Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline
Abstract Recent climate warming is expected to increase tree growth and productivity, substantially altering ecological function and boundaries in northern ecosystems. Although climate largely determines the range and growth of trees in any biome, variations in microsite conditions can influence gro...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4236 |
| _version_ | 1811257853835476992 |
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| author | Jessica A. Lang James D. Roth Jacques C. Tardif John H. Markham |
| author_facet | Jessica A. Lang James D. Roth Jacques C. Tardif John H. Markham |
| author_sort | Jessica A. Lang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Recent climate warming is expected to increase tree growth and productivity, substantially altering ecological function and boundaries in northern ecosystems. Although climate largely determines the range and growth of trees in any biome, variations in microsite conditions can influence growth on a finer scale. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are found in most terrestrial ecosystems and are considered ecosystem engineers through their denning activities. Added soil nutrients from prey remains, feces, and urine could benefit tree growth on dens in subarctic regions by alleviating soil nutrient limitations. We examined growth in white spruce (Picea glauca) trees growing on eight red fox dens and paired control sites at the Arctic treeline. Radial growth was 55% higher for trees on dens than on control sites between 1897 and 2017, despite similarities in tree ages and densities. This enhanced growth was more pronounced in younger trees, consistent with the decrease in growth with age among all trees. By promoting tree growth near the treeline, red foxes may act as hotspots for tree reproduction. Although the impacts on tree growth largely depend on the spatial distribution of dens, predators can create distinct microhabitats across the landscape, leading to increased vegetation productivity, persisting over many decades. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:04:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e68b6cc31a249b199c29798a0a09ee3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:04:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e68b6cc31a249b199c29798a0a09ee32022-12-22T03:22:03ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252022-09-01139n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4236Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treelineJessica A. Lang0James D. Roth1Jacques C. Tardif2John H. Markham3Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaDepartment of Biology University of Winnipeg Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaAbstract Recent climate warming is expected to increase tree growth and productivity, substantially altering ecological function and boundaries in northern ecosystems. Although climate largely determines the range and growth of trees in any biome, variations in microsite conditions can influence growth on a finer scale. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are found in most terrestrial ecosystems and are considered ecosystem engineers through their denning activities. Added soil nutrients from prey remains, feces, and urine could benefit tree growth on dens in subarctic regions by alleviating soil nutrient limitations. We examined growth in white spruce (Picea glauca) trees growing on eight red fox dens and paired control sites at the Arctic treeline. Radial growth was 55% higher for trees on dens than on control sites between 1897 and 2017, despite similarities in tree ages and densities. This enhanced growth was more pronounced in younger trees, consistent with the decrease in growth with age among all trees. By promoting tree growth near the treeline, red foxes may act as hotspots for tree reproduction. Although the impacts on tree growth largely depend on the spatial distribution of dens, predators can create distinct microhabitats across the landscape, leading to increased vegetation productivity, persisting over many decades.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4236boreal forestdendroecologyecosystem engineerPicea glaucatree ringsVulpes vulpes |
| spellingShingle | Jessica A. Lang James D. Roth Jacques C. Tardif John H. Markham Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline Ecosphere boreal forest dendroecology ecosystem engineer Picea glauca tree rings Vulpes vulpes |
| title | Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline |
| title_full | Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline |
| title_fullStr | Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline |
| title_full_unstemmed | Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline |
| title_short | Red foxes enhance long‐term tree growth near the Arctic treeline |
| title_sort | red foxes enhance long term tree growth near the arctic treeline |
| topic | boreal forest dendroecology ecosystem engineer Picea glauca tree rings Vulpes vulpes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4236 |
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