Reconstruction of tree-line vegetation response to long-term climate change

摘要: KNOWLEDGE of the vegetation response to climate change is necessary assess and predict realistic ecosystem development in anticipated, CO2-induced warmer world, particularly at high latitudes where greater warming expected1–3. Reconstruction over past 1,000 years may be helpful this respect, because period was characterized by contrasting climatic conditions4–9. Here we report reconstruction wind-exposed, tree-line associated with long-term northern Canada, using tree-ring growth-form analyses spruce subfossils. Three major types growth form within exposed, but stable, lichen–spruce community successively predominated forcing: krummholz (dwarf spruce, 2–3 m high) (AD 1435–1570, warm period) low ( ≲50 cm) (little ice age present: AD 1570 onwards, cold present climate, respectively). Whereas expansion a marginal woodland climaxed during late Middle Ages 1435–1570), low-krummholz these sites seems out phase twentieth century warming. This suggests that recovery global not straightforward, depending on nature structure time occurred. The implications such resilience for detection monitoring expected discussed, climate-sensitive arctic subarctic regions.