Program for Ecosystem Research
Research Project Warming-induced biome change at the temperate-boreal ecotone: an experimental test of key regeneration processes
Principal investigator: Peter B. Reich
Assess the potential for projected climatic warming to
Program for Ecosystem Research
Research Project Warming-induced biome change at the temperate-boreal ecotone: an experimental test of key regeneration processes
Principal investigator: Peter B. Reich
Assess the potential for projected climatic warming to alter tree species composition at the boreal-temperate forest ecotone by experimentally warming forest plots and documenting effects on establishment and juvenile performance for tree species near their warmer (boreal species) or cooler (temperate species) range limits in northern Minnesota.
Ecosystem being studied
The ecotone between the boreal forest and the temperate forest in northern Minnesota.
The field experiments are being conducted at a relatively "warm lower latitude" site in the Cloquet Forestry Center and at a relatively "cold upper latitude" site in the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center.
The infrastructure needed to conduct the field warming experiments is being constructed at the research sites.
An hypothesis to be tested is that warming will enhance the growth and survival of seedlings of temperate species at the cold edge of their present range but reduce growth and survival of seedlings of boreal species at the warm edge of their present range. The experimental focus will be on the response of juvenile trees because forest composition in an altered climate likely will depend on the species identity of the individuals that recruit and ultimately replace mature trees as they die in response to disturbance or other natural and induced processes.
Why this is important
Human-induced alteration of earth's climate will undoubtedly result in substantial shifts in species ranges and abundances. The species composition of the southern boreal biome (encompassing much of the northern United States and southern Canada) is likely to be particularly sensitive to future warming because it represents a relatively sharp boundary between many temperate species to the south and boreal species to the north. There is, however, significant uncertainty surrounding the mechanisms of climatic change effects on vegetation compositional change, especially in forests, because of lack of experimental examination