| 1. |
- Geck, JR, et al.
(författare)
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Geodetic Mass Balance of Glaciers in the Central Brooks Range, Alaska, U.S.A., from 1970 to 2001
- 2013
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 45:1, s. 29-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alaska's arctic glaciers have retreated and thinned during recent decades, and glaciers in the central Brooks Range are no exception. Digital elevation models (DEMs) reconstructed from topographic maps (from 1970 and 1973) were differenced from a 2001 interferometric synthetic aperture radar DEM to calculate the volume and mass changes of 107 glaciers covering 42 km2 (1970/1973) in the central Brooks Range, Alaska, U.S.A. For each glacier the 1970/1973 DEM was 3-D co-registered (horizontal and vertical) to maximize agreement between the non-glacierized terrains of both DEMs. Over the period 1970–2001, total ice volume loss was 0.69 ± 0.06 km3 corresponding to a mean (area-weighted) specific mass balance rate of -0.54 ± 0.05 m w.e. a-1 (± uncertainty). The arithmetic mean of all glaciers' specific mass balance rates was -0.47 ± 0.27 m w.e. a-1 (± 1 std. dev.). A value of -0.52 ± 0.36 m w.e. a-1 (± 1 std. dev.) was found when 3-D coregistration is performed over the entire domain instead of individually for each glacier, indicating the importance of proper co-registration. Glacier area, perimeter, boundary compactness, mean elevation, and mean slope were correlated with specific balance rates, suggesting that large, low-elevation, elongated and shallow sloped glaciers had more negative balance rates than small, high-elevation, circular, and steep glaciers. A subsample of 36 glaciers showed a mean area reduction of 26 ± 16% (±1 std. dev.) over ∼35 years.
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| 2. |
- Irl, Severin D. H., et al.
(författare)
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Burned and devoured-Introduced herbivores, fire, and the endemic flora of the high-elevation ecosystem on La Palma, Canary Islands
- 2014
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 46:4, s. 859-869
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Novel disturbance regimes (e.g., introduced herbivores and fire) are among the major drivers of degradation in island ecosystems. High-elevation ecosystems (HEEs) on islands might be especially vulnerable to these disturbances due to high endemism. Here, data from an 11-year exclosure experiment in the HEE of La Palma (Canary Islands) are presented where mammalian herbivores have been introduced. We investigate the combined effect of herbivory and fire on total species richness, seedling richness, and seedling establishment on the whole system and a subset of highly endangered species (target species). Total species richness, seedling species richness, and seedling establishment decreased with herbivory. Five out of eight target species were exclusively found inside the exclosures indicating the negative impact of introduced herbivores on endemic high elevation flora. Target species were generally affected more negatively by introduced herbivores and were subject to significantly higher browsing pressure, probably owing to their lack of defense strategies. A natural wildfire that occurred six years before data sampling substantially increased total species richness and seedling richness in both herbivory exclosure and reference conditions. We conclude that species composition of the HEE has been severely altered by the introduction of non-native herbivores, even though fire seems to have a positive effect on this system.
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| 3. |
- le Roux, Peter C., et al.
(författare)
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Spatial Association of Lemming Burrows with Landforms in the Swedish Subarctic Mountains : Implications for Periglacial Feature Stability
- 2011
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 43:2, s. 223-228
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Burrowing mammals often have considerable geomorphological impacts, and their tunneling activities may decrease the stability of landforms. We document the spatial distribution of Norwegian lemming burrows in a subarctic alpine meadow to determine the preferred locations for burrow entrances and to examine the potential for burrowing to decrease the stability of periglacial landforms at the site. Burrow entrances were disproportionately common into the base and sides of landforms (>68% of burrows), probably reflecting the lower energetic cost of moving soil horizontally, rather than vertically, out of burrows. Most burrow entrances (>60%) were also located under large rocks, which probably improve burrow stability by providing a firm ceiling to the entrance. Field observations show that these burrows are relatively stable, as only 3% were associated with any signs of increased erosion or landform instability. Therefore, in contrast to some previous studies, and despite burrowing being concentrated on landforms, we suggest that these rodents have little direct impact on landform integrity at this site.
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| 4. |
- Ryberg, Martin, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Ectomycorrhizal Diversity on Dryas octopetala and Salix reticulata in an Alpine Cliff Ecosystem
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 41:4, s. 506-514
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ectomycorrhizal communities in alpine habitats have been relatively little studied. As global change is predicted to have a large impact in Arctic and alpine environments, it is important to document the fungi of these climatic regions to monitor changes and to understand upcoming successions. This study investigates the ectomycorrhizal community of Dryas octopetala and Salix reticulata on cliff ledges in a mid-alpine setting using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA for the identification of the fungal component of ectomycorrhizal root tips. It is shown that the community is relatively species rich, with 74 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs)/species, and that it is dominated by Cenococcum geophilum, Thelephoraceae spp., Cortinarius spp., and Sebacinales spp. Furthermore, the dominating species have low specificity regarding the tested hosts and seem likely to be able to facilitate the succession of the alpine tundra to subalpine forest by serving as mycorrhizal partners for establishing pioneer trees.
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| 5. |
- Samyn, D., et al.
(författare)
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Nitrate and Sulfate Anthropogenic Trends in the 20th Century from Five Svalbard Ice Cores
- 2012
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 44:4, s. 490-499
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sulfate and nitrate records from 5 ice cores spread across Svalbard were compared and revealed strong temporal similarities with previously published global estimates of SO2 and NOx anthropogenic emissions during the 20th century. A significant departure from the early century sulfate and nitrate levels was evident at all drilling sites starting from the mid-1940s. A steady increase was observed in both sulfate and nitrate profiles at most sites until the late 1960s, when the annual concentrations started to increase at a higher rate. This peak activity lasted for about a decade, and was observed to decrease steadily from the early 1980s on, when sulfate levels declined significantly and when nitrate levels finally reached sulfate levels for the first time in 20th century. The timing of these trends in Svalbard with global SO2 and NOx concentration profiles was best appraised when considering composite concentration profiles of all Svalbard ice cores for sulfate and nitrate, respectively. Composite profiles were also found to provide a convenient mean for distinguishing between the most important world source regions. Based on correlation analysis, the major pollutant sources appeared to be Western Europe and North America for both sulfate and nitrate, followed by Central Europe and former U.S.S.R. in generally similar proportions.
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| 6. |
- Van Bogaert, Rik, et al.
(författare)
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Range Expansion of Thermophilic Aspen (Populus tremula L.) in the Swedish Subarctic
- 2010
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 42:3, s. 362-375
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In subarctic Sweden, recent decadal colonization and expansion of aspen (Populus tremula L.) were recorded. Over the past 100 years, aspen became c. 16 times more abundant, mainly as a result of increased sexual regeneration. Moreover, aspen now reach tree-size (>2 m) at the alpine treeline, an ecotone that has been dominated by mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) for at least the past 4000 years. We found that sexual regeneration in aspen probably occurred seven times or more within the last century. Whereas sexual regeneration occurred during moist years following a year with an exceptionally high June July temperature, asexual regeneration was favored by warm and dry summers. Disturbance to the birch forest by cyclic moth population outbreaks was critical in aspen establishment in the subalpine area. At the treeline, aspen colonization was less determined by these moth outbreaks, and was mainly restricted by summer temperature. If summer warming persists, aspen spread may continue in subarctic Sweden, particularly at the treeline. However, changing disturbance regimes, future herbivore population dynamics and the responses of aspen's competitors birch and pine to a changing climate may result in different outcomes.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Olofsson, Johan
(författare)
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Effects of simulated reindeer grazing, trampling and waste products on nitrogen mineralization and production in a subarctic meadow
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 41:3, s. 330-338
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An experiment was conducted in arctic tundra to evaluate the role of reindeer grazing, trampling, and feces and urine deposition in nutrient turnover and primary production. Grazing was simulated by mowing, trampling by the impact of a wooden pole, and waste product deposition by the application of fertilizer. In the first year, aboveground primary production increased with simulated grazing in the fertilized plots and decreased with simulated grazing in the unfertilized plots; this indicates a higher regrowth capacity at higher nutrient levels. However, nitrogen mineralization and primary production were mainly determined by the input or removal of nutrients and, therefore, decreased in plots that were grazed but not fertilized and increased in plots that were fertilized but not grazed. Simulated trampling decreased the depth of the moss layer and increased soil temperatures, but the higher temperatures increased N mineralization only in unmowed plots, and the increased nitrogen availability was not translated into increased primary production. Since aboveground and belowground net primary production in plots with simulated grazing was the same as in plots without simulated animal activity, this study indicates that an entire trophic level can be supported with no apparent effect on primary production.
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| 10. |
- Young, Amanda B., et al.
(författare)
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Geometrid moth outbreaks and their climatic relations in northern Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research. - : BioOne. - 1523-0430 .- 1938-4246. ; 46:3, s. 659-668
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The alpine treeline in northern Fennoscandia is composed primarily of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii), a deciduous tree that experiences episodic defoliation due to outbreaks of the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) and winter moth (Operophtera brumata). Here, we use an extensive dendroecological data set to reconstruct historic defoliating outbreaks and relate them to climatic conditions. Our data are from 25 sites in eight valleys in northern Sweden. We used the computer program OUTBREAK to reconstruct moth outbreaks. The reconstructed outbreak record matches the historical record well. There is a significant, but weak relationship between the outbreak severity and temperatures in February, April, July, and August of the outbreak year. Temperatures in the previous May and November were also positively correlated with outbreak severity. For seasonally aggregated temperatures, only autumn temperatures are correlated with outbreak severity. There was no significant correlation between NAO index and outbreak severity. A spatiotemporal semivariogram analysis showed that sites within approximately 100 km of each other show similar patterns in outbreak severity. Our analyses suggest that moths are affected by climatic variations. The influence of climate on outbreaks is weak because background climatic conditions alone cannot induce an outbreak. Outbreaks also depend on nonclimatic factors, such as tree age, and the outbreak status of neighboring areas.
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