GC13K:
Dynamics, Drivers, and Impacts of Vegetation Change in Boreal and Arctic Ecosystems II


Session ID#: 10204

Session Description:
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the Arctic is “greening” in response to climate warming and wetting, while parts of the Boreal may be “browning”. Yet, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the rate, magnitude, causes and implications of this vegetation change.

This session seeks to integrate diverse research on the dynamics, drivers, and consequences of vegetation change in terrestrial, high-latitude ecosystems with the ultimate goal of better predicting how the vegetative cover change will feedback to the climate system. We are especially interested in submissions that investigate the biogeochemical, biophysical, and other ecosystem-level consequences of vegetation change. In addition, we encourage submissions that develop a mechanistic understanding of the causes of vegetation change. We also welcome submissions that document the dynamics of ongoing vegetation change, including (but not limited to) studies that utilize remote sensing and repeat photography.

Primary Convener:  Claudia I Czimczik, University of California, Irvine, United States
Conveners:  Sandra R Holden, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States and Michael Goulden, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
Chairs:  Claudia I Czimczik, University of California Irvine, Earth System Science, Irvine, CA, United States and Sandra R Holden, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
OSPA Liaison:  Claudia I Czimczik, University of California Irvine, Earth System Science, Irvine, CA, United States

Cross-Listed:
  • A - Atmospheric Sciences
  • B - Biogeosciences
  • C - Cryosphere
  • H - Hydrology
Index Terms:

0426 Biosphere/atmosphere interactions [BIOGEOSCIENCES]
0439 Ecosystems, structure and dynamics [BIOGEOSCIENCES]
0702 Permafrost [CRYOSPHERE]
1632 Land cover change [GLOBAL CHANGE]

Abstracts Submitted to this Session:

On the relationship between boreal forest browning and tree mortality: insights from Alaska (Invited) (59621)
Brendan M Rogers, Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, United States and Scott J Goetz, Woods Hole Research Ctr, Falmouth, MA, United States
Can Tree Ring Analyses Predict Resilience of Black Spruce Forests to Fire in Interior Alaska? (65822)
Xanthe J Walker1, Jill F Johnstone2 and Michelle C Mack1, (1)Northern Arizona University, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Flagstaff, AZ, United States, (2)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, United States
Getting to the root of the matter: Landscape implications of plant-fungal interactions for tree migration in Alaska (82917)
Rebecca E Hewitt1, Alec Bennett2, Amy Lynn Breen3, Teresa N Hollingsworth2, Donald Lee Taylor4, Terry Chapin5 and Scott T Rupp6, (1)Northern Arizona University, Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Flagstaff, United States, (2)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (3)University of Alaska Fairbanks, International Arctic Research Center, Fairbanks, United States, (4)University of New Mexico Main Campus, Department of Biology, Albuquerque, NM, United States, (5)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (6)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning, Fairbanks, United States
Circumpolar Dynamics of Arctic Tundra Vegetation in Relation to Temperature Trends (Invited) (78977)
Howard E Epstein, University of Virginia, Department of Environmental Sciences, Charlottesville, United States, Uma Suren Bhatt, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States, Martha K Raynolds, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, AK, United States, Donald A Walker, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Geobotany Center, Fairbanks, AK, United States and Leah Reichle, University of Virginia Main Campus, Environmental Sciences, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Will greater shrub abundance greatly impact tundra surface-atmosphere exchanges of energy and carbon? (Invited) (76182)
Elyn Humphreys, Carleton University, Geography & Environmental Studies, Ottawa, ON, Canada and Peter Lafleur, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
Response of plant tundra communities to changes in abiotic and biotic environments: Importance of the temporal dimension (80337)
Patrick Saccone and Risto Virtanen, University of Oulu, Ecology, Oulu, Finland
Changes in tundra vascular plant biomass over thirty years at Imnavait Creek, Alaska, and current ecosystem C and N dynamics. (Invited) (60196)
Marion Syndonia Bret-Harte1, Gaius R Shaver2, Eugenie Susanne Euskirchen3, Diane C Huebner4, Jackson W Drew4, Jessica E Cherry5 and Colin Edgar6, (1)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (2)Marine Bio Lab, Woods Hole, MA, United States, (3)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, United States, (4)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (5)NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information, Anchorage, United States, (6)Univesity of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Arctic Biology, Fairbanks, United States
Permafrost Thaw, Soil Moisture and Plant Community Change Alter Organic Matter Decomposition in Alaskan Tundra (66005)
Susan Natali, Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, MA, United States, Marguerite Mauritz, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States, Elaine Pegoraro, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Berkeley, United States and Edward Schuur, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, United States

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