Journal article
Alpine Treeline of Western North America: Linking Organism-To-Landscape Dynamics
Physical Geography, Vol.28(5), pp.378-396
2007
DOI: 10.2747/0272-3646.28.5.378
Abstract
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: Subtitle
- Alpine Treeline of Western North America: Linking Organism-To-Landscape Dynamics
- Creators
- George P Malanson - University of Iowa, Geographical and Sustainability SciencesDavid R Butler - Texas State UniversityDaniel B Fagre - USGS, West Glacier, MontanaStephen J Walsh - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDiana F Tomback - University of Colorado DenverLori D Daniels - University of British ColumbiaLynn M Resler - Texas State UniversityWilliam K Smith - Wake Forest UniversityDaniel J Weiss - University of North CarolinaDavid L PetersonAndrew G BunnChristopher A HiemstraDaniel LiptzinPatrick S BourgeronZehao ShenConstance I Millar
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Physical Geography, Vol.28(5), pp.378-396
- DOI
- 10.2747/0272-3646.28.5.378
- ISSN
- 0272-3646
- eISSN
- 1930-0557
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2007
- Academic Unit
- Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9983557273602771
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