Alpine treeline of western North America: Linking organism-to-landscape dynamics

G P Malanson; D R Butler; D B Fagre; Stephen J Walsh; D F Tomback; L D Daniels; L M Resler; W K Smith; D J Weiss; D L Peterson; A G Bunn; C A Hiemstra; D Liptzin; P S Bourgeron; Z Shen; C I Millar

doi:10.2747/0272-3646.28.5.378

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Alpine treeline of western North America: Linking organism-to-landscape dynamics

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Alpine treeline of western North America: Linking organism-to-landscape dynamics

G P Malanson, D R Butler, D B Fagre, Stephen J Walsh, D F Tomback, L D Daniels, L M Resler, W K Smith, D J Weiss, D L Peterson, …

Physical Geography, Vol.28(5), pp.378-396

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3646.28.5.378

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Abstract

Atmospheric Sciences

Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

climate change

ecotone

establishment

geomorphology

landscape

scale

Although the ecological dynamics of the alpine treeline ecotone are influenced by climate, it is an imperfect indicator of climate change. Mechanistic processes that shape the ecotone-seed rain, seed germination, seedling establishment and subsequent tree growth form, or, conversely tree dieback-depend on microsite patterns. Growth forms affect wind and snow, and so develop positive and negative feedback loops that create these microsites. As a result, complex landscape patterns are generated at multiple spatial scales. Although these mechanistic processes are fundamentally the same for all forest-tundra ecotones across western North America, factors such as prior climate, underlying geology and geomorphology, and genetic constraints of dominant tree species lead to geographic differences in the responses of particular ecotones to climate change.

Details

Title: Alpine treeline of western North America: Linking organism-to-landscape dynamics
Authors: G P Malanson (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D R Butler (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D B Fagre (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
Stephen J Walsh (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D F Tomback (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
L D Daniels (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
L M Resler (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
W K Smith (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D J Weiss (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D L Peterson (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
A G Bunn (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
C A Hiemstra (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
D Liptzin (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
P S Bourgeron (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
Z Shen (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
C I Millar (Author) - University of Iowa, United States
Publication details: Physical Geography, Vol.28(5), pp.378-396
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Date published: 2007
DOI: 10.2747/0272-3646.28.5.378
ISSN: 0272-3646
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450073902621
Output Type: Journal article

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