Tree Wave Migration Across an Elevation Gradient in the Altai Mountains, Siberia

Journal of Mountain Science
Viacheslav I KharukIl'ya A Petrov

Abstract

The phenomenon of "tree waves" (hedges and ribbons) formation within the alpine ecotone in Altai Mountains and its response to observed air temperature increase was considered. At the upper limit of tree growth Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) forms hedges on windward slopes and ribbons on the leeward ones. Hedges were formed by prevailing winds and oriented along winds direction. Ribbons were formed by snow blowing and accumulating on the leeward slope and perpendicular to the prevailing winds, as well as to the elevation gradient. Hedges were always linked with microtopography features, whereas ribbons were not. Trees are migrating upward by waves and new ribbons and hedges are forming at or near tree line, whereas at lower elevations ribbons and hedges are being transformed into closed forests. Time series of high-resolution satellite scenes (from 1968 to 2010) indicated an upslope shift in the position ribbons averaged 155±26 m (or 3.7 m yr-1) and crown closure increased (about 35-90%). The hedges advance was limited by poor regeneration establishment and was negligible. Regeneration within the "ribbon zone" was approximately 2.5 times (5060 vs 2120 ha-1) higher then within the "hedges zone". During the last four decades, Sib...Continue Reading

References

Oct 3, 2003·Tree Physiology·William K SmithDaniel M Johnson
Jan 5, 2016·Global Change Biology·František MálišTomáš Vida
Apr 5, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Eryuan LiangJosep Peñuelas
Jan 15, 2017·Forest Ecology and Management·Viacheslav I KharukMikhail N Yagunov

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Citations

Aug 1, 2017·Forests·Viacheslav I KharukMikhail N Yagunov

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