scholarly journals The impact of microclimate and soil on the ecology and evolution of an arctic plant

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas J. Wickander ◽  
Pil U. Rasmussen ◽  
Bryndís Marteinsdóttir ◽  
Johan Ehrlén ◽  
Ayco J. M. Tack
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Evolutionary Response ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe arctic and alpine regions are predicted to experience one of the highest rates of climate change, and the arctic vegetation is expected to be especially sensitive to such changes. Understanding the ecological and evolutionary responses of arctic plant species to changes in climate is therefore a key objective. Geothermal areas, where temperature gradients naturally occur over small spatial scales, and without many of the confounding environmental factors present in latitudinal and other gradient studies, provide a natural experimental setting to examine the impact of temperature on the response of arctic-alpine plants to increasing temperatures. To test the ecological and evolutionary response of the circumpolar alpine bistort (Bistorta vivipara) to temperature, we collected plant material and soil from areas with low, intermediate, and high soil temperatures and grew them in all combinations at three different temperatures. At higher experimental soil temperatures, sprouting was earlier, and plants had more leaves. Sprouting was earlier in soil originating from intermediate temperature and plants had more leaves when grown in soil originating from low temperatures. We did not find evidence of local adaptation or genetic variation in reaction norms among plants originating from areas with low, intermediate, and high soil temperature. Our findings suggest that the alpine bistort has a strong plastic response to warming, but that differences in soil temperature have not resulted in genetic differentiation. The lack of an observed evolutionary response may, for example, be due to the absence of temperature-mediated selection on B. vivipara, or high levels of gene flow balancing differences in selection. When placed within the context of other studies, we conclude that arctic-alpine plant species often show strong plastic responses to spring warming, while evidence of evolutionary responses varies among species.

Gas exchange and growth of three arctic tree-line tree species under different soil temperature and drought preconditioning regimes

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 686-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Landhäusser ◽  
Ross W. Wein ◽  
Petra Lange
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Withholding Treatment ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
Tree Line ◽  
Populus Balsamifera ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Net Assimilation

Low soil temperatures and water availability are thought to be major factors determining the distribution of tree species at the arctic tree line. A comparative study examined the response of Betula papyrifera, Populus balsamifera, and Picea mariana seedlings to different soil temperatures and drought regimes in a growth chamber experiment. Morphological and ecophysiological responses (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapour, and residual conductance) of these tree line tree species were measured and compared. Mean biomass accumulation of the deciduous species was greater than that of Picea mariana with increasing soil temperatures. Root biomass showed an increase of 30% in the three species between the soil temperatures of 3 and 15 °C. Response of ecophysiological variables to increased soil temperature was greater in B. papyrifera and Populus balsamifera than in Picea mariana. In a second experiment, drought-preconditioned B. papyrifera and Populus balsamifera seedlings were subjected to a 6-day water-withholding treatment. Drought decreased shoot mass and increased the root to shoot ratio equally in B. papyrifera and Populus balsamifera. Drought-preconditioned B. papyrifera and Populus balsamifera seedlings responded differently to the 6-day water-withholding treatment. Betula papyrifera used a water-conserving strategy and maintained low net assimilation rates and low water use after drought preconditioning, whereas in Populus balsamifera greater net assimilation rates were associated with drought preconditioning. These results are consistent with the distribution of these three tree species at the arctic tree line. Keywords: Picea mariana, Populus balsamifera, Betula papyrifera, drought preconditioning, soil temperature, arctic tree line.

The impact of increased temperatures on germination patterns of semi-aquatic plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-209
Author(s):  
Jade Dessent ◽  
Susan Lawler ◽  
Daryl Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Ambient Air Temperature ◽  
Threshold Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Number Of Seeds

AbstractFuture climate change predictions indicate that there will be an increase in ambient air temperature. Increases in ambient air temperature will result in a corresponding increase in soil temperature. The consequences of further increases in soil temperature will potentially be detrimental for the soil seed bank of plants in terms of length of dormancy and viability of seeds. This experiment investigated the effect of different exposure temperatures and duration of exposure on the germination of semi-aquatic plant species. Seeds of four species (Alternanthera denticulata, Juncus usitatus, Persicaria lapathifolia and Persicaria prostrata) were exposed to temperatures ranging from 25 to 100°C for durations between 1 and 14 days, before being germinated in an incubator for 6 weeks. Germination occurred in all four species after exposure to temperatures ranging from 25 to 60°C. These temperatures appeared to promote germination as the temperature and duration of exposure increased. However, in P. lapathifolia and P. prostrata, the number of seeds germinating declined when exposed to 70°C and there was no germination for temperatures exceeding this. In contrast, A. denticulata and J. usitatus only began to decline when exposed to 80°C, with no germination at higher temperatures. These results suggest that soil temperatures exceeding potential threshold temperatures of 70 and 80°C will result in a decline in the number of seeds germinating and may potentially see a change in species distributions. As such soil temperatures are already being experienced throughout Australia, some species may already be close to their thermal threshold.

scholarly journals The Impact of Vegetation on Archaeological Sites in the Low Arctic in Light of Climate Change

ARCTIC ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Matthiesen ◽  
Rasmus Fenger-Nielsen ◽  
Hans Harmsen ◽  
Christian Koch Madsen ◽  
Jørgen Hollesen
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Physical Disturbance ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Archaeological Preservation ◽  
Low Arctic ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Impact

Vegetation is changing across the Arctic in response to increasing temperatures, which may influence archaeological sites in the region. At the moment, very little is known about how different plant species influence archaeological remains. In this study we visited 14 archaeological sites stretching across a climatic gradient from the outer coast to the inner fjords in the Nuuk Fjord area of West Greenland to assess the impact of vegetation growth on archaeological preservation. Examination of the physical disturbance of archaeological layers and materials by roots from different plant species showed that horsetail (Equisetum arvense) was particularly destructive because of its deep penetrating rhizomes and ubiquity across the study area. Willow (Salix glauca) also caused physical disturbance due to a dense root network, but its roots were mainly found in the upper 30 cm of the soil. Focus was also given to the impact from vegetation on the visibility of sites, where growth of willow was found be the main problem, especially in the inner fjords. Historic descriptions and aerial photographs from the sites show that shrub growth was already widespread in the region by the 1930s, but photos of some of the sites investigated show that the willow shrubs are significantly taller today, which has decreased the visibility of site features. The impact from horsetail and willow on archaeological sites may be mitigated using geotextiles and grazing by livestock, but both methods require further studies before being implemented in the study area.

scholarly journals A Musty “Off” Flavor in Nova Scotia Potatoes Is Associated with 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole Released from Pesticide-treated Soils and High Soil Temperature

2007 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Daniels-Lake ◽  
Robert K. Prange ◽  
Sonia O. Gaul ◽  
Kenneth B. McRae ◽  
Roberto de Antueno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
The Other ◽  
Spectrometric Analysis ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Annapolis Valley ◽  
High Soil Temperature

In Fall 2001 in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley (Canada), several million kilograms of processing and table-stock potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) were affected by a severe “musty” “off” flavor and “off” odor that persisted after cooking. 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), a potent musty flavor/odor compound that is not known to be a potato metabolite was detected in samples of three potato lots rejected by consumers. To determine the role and source of TCA in the affected crop, samples of tubers from 30 fields were evaluated, including examination of production inputs and industry estimation of the “off” flavor, expert organoleptic assessment of flavor–odor intensity, and analytical quantitation of the TCA content of affected tubers, followed by a soil challenge to provoke TCA production. Production of “musty” potatoes was associated with unusually hot (>30 °C) soil temperatures during the 2001 growing season, and in some cases with γ-cyclohexane hexachloride (CHC) applied to control soil wireworm (putatively Limonius agonus Say). TCA quantitation and organoleptic assessment were in general agreement. Samples of soils from “idle” fields (no agricultural inputs for at least 8 years) and “production” fields (produced “off”-flavor potatoes in 2001) were subjected to several factors: 1) presence or absence of potato tubers; 2) preheating at 30 °C for 3 days, or no preheating; and followed by 3) no pesticides, or γ-CHC, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, fludioxonil, imidacloprid, or linuron applied singly, or all six pesticides applied together. After incubation for 2 weeks at 22 °C day/14 °C night with a 14-hour photoperiod, solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis revealed that untreated soils released small quantities of TCA (2.8 mol·kg−1) whereas higher quantities of TCA were present in soils treated with pesticides (3.8–6.6 mol·kg−1). The quantity of TCA released was not significantly affected by the presence or absence of potato tubers, but it was increased by preheating the soil sample, regardless of the other two factors, and by an interaction between pesticides and soil source. The quantity of TCA from both “idle” and “production” soils was highest when γ-CHC was added alone (214% and 284% of checks respectively). TCA production increased in the presence of the other five pesticides applied singly in “production” soils, but not in “idle” soils. Application of the six pesticides together increased TCA in both soils. Such an association of TCA-based “musty” “off” flavor with field soils containing γ-CHC and other pesticides combined with high soil temperature had not been reported previously.

Snowmelt Events in Autumn Can Reduce or Cancel the Soil Warming Effect of Snow–Vegetation Interactions in the Arctic

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (23) ◽  
pp. 9507-9518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Barrere ◽  
Florent Domine ◽  
Maria Belke-Brea ◽  
Denis Sarrazin
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Climate Feedbacks ◽  
Conductivity Data ◽  
Soil Warming ◽  
Wind Drift ◽  
Low Arctic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Winter Cooling

The warming-induced growth of vegetation in the Arctic is responsible for various climate feedbacks. Snow–vegetation interactions are currently thought to increase the snow-insulating capacity in the Arctic and thus to limit soil winter cooling. Here, we focus on autumn and early winter processes to evaluate the impact of the presence of erect shrubs and small trees on soil temperature and freezing. We use snow height and thermal conductivity data monitored near Umiujaq, a low-Arctic site in northern Quebec, Canada (56°N, 76°W), to estimate the snow thermal insulance in different vegetation covers. We furthermore conducted a field campaign in autumn 2015. Results show that the occurrence of melting at the beginning of the snow season counteracted the soil warming effect of snow–vegetation interactions. Refrozen layers on the surface prevented wind drift and the preferential accumulation of snow in shrubs or trees. Snowmelt was more intense in high vegetation covers, where the formation of refrozen layers of high thermal conductivity at the base of the snowpack facilitated the release of soil heat, accelerating its cooling. Consequently, the soil was not necessarily the warmest under high vegetation covers as long as melting events occurred. We conclude that under conditions where melting events become more frequent in autumn, as expected under climate warming, conditions become more favorable to maintain a negative feedback among the growth of erect vegetation, snow, and soil temperature in the Arctic, rather than a positive feedback as described under colder climates.

scholarly journals Identifying (subsurface) anthropogenic heat sources that influence temperature in the drinking water distribution system

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia M. Agudelo-Vera ◽  
Mirjam Blokker ◽  
Henk de Kater ◽  
Rob Lafort
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Anthropogenic Heat ◽  
Heat Sources ◽  
Drinking Water Distribution ◽  
Soil Temperatures

Abstract. The water temperature in the drinking water distribution system and at customers' taps approaches the surrounding soil temperature at a depth of 1 m. Water temperature is an important determinant of water quality. In the Netherlands drinking water is distributed without additional residual disinfectant and the temperature of drinking water at customers' taps is not allowed to exceed 25 °C. In recent decades, the urban (sub)surface has been getting more occupied by various types of infrastructures, and some of these can be heat sources. Only recently have the anthropogenic sources and their influence on the underground been studied on coarse spatial scales. Little is known about the urban shallow underground heat profile on small spatial scales, of the order of 10 m × 10 m. Routine water quality samples at the tap in urban areas have shown up locations – so-called hotspots – in the city, with relatively high soil temperatures – up to 7 °C warmer – compared to the soil temperatures in the surrounding rural areas. Yet the sources and the locations of these hotspots have not been identified. It is expected that with climate change during a warm summer the soil temperature in the hotspots can be above 25 °C. The objective of this paper is to find a method to identify heat sources and urban characteristics that locally influence the soil temperature. The proposed method combines mapping of urban anthropogenic heat sources, retrospective modelling of the soil temperature, analysis of water temperature measurements at the tap, and extensive soil temperature measurements. This approach provided insight into the typical range of the variation of the urban soil temperature, and it is a first step to identifying areas with potential underground heat stress towards thermal underground management in cities.

Effects of Soil Temperature on the Development of Young Eggplants (Solanum Melongena)

1976 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Rylski ◽  
J. Nothmann ◽  
M. Spiegelman
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Plant Development ◽  
Solanum Melongena ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Accelerated Growth

The effect of different soil temperatures on the development of young eggplants was examined at extreme seasonal air temperatures. In winter, rising soil temperatures accelerated growth, but lowering the soil temperature in summer had no effect and extremely high soil temperatures caused very poor plant development.

scholarly journals Climate-driven changes in functional biogeography of Arctic marine fish communities

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (46) ◽  
pp. 12202-12207 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Frainer ◽  
Raul Primicerio ◽  
Susanne Kortsch ◽  
Magnus Aune ◽  
Andrey V. Dolgov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
The Impact

Climate change triggers poleward shifts in species distribution leading to changes in biogeography. In the marine environment, fish respond quickly to warming, causing community-wide reorganizations, which result in profound changes in ecosystem functioning. Functional biogeography provides a framework to address how ecosystem functioning may be affected by climate change over large spatial scales. However, there are few studies on functional biogeography in the marine environment, and none in the Arctic, where climate-driven changes are most rapid and extensive. We investigated the impact of climate warming on the functional biogeography of the Barents Sea, which is characterized by a sharp zoogeographic divide separating boreal from Arctic species. Our unique dataset covered 52 fish species, 15 functional traits, and 3,660 stations sampled during the recent warming period. We found that the functional traits characterizing Arctic fish communities, mainly composed of small-sized bottom-dwelling benthivores, are being rapidly replaced by traits of incoming boreal species, particularly the larger, longer lived, and more piscivorous species. The changes in functional traits detected in the Arctic can be predicted based on the characteristics of species expected to undergo quick poleward shifts in response to warming. These are the large, generalist, motile species, such as cod and haddock. We show how functional biogeography can provide important insights into the relationship between species composition, diversity, ecosystem functioning, and environmental drivers. This represents invaluable knowledge in a period when communities and ecosystems experience rapid climate-driven changes across biogeographical regions.

INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN, POTASSIUM AND ROOT ZONE TEMPERATURE ON THE RESPONSE OF TIMOTHY IN MONOCULTURE AND IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALFALFA AND BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
HERMAN A. HAMILTON
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Nitrogen Addition ◽  
Birdsfoot Trefoil ◽  
Root Zone Temperature ◽  
Plant Associations ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Zone Temperature

The response of timothy in monoculture and m association with each of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil was studied when root zone temperatures of 10, 18.3 and 26.7 C were imposed on a soil receiving N at 0 and 100 pp2m of soil in all possible combinations with K at 0 and 166 pp2m of soil. The different plant associations resulted in highly significant differences in yields, irrespective of soil temperature or nitrogen addition, but only at 10 C was there a significant interaction between K and the plant associations. The legumes associated with timothy had a significant effect on timothy yield at all temperatures, and the behavior of the different legumes was in turn differently affected by fertilizer nutrients as well as by different temperatures. Shoot to root ratios of timothy tended to be greater when associated with trefoil than with alfalfa at all soil temperatures. The effect of soil temperature and fertilizer varied for alfalfa vs. trefoil when either was grown with timothy.

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