Shrub expansion over the past 62 years in Rocky Mountain alpine tundra: Possible causes and consequences

Abstract

Woody plants are encroaching into many herbaceous-dominated communities across the globe, including arctic and alpine tundra. Quantifying the encroachment rate, testing which factors contribute to encroachment, and determining how encroachment is taking place and in which community types encroachment is occurring are essential for predicting shifts in tundra vegetation and carbon (C) storage. We examined willow cover changes from 1946 to 2008 in 18 ha of alpine tundra in Colorado using aerial photographs. We linked this pattern of change with experimental assessment of the effects of increasing summer temperatures, winter precipitation, and nitrogen (N) deposition-factors that this region has experienced over this period-on willow growth and survival. Shrub cover expanded by 441% over 62 years and is increasing at an exponential rate, corresponding to increases in C storage of 137 kg ha. Nitrogen and temperature facilitate willow growth and snow increases survival, although N and the combination of N plus snow decrease survival. We find clonal growth (78%) accounts for more expansion than seed dispersal (22%), and that shrubs have expanded into wet, moist, and dry meadow. In addition to a release from grazing, we suggest that global change could be driving shrub expansion.