqasuk by 12.7%. Canonical correspondence analysis suggested a relationship between shifts in species cover and traits, but Pearson and Spearman correlations did not find a significant trend for any trait when analyzed individually. Investigation of community-weighted means (CWM) for each trait revealed no significant changes over time for any trait at any region. Whereas, estimated ecosystem values for several traits important to ecosystem functioning showed consistent increases over time at two regions (Utqiaġvik and Atqasuk). Results thus indicate that vascular plant community composition and function have remained consistent over time; however, documented increases in total plant cover have important implications for ecosystem functioning.

Original Citation

Betway, K. R., Hollister, R. D., May, J., Harris, J. A., Gould, W., & Oberbauer, S. (2021). Can plant functional traits explain shifts in community composition in a changing Arctic? Arctic Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2020-0036

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