Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology

Elise C. Gallois; Isla H. Myers-Smith; Colleen M. Iversen; Verity G. Salmon; Laura L. Turner; Ruby An; Sarah C. Elmendorf; Courtney G. Collins; Madelaine J.R. Anderson; Amanda Young; Lisa Pilkinton; Gesche Blume-Werry; Maude Grenier; Geerte Fälthammar-de Jong; Inge H.J. Althuizen; Casper T. Christiansen; Simone I. Lang; Cassandra Elphinstone; Greg H.R. Henry; Nicola Rammell; Michelle C. Mack; Craig See; Christian Rixen; Robert D. Hollister

doi:10.1111/gcb.70153

Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology

Elise C. Gallois
, Isla H. Myers-Smith
, Colleen M. Iversen
, Verity G. Salmon
, Laura L. Turner
, Ruby An
, Sarah C. Elmendorf
, Courtney G. Collins
, Madelaine J.R. Anderson
, Amanda Young
, Lisa Pilkinton
, Gesche Blume-Werry
, Maude Grenier
, Geerte Fälthammar-de Jong
, Inge H.J. Althuizen
, Casper T. Christiansen
, Simone I. Lang
, Cassandra Elphinstone
, Greg H.R. Henry
, Nicola Rammell

Michelle C. Mack, Craig See, Christian Rixen, Robert D. Hollister

Plant-Soil Interactions

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The below-ground growing season often extends beyond the above-ground growing season in tundra ecosystems and as the climate warms, shifts in growing seasons are expected. However, we do not yet know to what extent, when and where asynchrony in above- and below-ground phenology occurs and whether variation is driven by local vegetation communities or spatial variation in microclimate. Here, we combined above- and below-ground plant phenology metrics to compare the relative timings and magnitudes of leaf and fine-root growth and senescence across microclimates and plant communities at five sites across the Arctic and alpine tundra biome. We observed asynchronous growth between above- and below-ground plant tissue, with the below-ground season extending up to 74% (~56 days) beyond the onset of above-ground leaf senescence. Plant community type, rather than microclimate, was a key factor controlling the timing, productivity, and growth rates of fine roots, with graminoid roots exhibiting a distinct ‘pulse’ of growth later into the growing season than shrub roots. Our findings indicate the potential of vegetation change to influence below-ground carbon storage as the climate warms and roots remain active in unfrozen soils for longer. Taken together, our findings of increased root growth in soils that remain thawed later into the growing season, in combination with ongoing tundra vegetation change including increased shrub and graminoid abundance, indicate increased below-ground productivity and altered carbon cycling in the tundra biome.

Original language	English
Article number	e70153
Journal	Global Change Biology
Volume	31
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70153
State	Published - Apr 2025

Funding

Funding: The research was funded by an E4 PhD scholarship and Envision Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the Tundra Time Project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, the 2021 Davis Expedition fund, the Niwot Ridge LTER program and Polar Programs funded by the US National Science Foundation, the NGEE Arctic project funded by the Biological and Environmental Research program in the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the University of British Columbia Biodiversity Research Centre Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Norwegian Research Council. The research was funded by an E4 PhD scholarship funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, NE/S007407/1) and the 2021 Davis Expedition fund acquired by EG and NERC Tundra Time Project (NE/W006448/1) acquired by IMS. S.E. was supported by the US National Science Foundation-supported Niwot Ridge LTER program (NSF DEB 1627686 and NSF DEB 2224439) and Polar Programs (NSF OPP 1836839). C.M.I. and V.G.S. were supported by the NGEE Arctic project, funded by the Biological and Environmental Research program in the US Department of Energy's Office of Science. C.G.C. was supported by a University of British Columbia Biodiversity Research Centre Postdoctoral Fellowship. IA was supported by Norwegian Research Council grant number 294948. L.T. was supported by the Envision Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/S007423/1). We thank C. Andrews at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for access to the Cairngorms ECN Interact site. We thank the Kluane, Champagne, Aishihik, Inuvialuit, Nunamiut, Gwich'in, Koyukuk, Iñupiaq, Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne and St'àt'imc First Nations for the opportunity to conduct research on their land. We thank the Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park staff as well as the Yukon government, Aurora Research Institute and Yukon Parks for their permission and support of this research. Field assistance was provided by J. Boyle, Z. Leslie, C. Suprenant, E. Zaja, J. Subrt, D. Jerome, J. Everest, C. Hoad, E. Cloutier, and J.G. Smith. Laboratory assistance was provided by M. Hens, J. Subrt, A. Shulmann, E. Bestington, L. Dickenmann, and E. Radeloff. We thank the Editor and three anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved our manuscript. The research was funded by an E4 PhD scholarship funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, NE/S007407/1) and the 2021 Davis Expedition fund acquired by EG and NERC Tundra Time Project (NE/W006448/1) acquired by IMS. S.E. was supported by the US National Science Foundation‐supported Niwot Ridge LTER program (NSF DEB 1627686 and NSF DEB 2224439) and Polar Programs (NSF OPP 1836839). C.M.I. and V.G.S. were supported by the NGEE Arctic project, funded by the Biological and Environmental Research program in the US Department of Energy's Office of Science. C.G.C. was supported by a University of British Columbia Biodiversity Research Centre Postdoctoral Fellowship. IA was supported by Norwegian Research Council grant number 294948. L.T. was supported by the Envision Doctoral Training Partnership funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/S007423/1). We thank C. Andrews at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for access to the Cairngorms ECN Interact site. We thank the Kluane, Champagne, Aishihik, Inuvialuit, Nunamiut, Gwich'in, Koyukuk, Iñupiaq, Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne and St'àt'imc First Nations for the opportunity to conduct research on their land. We thank the Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park staff as well as the Yukon government, Aurora Research Institute and Yukon Parks for their permission and support of this research. Field assistance was provided by J. Boyle, Z. Leslie, C. Suprenant, E. Zaja, J. Subrt, D. Jerome, J. Everest, C. Hoad, E. Cloutier, and J.G. Smith. Laboratory assistance was provided by M. Hens, J. Subrt, A. Shulmann, E. Bestington, L. Dickenmann, and E. Radeloff. We thank the Editor and three anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved our manuscript.

Keywords

below-ground
carbon cycling
climate change
permafrost thaw
phenology
root dynamics
root phenology
tundra ecology

Access to Document

10.1111/gcb.70153

Cite this

Gallois, E. C., Myers-Smith, I. H., Iversen, C. M., Salmon, V. G., Turner, L. L., An, R., Elmendorf, S. C., Collins, C. G., Anderson, M. J. R., Young, A., Pilkinton, L., Blume-Werry, G., Grenier, M., Fälthammar-de Jong, G., Althuizen, I. H. J., Christiansen, C. T., Lang, S. I., Elphinstone, C., Henry, G. H. R., ... Hollister, R. D. (2025). Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology. Global Change Biology, 31(4), Article e70153. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70153

@article{5555b8dc0909484693a413d463acd736,

title = "Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology",

abstract = "The below-ground growing season often extends beyond the above-ground growing season in tundra ecosystems and as the climate warms, shifts in growing seasons are expected. However, we do not yet know to what extent, when and where asynchrony in above- and below-ground phenology occurs and whether variation is driven by local vegetation communities or spatial variation in microclimate. Here, we combined above- and below-ground plant phenology metrics to compare the relative timings and magnitudes of leaf and fine-root growth and senescence across microclimates and plant communities at five sites across the Arctic and alpine tundra biome. We observed asynchronous growth between above- and below-ground plant tissue, with the below-ground season extending up to 74\% (\textasciitilde{}56 days) beyond the onset of above-ground leaf senescence. Plant community type, rather than microclimate, was a key factor controlling the timing, productivity, and growth rates of fine roots, with graminoid roots exhibiting a distinct {\textquoteleft}pulse{\textquoteright} of growth later into the growing season than shrub roots. Our findings indicate the potential of vegetation change to influence below-ground carbon storage as the climate warms and roots remain active in unfrozen soils for longer. Taken together, our findings of increased root growth in soils that remain thawed later into the growing season, in combination with ongoing tundra vegetation change including increased shrub and graminoid abundance, indicate increased below-ground productivity and altered carbon cycling in the tundra biome.",

keywords = "below-ground, carbon cycling, climate change, permafrost thaw, phenology, root dynamics, root phenology, tundra ecology",

author = "Gallois, \{Elise C.\} and Myers-Smith, \{Isla H.\} and Iversen, \{Colleen M.\} and Salmon, \{Verity G.\} and Turner, \{Laura L.\} and Ruby An and Elmendorf, \{Sarah C.\} and Collins, \{Courtney G.\} and Anderson, \{Madelaine J.R.\} and Amanda Young and Lisa Pilkinton and Gesche Blume-Werry and Maude Grenier and \{F{\"a}lthammar-de Jong\}, Geerte and Althuizen, \{Inge H.J.\} and Christiansen, \{Casper T.\} and Lang, \{Simone I.\} and Cassandra Elphinstone and Henry, \{Greg H.R.\} and Nicola Rammell and Mack, \{Michelle C.\} and Craig See and Christian Rixen and Hollister, \{Robert D.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1111/gcb.70153",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

journal = "Global Change Biology",

issn = "1354-1013",

publisher = "wiley",

number = "4",

}

Gallois, EC, Myers-Smith, IH, Iversen, CM , Salmon, VG, Turner, LL, An, R, Elmendorf, SC, Collins, CG, Anderson, MJR, Young, A, Pilkinton, L, Blume-Werry, G, Grenier, M, Fälthammar-de Jong, G, Althuizen, IHJ, Christiansen, CT, Lang, SI, Elphinstone, C, Henry, GHR, Rammell, N, Mack, MC, See, C, Rixen, C & Hollister, RD 2025, 'Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology', Global Change Biology, vol. 31, no. 4, e70153. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70153

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology

AU - Gallois, Elise C.

AU - Myers-Smith, Isla H.

AU - Iversen, Colleen M.

AU - Salmon, Verity G.

AU - Turner, Laura L.

AU - An, Ruby

AU - Elmendorf, Sarah C.

AU - Collins, Courtney G.

AU - Anderson, Madelaine J.R.

AU - Young, Amanda

AU - Pilkinton, Lisa

AU - Blume-Werry, Gesche

AU - Grenier, Maude

AU - Fälthammar-de Jong, Geerte

AU - Althuizen, Inge H.J.

AU - Christiansen, Casper T.

AU - Lang, Simone I.

AU - Elphinstone, Cassandra

AU - Henry, Greg H.R.

AU - Rammell, Nicola

AU - Mack, Michelle C.

AU - See, Craig

AU - Rixen, Christian

AU - Hollister, Robert D.

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - The below-ground growing season often extends beyond the above-ground growing season in tundra ecosystems and as the climate warms, shifts in growing seasons are expected. However, we do not yet know to what extent, when and where asynchrony in above- and below-ground phenology occurs and whether variation is driven by local vegetation communities or spatial variation in microclimate. Here, we combined above- and below-ground plant phenology metrics to compare the relative timings and magnitudes of leaf and fine-root growth and senescence across microclimates and plant communities at five sites across the Arctic and alpine tundra biome. We observed asynchronous growth between above- and below-ground plant tissue, with the below-ground season extending up to 74% (~56 days) beyond the onset of above-ground leaf senescence. Plant community type, rather than microclimate, was a key factor controlling the timing, productivity, and growth rates of fine roots, with graminoid roots exhibiting a distinct ‘pulse’ of growth later into the growing season than shrub roots. Our findings indicate the potential of vegetation change to influence below-ground carbon storage as the climate warms and roots remain active in unfrozen soils for longer. Taken together, our findings of increased root growth in soils that remain thawed later into the growing season, in combination with ongoing tundra vegetation change including increased shrub and graminoid abundance, indicate increased below-ground productivity and altered carbon cycling in the tundra biome.

AB - The below-ground growing season often extends beyond the above-ground growing season in tundra ecosystems and as the climate warms, shifts in growing seasons are expected. However, we do not yet know to what extent, when and where asynchrony in above- and below-ground phenology occurs and whether variation is driven by local vegetation communities or spatial variation in microclimate. Here, we combined above- and below-ground plant phenology metrics to compare the relative timings and magnitudes of leaf and fine-root growth and senescence across microclimates and plant communities at five sites across the Arctic and alpine tundra biome. We observed asynchronous growth between above- and below-ground plant tissue, with the below-ground season extending up to 74% (~56 days) beyond the onset of above-ground leaf senescence. Plant community type, rather than microclimate, was a key factor controlling the timing, productivity, and growth rates of fine roots, with graminoid roots exhibiting a distinct ‘pulse’ of growth later into the growing season than shrub roots. Our findings indicate the potential of vegetation change to influence below-ground carbon storage as the climate warms and roots remain active in unfrozen soils for longer. Taken together, our findings of increased root growth in soils that remain thawed later into the growing season, in combination with ongoing tundra vegetation change including increased shrub and graminoid abundance, indicate increased below-ground productivity and altered carbon cycling in the tundra biome.

KW - below-ground

KW - carbon cycling

KW - climate change

KW - permafrost thaw

KW - phenology

KW - root dynamics

KW - root phenology

KW - tundra ecology

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002057725

U2 - 10.1111/gcb.70153

DO - 10.1111/gcb.70153

M3 - Article

C2 - 40172862

AN - SCOPUS:105002057725

SN - 1354-1013

VL - 31

JO - Global Change Biology

JF - Global Change Biology

IS - 4

M1 - e70153

ER -

Tundra Vegetation Community Type, Not Microclimate, Controls Asynchrony of Above- and Below-Ground Phenology

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