Tage Vowles
A5039681957- Climate change and permafrost
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Bryophyte Studies and Records
- Plant and animal studies
- Science and Climate Studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
2023
University of Gothenburg
2008-2020
Abstract Arctic shrub expansion is occurring across large parts of the tundra biome and its potential ecological repercussions have been widely discussed. But while term “shrub expansion” often implicitly refers to an increase in tall, deciduous species such as birch willow, several studies also found a strong evergreen dwarf shrubs response warming, fact which has received far less attention. The effects are markedly different from taller, species. While may carbon (C) cycling through...
Abstract The majority of variation in six traits critical to the growth, survival and reproduction plant species is thought be organised along just two dimensions, corresponding strategies size resource acquisition. However, it unknown whether global trait relationships extend climatic extremes, if these interspecific are confounded by within species. We test cold extremes life on Earth using largest database tundra yet compiled. show that plants demonstrate remarkably similar economic...
Summary One of the most palpable effects warming in Arctic ecosystems is shrub expansion above tree line. However, previous studies have found that reindeer can influence plant community responses to and inhibit shrubification tundra. We revisited grazed (ambient) ungrazed study plots (exclosures), at southern as well northern limits Swedish alpine region, long‐term grazing vegetation changes response increasing temperatures between 1995 2011, two types (shrub heath mountain birch forest)....
Abstract Aim Plant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that explain a large proportion of among species. We test whether four commonly represent six ecologically important traits. Location Tundra biome. Time period Data collected between 1964 2016. Major taxa studied 295 tundra vascular Methods compiled database traits (plant height, leaf...
Abstract Large herbivores influence plant community structure and ecosystem processes in many ecosystems. In large parts of the Arctic, reindeer (or caribou) are only present. Recent studies show that have potential to mitigate recent warming‐induced shrub encroachment Arctic associated greening high‐latitude This will potentially scale consequences for productivity carbon cycling. To date, information on variation interactions between plants across landscapes has been scarce. We utilized a...
Following rapid climate change across the Arctic, tundra plant communities are experiencing extensive compositional shifts. One of most prevalent changes is encroachment boreal species into (‘borealization’). Borealization has been reported at individual sites, but not systematically quantified biome. Here, we use a dataset 1,137 plots 113 subsites 32 study areas resurveyed least once between 1981 and 2023 encompassing 287 vascular species. We i) borealization ecosystems as colonisation...
Plant communities in Arctic and alpine areas are changing due to higher temperatures longer vegetation periods it is uncertain how this will affect plant-herbivore dynamics. For instance, relatively fast-growing, deciduous shrub species that the most responsive warming may also be targeted by herbivores such as reindeer, giving less palatable evergreen shrubs chance expand. Using herbivore exclosures, we have studied two grasslands with contrasting nutrient moisture regimes, a dry,...
Abstract Mycorrhizal associations are widespread in high‐latitude ecosystems and potentially of great importance for global carbon dynamics. Although large herbivores play a key part shaping subarctic plant communities, their impact on mycorrhizal dynamics is largely unknown. We measured extramatrical mycelial ( EMM ) biomass during one growing season 16‐year‐old herbivore exclosures unenclosed control plots (ambient), at three mountain birch forests two shrub heath sites, the Scandes...
That reindeer grazing can have large effects on plant communities is well known, but how affects traits and carbon (C) nitrogen (N) allocation has not been studied to the same extent. This study was conducted in a sub-arctic dry heath northern Sweden. 17-year-old exclosures were used test whether C:N ratio (a quality index), δ13C δ15N (indicators of changes C N dynamics) as content above- below ground parts evergreen dwarf shrub Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. perennial forb Bistorta vivipara (L.)...
Background: Climate warming has been causing an increase in tall shrub cover around the Arctic, however, mammalian herbivory shown to inhibit expansion. Though effect of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and many other mammals widely studied this context, role mountain hare (Lepus timidus) subarctic Scandinavia remains unknown.Aims: To quantify browsing from on shrubs different vegetation types investigate differences preference between two.Methods: In summers 2013 2014, we counted signs by...
Abstract. Arctic ecosystems are warming nearly 4 times faster than the global average, which is resulting in plant community shifts and subsequent changes biogeochemical processes such as gaseous fluxes. Additionally, herbivores shape communities thereby may alter magnitude composition of ecosystem respiration biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions. Here we determine effect large mammalian on BVOC emissions two southern northern sites Swedish Scandes, encompassing mountain birch...
Abstract. Arctic ecosystems are warming nearly four times faster than the global average which is resulting in plant community shifts and subsequent changes biogeochemical processes such as gaseous fluxes. Additionally, herbivores shape communities thereby alter magnitude composition of ecosystem respiration BVOC emissions. Here we determine effect large mammalian on emissions two southern northern sites Sweden, encompassing mountain birch (LOMB) shrub heath (LORI) south low-herb meadow...
The dataset contains results from vegetation inventories for 1995-2011 four locations along the Swedish mountain range, shrub heath and birch forest types. Sites surveyed were Fulufjallet, Langfjallet, Ritsem Pulsuvuoma. At each site there are six 25x25m plots, three surrounded by a fence to keep out herbivores, representing grazed conditions. In of twenty 1×1m subplots randomly chosen, cover species in was visually estimated. This data species.