 Plant diversity dynamics over space and time in a warming ArcticMariana García Criado (),
Isla H. Myers-Smith,
Anne D. Bjorkman,
Sarah C. Elmendorf,
Signe Normand,
Peter Aastrup,
Rien Aerts,
Juha M. Alatalo,
Lander Baeten,
Robert G. Björk,
Mats P. Björkman,
Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe,
Ethan E. Butler,
Elisabeth J. Cooper,
J. Hans C. Cornelissen,
Gergana N. Daskalova,
Belen Fadrique,
Bruce C. Forbes,
Greg H. R. Henry,
Robert D. Hollister,
Toke Thomas Høye,
Ida Bomholt Dyrholm Jacobsen,
Annika K. Jägerbrand,
Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir,
Elina Kaarlejärvi,
Olga Khitun,
Kari Klanderud,
Tiina H. M. Kolari,
Simone I. Lang,
Nicolas Lecomte,
Jonathan Lenoir,
Petr Macek,
Julie Messier,
Anders Michelsen,
Ulf Molau,
Robert Muscarella,
Marie-Louise Nielsen,
Matteo Petit Bon,
Eric Post,
Katrine Raundrup,
Riikka Rinnan,
Christian Rixen,
Ingvild Ryde,
Josep M. Serra-Diaz,
Gabriela Schaepman-Strub,
Niels M. Schmidt,
Franziska Schrodt,
Sofie Sjögersten,
Manuel J. Steinbauer,
Lærke Stewart,
Beate Strandberg,
Anne Tolvanen,
Craig E. Tweedie and
Mark Vellend
Nature, 2025, vol. 642, issue 8068, 653-661 Abstract: Abstract The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average1 and plant communities are responding through shifts in species abundance, composition and distribution2–4. However, the direction and magnitude of local changes in plant diversity in the Arctic have not been quantified. Using a compilation of 42,234 records of 490 vascular plant species from 2,174 plots across the Arctic, here we quantified temporal changes in species richness and composition through repeat surveys between 1981 and 2022. We also identified the geographical, climatic and biotic drivers behind these changes. We found greater species richness at lower latitudes and warmer sites, but no indication that, on average, species richness had changed directionally over time. However, species turnover was widespread, with 59% of plots gaining and/or losing species. Proportions of species gains and losses were greater where temperatures had increased the most. Shrub expansion, particularly of erect shrubs, was associated with greater species losses and decreasing species richness. Despite changes in plant composition, Arctic plant communities did not become more similar to each other, suggesting no biotic homogenization so far. Overall, Arctic plant communities changed in richness and composition in different directions, with temperature and plant–plant interactions emerging as the main drivers of change. Our findings demonstrate how climate and biotic drivers can act in concert to alter plant composition, which could precede future biodiversity changes that are likely to affect ecosystem function, wildlife habitats and the livelihoods of Arctic peoples5,6. Date: 2025 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:642:y:2025:i:8068:d:10.1038_s41586-025-08946-8 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08946-8 Access Statistics for this article Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper More articles in Nature from Nature |
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