Rapid climate change is transforming the Arctic’s delicate plant ecosystems in ways scientists had not expected, with some species thriving while others decline dramatically, new research reveals.
A comprehensive study spanning over four decades and involving more than 2,000 plant communities across 45 Arctic regions shows significant shifts in vegetation types, abundance, and growth from 1981 to 2022.
Researchers discovered substantial increases in shrubs and grasses across large areas, creating new habitats while overshadowing and harming smaller flowering plants. These previously common flowering plants are struggling to survive as taller plants limit their access to sunlight.
The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, making it a critical indicator of climate change impacts. The study highlights how shifts in vegetation serve as early warnings of broader ecosystem changes, which have implications for wildlife, indigenous communities, and the global carbon cycle.
An international team of 54 scientists from institutions including the University of Edinburgh and the University of British Columbia analysed over 42,000 field records, creating a comprehensive database essential for future monitoring and understanding of Arctic ecosystems.
The primary drivers of these plant community changes are warming temperatures and increased plant competition, researchers concluded.
Lead author Dr Mariana García Criado, from the University of Edinburgh, stated: “The Arctic is surprisingly diverse, and our study highlights the complexity of plant responses to warming. While shrubs often diminish biodiversity, we found varying effects across different locations.”
Professor Isla Myers-Smith, of the Universities of Edinburgh and British Columbia, added: “Arctic biodiversity isn’t simply declining—it’s transforming. Our findings underscore the complex nature of climate change’s impact on these critical ecosystems.”
Professor Greg Henry from the University of British Columbia emphasised the need for ongoing research, noting: “Ecosystem change in the Arctic begins with plants. Their changes affect everything—wildlife, local communities, and the planet’s carbon storage.”
Funded by the European Union and the Natural Environment Research Council, this research underscores the Arctic’s crucial role as an indicator for global environmental change.
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