The alpine treeline ecotone is primarily caused by climate at continental and regional scales, but at finer scales exhibits increasing complexity and linkages with abiotic factors. In order to better understand the dynamics and geographic properties of treeline, a three-pronged study was conducted. The study's first objective investigated what factors account for local treeline variation by comparing a climate-based predictive surface with actual treeline elevation. After finding that a mean growing season temperature of 10.27°C was the strongest predictor of treeline at continental scales, statistical analyses attempted to model the differences between predicted and actual treeline elevation based on local climatic and geomorphological controls. Site elevation and latitude were found to correlate most strongly. Roughness also exerted positive influences, as well as precipitation when coupled with certain terrain factors. The second objective explored the distribution of treeline carbon at site scales by analyzing field data gathered in August 2009 in Glacier National Park, Montana. This confirmed the expected relationship of upright trees containing the highest biomass density, tundra the lowest, and krummholz in the middle. A high degree of dead organic matter was discovered, which may have important implications for treeline as a carbon source or sink when considering treeline's slow decomposition rates, and how these will change under climate warming. An additional analysis investigated the potential for relative biomass gain with future treeline advance, based on site and regional differences in slope and environmental lapse rates. The third objective asked what the potential for change in treeline biomass is across the western United States is by using freeze-thaw days as a proposed indicator. This potential importance is based on existing knowledge of the facilitating relationships between solifluction, surface geomorphology, and seedling establishment and survival. Freeze-thaw days were found to be highly variable, but correlated most strongly with elevation, suggesting increased temperature variability at higher elevations. The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings and maps potential biomass gain and freeze-thaw days together to highlight treeline sites and regions with the greatest potential for advance in a warming climate.

Climatic changes have induced striking altitudinal and latitudinal vegetation shifts throughout history. These shifts will almost certainly recur in the future; threatening other flora and fauna, and influencing climate feedback loops. Changes in the spatial distribution of vegetation are most conspicuous at physiognomically distinct ecotones, particularly between the subalpine forest and alpine tundra. Traditionally, ecological research has linked abiotic variables with the position of this ecotone (e.g., cold temperatures inhibit tree survival at high elevations). Thus, the prevailing assumption states that this ecotone is in equilibrium or quasi-equilibrium with the surrounding physical environment and that any dynamic shifts express direct linkages with the physical environment. This dissertation employs a landscape ecology approach to examine the abiotic and biotic ecological mechanisms most important in controlling tree establishment at this ecotone. The study site is on the western slopes of Mount Rainier, which was severely burned by a slash fire in 1930. Therefore, a crucial underlying assumption is that the ecological mechanisms controlling tree establishment are similar at disturbed and undisturbed sites. I exploited the use of 1970 CORONA satellite imagery and 2003 aerial photography to map 33 years of changes in arboreal vegetation. I created detailed maps of abiotic variables from a LIDAR-based DEM and biotic variables from classified remotely sensed data. I linked tree establishment patterns with abiotic and biotic variables in a GIS, and analyzed the correlations with standard logistic regression and logistic regression in the hierarchical partitioning framework at multiple spatial resolutions. A biotic factor (proximity to previously existing trees) was found to exert a strong influence on tree establishment patterns; equaling and in most cases exceeding the significance of the abiotic factors. The abiotic setting was more important at restricted spatial extents near the extreme upper limits of the ecotone and when analyzing coarse resolution data, but even in these cases proximity to existing trees remained significant. The strong overall influence of proximity to existing trees on patterns of tree establishment is unequivocal. If the underlying assumption of this dissertation is true, it challenges the long-held ecological assumption that vegetation in mountainous terrain is in equilibrium with and most strongly influenced by the surrounding physical environment.

Alpine vegetation is the plant communities above the treeline. Alpine vegetation in Taiwan, distributing throughout Central Mountains, Yushan Mountains and Sheishan Mountains, covers an area of 100 000 ha. There are about seven hundreds of vegetation literatures in Taiwan. However literatures about classification of alpine vegetation are very few. Therefore we must increase studies of alpine vegetation to understand its distribution in Taiwan more. The study selected alpine vegetation in Yushan National Park as study area and surveyed floristic composition and distribution. The vegetation sampled based on relevé method and species cover estimated using the Braun- Blanquet cover-abundance scale. Analysis methods of vegetation classification are two-way indicator species analysis, nom-metric multidimentional scaling and diagnostic species determination. We recognized seven vegetation types: Solidago virgaurea var. leiocarpa herb vegetation type, Lycopodium clavatum herb vegetation type, Scabiosa lacerifolia herb vegetation type, Pieris taiwanensis shrub vegetation type, Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum shrub vegetation type, Gentiana horaimontana rock vegetation type and Brachypodium kawakamii rock vegetation type. The classification will be helpful for Yushan National Park on management and conservation. Besides, the data will be useful for detecting the effects of climatic changes threat to alpine vegetation.

4 Abstract The purpose of the diploma thesis is the analysis of changes in the alpine treeline ecotone with focus on the age structure and cover of the Norway spruce (Picea Abies) in the Giant Mountains in the 20th century. The altitudinal position and the tree density of the alpine treeline ecotone is a sensitive indicator which reflects the human impact as well as the climatic and air pollution changes. Methodical approach included the measuring of the age structure of the Norway spruce by using dendrochronology. In addition the changes of the spruce cover were evaluated from a series of aerial photographs dated 1936, (1953) 1964, 1985 and 2002. Those photographs were orthorectified and classified. The age distribution in the majority of the sample locations is irregular with some prominent peaks that are corresponding to the periods of good conditions and dips pointing out to the periods of disturbances. There is an evident peak during the 30s and 40s which is the same period of the increase of average temperatures of the growing season. On the contrary, depression during the 70s and 80s is detected only in the case of closed-canopy forest. The increasing number of trees during the 90s is related to the decreasing air pollution and to the higher average temperature. Relatively young age structure of the...

Treeline ecotone scrub, the suite of tall woody plant communities that bridge the boundary between tall forest and higher altitude open summit heaths, is a rare and little studied transition habitat in the UK. Individual species have recently attracted emergency measures to secure their future, but little is known about the current dynamics of the habitats. This thesis increases knowledge of treeline scrub dynamics, particularly in relation to young plants, and develops an understanding of the management required for future conservation. Climate and land use are the main drivers of treeline scrub dynamics, while land use policy will shape the future land use. This study focussed on three species: Betula nana, Salix myrsinites and Juniperus communis, as representatives of the main scrub communities. Firstly, the range of environmental conditions and the current land uses the species tolerate were surveyed for a large number of sites. This enabled the existing sites to be characterised to inform the selection of potential new sites for restoration. Secondly, experiments tested the response of young plants to the interaction between wind exposure and simulated browsing, and, separately, to over-wintering under snow. No evidence was found to suggest that declining snow cover will adversely affect the species, but while the response of the species to increasing exposure and browsing was complex heavy browsing is likely to limit expansion in the absence of specific management. Finally, a review of current land use policy identified that treeline ecotone scrub was included in existing implementation strategies. However, a survey of the understanding of and attitudes to these habitats by key individuals involved in creating, implementing and influencing policy demonstrated that restoration is unlikely to happen within the current structure, except through the interests of non-governmental organisations with a nature conservation focus.

RESUMÉ Tato práce se zabývá vlivem teplotních poměrů na intra-anuální růst smrku ztepitélo (Picea Abies (L.) Karsten) na alpínské hranici lesa v Krkonoších ve vegetačních sezónách 2011 a 2012. Monitoring probíhal na dvou lokalitách na jižním svahu Luční hory. První lokalita se nacházela v nadmořské výšce 1310 m n. m., přibližně na horní hranici zapojeného lesa, druhá pak v nadmořské výšce 1450 m n. m., ve stromových skupinkách nad horní hranicí lesa. Mezi lokalitami byl pozorován poměrně vysoký vertikální teplotní gradient jak u teplot vzduchu (1,2 - 1,7 řC), tak u teplot půdy v hloubce 10 cm (0,8 - 1,2 řC). Teplotní rozdíl mezi lokalitami se pak projevil v nižším pozorovaném přírůstu na výše položené lokalitě. Pozorované počátky kambiální aktivity se pohybovaly od 26. 4. do 21. 5. Začátek kambiální aktivity je ovlivněn množstvím sněhové pokrývky akumulované na lokalitách v průběhu zimy a s tím souvisejícím datem jejího odtátí, teplotami půdy a teplotami v přízemní vrstvě atmosféry. Délka kambiální aktivity se pohybovala mezi 55 - 77 dny, přičemž její délka byla nižší na výše položené lokalitě. Diferenciace buněk nastala bezprostředně po počátku kambiální aktivity a trvala od 111 do 132 dní. V porovnání sledovaných růstových sezón vyšla lépe růstová sezóna 2012, ve které byl průměrný přírůst stromů vyšší na...

<p> The pollen, charcoal and sediment stratigraphies of two cores from small lakes located northeast of Yellowknife, NWT are examined. The focus of this study is to reconstruct post-glacial vegetation changes in this climatically sensitive area. The resulting vegetation history is compared to similar reconstructions from across Canada. The pollen content of twenty-eight modern sediment samples, collected from the forest, the forest-tundra and the tundra zones were used to aid in the interpretation of the fossil record. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the fossil records from these lakes span ~7 500 years. The initial vegetation, shrub Betula tundra, was established at ~7 000 BP and persisted until ~6 000 BP. The presence of Ericaceae, Myrica, and Sphagnum distinguishes this zone from similar zones from western Canada and suggests the existance of large areas of bog environment. This zone is succeeded by a second shrub tundra zone, which is marked by a dramatic increase in Alnus crispa and Alnus incana. This zone spans from ~6 000 BP until ~5 000 BP. A synchronous increase in Alnus is noted from sites across Canada and is attributed to an increase in moisture. The third zone, spanning from ~5 000 BP to ~3 500 · BP, delimits the existance of forest vegetation defined by the northward expansion of Picea mariana. The delay of Picea mariana expansion into the area relative to its arrival in western Canada can be explained by one of the following: 1) geological differences; or 2) remnant glacial ice retarding climatic amelioration; or 3) the long-wave westerly disturbance, which causes cooler temperatures in the east when warmer temperatures persist in western Canada; or 4) some combination of the above. The decline of forest vegetation at ~3 500 BP marks the establishment of modern tundra vegetation at both sites. Climatic cooling coupled with fire caused the extinction of aboreal vegetation at the study sites.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

This study analyzes the structure and biophysical correlates of density of two whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) populations in the northern Rocky Mountains. Whitebark pine is a keystone species and an important component of treeline ecosystem dynamics; however, subalpine populations have declined nearly rangewide in recent decades. Though declines in subalpine forests have been well documented in the literature, few studies have assessed population structure and habitat requirements at treeline. Various disturbances have combined to impact whitebark pine populations across its range, but the primary threat at treeline sites in the northern Rocky Mountains is white pine blister rust, caused by the exotic fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola. In this study, I aim to: 1) assess population structure and regeneration within two geographically different treelines experiencing contrasting levels of infection, and 2) examine associations among several biophysical variables and whitebark pine density to better understand treeline habitat variability and regeneration patterns. I used density-diameter curves and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests to compare population structure between sites, and developed generalized linear mixed models to assess correlations between whitebark pine density and biophysical site variables. The results demonstrate that despite very different ecosystems and blister rust infection rates, our two study sites have similar population structure. Our model results highlight marked differences between populations in terms of biophysical correlates of density. While correlations are similar within site, seedlings and saplings have stronger correlations with biophysical variables than established trees. / Master of Science

This research assesses whether a refinement of the temporal resolution of tree-ring data can improve our understanding of the radial growth-climate relationship. Two study sites in Northern Labrador were chosen, one coastal (Nain), and the other inland (Kamestastin). In Nain, microcore samples were taken weekly from the same five white spruce (Picea glauca) trees over the 2014 growing season. After cross sections were made and stained, the resulting 10µm thin radii provided a direct view of active ring development. In coastal Labrador, radial growth was initiated during the last week of June 2014, and ceased by August 25th. Circumference band dendrometers were installed on white spruce trees at both the Nain and Kamestastin sites. The dendrometers were used to measure micrometre-scale changes over the 2014 growing season. Analogous records of temperature were collected with equal temporal resolution, from an Environment Canada climate station (#8502800), and via a programmable data logger (UX120-006M, Onset HOBO). Correlation function analysis determined the relationship between daily temperature variables and daily variations in stem size. A strong relationship was found between minimum daily temperature and daily stem size at both sites over the eight week long growing season. Traditional dendrochronological sampling methods were utilized to retrieve tree cores from white spruce and eastern larch (Larix laricina) in Nain and Kamestastin. Site-specific master growth chronologies were created using crossdating and standardization techniques. After establishing long term records of monthly temperature and accumulated growing degree-days (GDD) at both study sites, a linear regression analysis was undertaken to determine the suitability of these two variables as predictors of annual-radial growth. An accumulated June/July GDD index was identified as an overall better predictor of annual ring-width than mean monthly temperature variables in northern Labrador. Exploring radial growth on an intra-annual scale helped to improve our understanding of the complex radial growth-climate relationship in Labrador. This allows for a strengthening of tree rings as a proxy climate indicator in remote regions of the northern boreal forest. The findings from this thesis provide the tools necessary to improve upon long-term climate reconstruction and forecasts of boreal forest structure in the face of climate change.