Habilitationsschrift--Münster. / Summary also in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. [117]-130).

Habilitationsschrift--Münster. / Summary also in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. [117]-130).

Diss.--Münster. / Bibliography: p. [292]-307.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2006. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lisa J. Graumlich. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Anthropology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Montana State University, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed Jan. 8, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Abstract Air and soil temperatures, snow cover, serious snow load damage to coniferous trees, wind, topography and edaphic factors on the fells situated between 67°N and 68°N in Finnish Lapland are described and their influence on the location of the actual timberline and treeline is discussed. In addition the relation between annual climate conditions and pollen deposition in the timberline ecotone is analysed and the results of seedling density monitoring in the same environment are presented. The potential for the actual timberline and treeline to advance to a higher elevation is also discussed. The field studies were carried out on the fells of Aakenustunturi, Yllästunturi and Pyhätunturi. The average altitude of the actual timberline varies from 370 metres to 402 metres a.s.l. The actual timberline is hardly ever composed of a single tree species but featured alternating occurrences of Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerpanovii). The mean tetratherms on the southern and northern slopes (+10.3°C and +10.1°C, respectively), the mean maximum tetratherm on the southern slope (+15.1°C) and the corresponding measures for the treeline (460 m a.s.l), the minimum tetratherm (+6.3°C), mean July temperature (+12.6°C), biotemperature (+3.3°C) and minimum effective temperature sum (455 d.d.), coincide closest with the results of earlier studies. The maximum altitudes of the actual timberline are dictated by many climatic factors on southern and western slopes with a gentle inclination, and the forest cover gradually becomes thinner, in which case the actual timberline does not form any easily distinguishable line. The lowest altitudes of the actual timberline are the results of an extremely high proportion of block fields, slope steepness and snow patches on the northern and eastern slopes. On the precipitous and rocky slopes trees have difficulties in taking root and in obtaining nutrients and water, while as a consequence of snow patches the growing season may be too short for tree growth at all, and if trees exist there they are suffering from low soil temperature and parasitic snow fungi. Serious snow load damage to trees evidently hampers any advance in the actual timberline, as do avalanches and mires. The location of the treeline is the result of a combination of a great number of unfavourable conditions for tree regeneration, seedling establishment and tree growth, such as inadequate snow protection, extreme soil temperatures, almost total destruction of trees by the snow load, wind pressure, an often inadequate effective temperature sum and length of the growing season, night frost in early summer, and poor, dry soil suffering from excessive evaporation. Actual timberline responses to predicted climate warming will differ greatly from site to site in relation to the local topography, edaphic features and associated ecological limitations. Any advance in the treeline to a higher elevation is likely to be slower and at least less certain than that in the actual timberline. In addition, advances in the actual timberline and treeline may even be prevented by phenomena occurring along with climate change. A potential key factor in this is serious snow load damage to the trees.

As a temperature-delineated boundary, Arctic treeline is predicted to shift poleward and tree growth is expected to increase in response to rapid warming. The massive scale of the Arctic treeline magnifies these changes to impact energy balance, carbon balance, and climate-related feedbacks at local, regional, and global scales. Yet, not all sections of the Arctic treeline are reporting growth, suggesting factors other than temperature may be becoming more limiting as the climate continues to change. This dissertation investigates how water availability and tree size may modify the response to climate change of a dominant conifer species (white spruce, Picea glauca) growing at an Arctic treeline site in the Brooks Range, Alaska, USA. The first chapter examines the influence of temperature and water availability on population regeneration and individual tree growth during the 20th century. A climatic shift towards a warmer and drier climate after 1975 caused divergent responses of sapling regeneration and mature tree growth, suggesting that, while individuals have grown, this section of treeline has remained relatively stationary. The second chapter explores the present-day relationships between tree size, temperature, moisture availability, and tree growth by examining the response of intra-annual radial stem growth rate to changing environmental conditions at the Arctic treeline. Tree size and water availability play important roles in moderating the growth response to increasing temperature. Finally, in the third chapter, the environmental cues which trigger the onset of radial stem growth in spring are identified. The results suggest a combination of winter chilling and subsequent spring heat accumulation initiates onset, like trees growing at lower latitudes. However, the chilling and heating thresholds at this Arctic treeline site were far colder than those identified at lower latitudes, suggesting local adaptation to harsh Arctic winters and springs. Through these new findings, this dissertation advances our understanding of Arctic treeline dynamics and will help to predict the future of the Arctic treeline more accurately in a rapidly changing climate.

Plant macrofossils and pollen from six small basins in western Colorado are used to trace the history of vegetation and climate over the last 15,000 years. The late-glacial upper timberline was 2800 m, and sparse krummholz Picea grew up to 3200 m. Summer temperatures were 3° to 5°C cooler than today. The late Pleistocene climate was influenced by winter storms from the Pacific. Precipitation shifted to a summer-dominated pattern by at least 9000 yr B.P. with the development of the summer monsoon. Plant fossils from bogs and lakes located near modern ecotones track the elevations of the temperature-controlled upper timberline and the moisture-controlled lower forest through the Holocene. Between 9000 and 4000 yr B.P., the Picea engelmannii-Abies lasiocarpa forest covered a broader elevational range, with upper timberline 200-300 m higher than today. Mean annual temperatures were 1.8°C warmer, and mean summer temperatures were 2.1°C warmer, than today. Temperatures were still about 1°C warmer prior to 2000 yr B.P. The lower limits of the montane and subalpine forests were 100-200 m below their modern elevations from 9000-4000 yr B.P. Mean annual precipitation was 50-100 mm greater. By 2600 yr B.P. the modern lower forest borders were established. Modern pollen dispersal, transportation, and deposition was sampled in atmospheric collectors, moss polsters, and surface lake sediments. Annual accumulation rates range between 1000 and 5000 grains cm⁻²yr⁻¹. Modern influx (grains cm⁻²yr⁻¹)averages: 1100 in alpine tundra, 2700 in the subalpine forest, 3400 in the montane forest, and 200 in shrub steppe. Pollen spectra in atmospheric traps and moss polsters reflect local vegetation, and provide effective modern analogs for pollen accumulation in peat bogs. In forested environments 80-90% of the pollen deposition in small lakes (< 5 ha) with no inflowing streams comes from atmospheric input. Pollen spectra in open vegetation are distorted by pollen from other vegetation types. At least half of the pollen deposition in small alpine lakes comes from taxa growing up to 1500 m lower in elevation.

Thesis (M.SC.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-161). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.