Snow is an important control of plant community functional composition in oroarctic tundra

摘要: The functional composition of plant communities is a critical modulator climate change impacts on ecosystems, but it not simple function regional climate. In the Arctic tundra, where proceeding most rapidly, have shifted their trait as predicted by spatial temperature–trait relationships. Important causal pathways are thus missing from models change. Here, we study causes community variation in an oroarctic tundra landscape Kilpisjarvi, Finland. We consider community-weighted means vegetative height, well two traits related to leaf economic spectrum. Specifically, model responses locally measured summer air temperature, snow conditions, and soil resource levels. For each traits, also quantify importance intraspecific (ITV) for between-community differences trait–environment matching. Our shows that (1) influential abiotic variable affecting composition, (2) vegetation height under weak local environmental control, whereas economics strong (3) relative magnitude ITV differs between (4) very consequential community-level analyses highlight winter conditions seasonal areas. show can either amplify or counter effects warming, depending trait.