Cited by 1,485Climate change and permafrostPolar Research and EcologyIndigenous Studies and Ecology

Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities

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Myers-Smith, Isla H, Forbes, Bruce C, Wilmking, Martin, Hallinger, Martin, Lantz, Trevor, Blok, Daan, Tape, Ken D, Macias-Fauria, Marc +24 more·2011·Environmental Research Letters

Abstract

Recent research using repeat photography, long-term ecological monitoring and dendrochronology has documented shrub expansion in arctic, high-latitude and alpine tundra ecosystems. Here, we (1) synthesize these findings, (2) present a conceptual framework that identifies mechanisms and constraints on shrub increase, (3) explore causes, feedbacks and implications of the increased shrub cover in tundra ecosystems, and (4) address potential lines of investigation for future research. Satellite observations from around the circumpolar Arctic, showing increased productivity, measured as changes in ‘greenness’, have coincided with a general rise in high-latitude air temperatures and have been partly attributed to increases in shrub cover. Studies indicate that warming temperatures, changes in snow cover, altered disturbance regimes as a result of permafrost thaw, tundra fires, and anthropogenic activities or changes in herbivory intensity are all contributing to observed changes in shrub abundance. A large-scale increase in shrub cover will change the structure of tundra ecosystems and alter energy fluxes, regional climate, soil–atmosphere exchange of water, carbon and nutrients, and ecological interactions between species. In order to project future rates of shrub expansion and understand the feedbacks to ecosystem and climate processes, future research should investigate the species or trait-specific responses of shrubs to climate change including: (1) the temperature sensitivity of shrub growth, (2) factors controlling the recruitment of new individuals, and (3) the relative influence of the positive and negative feedbacks involved in shrub expansion.

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Crossref · 10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509

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  • Landscape-scale changes in vegetation, such as shrubification, affect ecosystems at multiple trophic levels.

    “Landscape-scale changes in vegetation (e.g., shrubification), affect ecosystems at multiple trophic levels (Myers-Smith et al. 2011; Mod and Luoto 2016)”

    From Muskox status, recent variation, and uncertain future (2020) · cites this paper as Myers-Smith et al. 2011

    Section 4.3 (page unavailable) reports that increasing shrub cover is associated with changes in tundra plant diversity and discusses possible consequences for food webs and wildlife. It describes effects on caribou, reindeer and other animals as potential, so it does not fully support the claim’s unqualified assertion of effects across multiple trophic levels. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  1. ACIA 2005 Arctic Climate Impact Assessment-Scientific Report (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

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Authors
Myers-Smith, I. H., Forbes, B. C., Wilmking, M., Hallinger, M., Lantz, T., Blok, D., Tape, K. D., Macias-Fauria, M., Sass-Klaassen, U., Lévesque, E., Boudreau, S., Ropars, P., Hermanutz, L., Trant, A., Collier, L. S., Weijers, S., Rozema, J., Rayback, S. A., Schmidt, N. M., Schaepman-Strub, G., Wipf, S., Rixen, C., Ménard, C. B., Venn, S., Goetz, S., Andreu-Hayles, L., Elmendorf, S., Ravolainen, V., Welker, J., Grogan, P., Epstein, H. E., & Hik, D. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Lapland (FI)
  • Universität Greifswald (DE)
  • University of Victoria (CA)
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks (US)
  • Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (CA)
  • Center for Northern Studies (CA)
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland (CA)
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Vermont (US)
  • Aarhus University (DK)
  • Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (CH)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • La Trobe University (AU)
  • Woodwell Climate Research Center (US)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
  • UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
  • University of Alaska Anchorage (US)
  • Queen's University (CA)
  • University of Virginia (US)
  • University of Alberta (CA)
Venue
Environmental Research Letters
Published
2011-12-01
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
045509
ISSN
1748-9326 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2100636547
Cited by
1,485
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 64 · 2025: 108 · 2024: 86 · 2023: 117 · 2022: 139 · 2021: 177 · 2020: 122 · 2019: 109 · 2018: 128 · 2017: 105 · 2016: 92 · 2015: 90 · 2014: 77 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 17
FWCI
28.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Research Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • LaCRIS (University of Lapland) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • DORA WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Climate change and permafrost
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Polar Research and Ecology
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Indigenous Studies and Ecology
Keywords
shrub expansion, tundra ecosystems, Arctic tundra, alpine tundra, global warming, permafrost thaw, snow cover, tundra fire, herbivory, shrub recruitment, climate feedbacks, carbon and nutrient cycling, energy flux

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