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Grazing and warming effects on shrub growth and plant

Løkken, Jørn Olav; Hofgaard, Annika; Dalen, Linda; Hytteborn, Håkan
Peer reviewed
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2597106
Date
2019
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  • Scientific publications [744]
Original version
10.1111/jvs12752
Abstract
Questions: Vegetation in the forest–tundra ecotone faces changes in both climate

and land‐use. While climate warming is an important driver of vegetation growth

and composition, herbivory may have opposing effects. In the present study, we experimentally

test how removal of sheep herbivory affects the vegetation in an alpine

forest–tundra ecotone, and how responses are manifested at higher temperatures.

Location: Dovre Mountains, Central Norway.

Methods: Shrub growth (height and cover) and ground layer composition were analysed

each third year over an 18‐year period in a nested, three‐factorial experiment

(ambient temperature and herbivory; ambient temperature and no herbivory; increased

temperature and no herbivory). Fencing and open‐top‐chambers were used

as expedients. Treatment effects and interactions over time were analysed using linear

mixed effects models and ordination.

Results: Shrub height and cover increased over time due to reduced herbivory, but

without additional warming effect. Lichen cover declined in all treatments over time,

but more rapidly and earlier under warming treatment (significant after three years).

Contrary to expectations, there was no statistically significant increase in woody

species due to warming, although evergreen woody species displayed a trend shift

after six years, comprising a sharp decline towards year twelve. Litter accumulated in

all treatments, but at higher rates under warming (significant after nine years).

Conclusions: Our results disclose removal of sheep herbivory as a prominent driver

of shrub growth, with warming as a subordinate driver in the studied alpine vegetation.

The warming‐driven increased litter abundance may, however, be caused by

the decrease of wind inside chambers and the subsequent absence of wind‐driven

removal of litter. This chamber effect and the displayed timing differences in vegetation

responses call for the critical use of short‐term experimental data in predictions

of long‐term consequences of environmental change.
Journal
Journal of Vegetation Science
Copyright
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Vegetation Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Internation Association of Vegetation Science

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