Pathways for Ecological Change in Canadian High Arctic Wetlands Under Rapid Twentieth Century Warming. Issue 9 (15th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sim, T. G.; Swindles, G. T.; Morris, P. J.; Gałka, M.; Mullan, D.; Galloway, J. M.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 46:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 4726
• Page End: 4737
• Publication Date: 2019-05-15
• Subjects: permafrost peatlands -- climate change -- growing degree days -- testate amoebae -- shrubification -- Arctic geese grazing; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL082611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: We use paleoecological techniques to investigate how Canadian High Arctic wetlands responded to a mid‐twentieth century increase in growing degree days. We observe an increase in wetness, moss diversity, and carbon accumulation in a polygon mire trough, likely related to ice wedge thaw. Contrastingly, the raised center of the polygon mire showed no clear response. Wet and dry indicator testate amoebae increased concomitantly in a valley fen, possibly relating to greater inundation from snowmelt followed by increasing evapotranspiration. This occurred alongside the appearance of generalist hummock mosses. A coastal fen underwent a shift from sedge to shrub dominance. The valley and coastal fens transitioned from minerogenic to organic‐rich wetlands prior to the growing degree days increase. A subsequent shift to moss dominance in the coastal fen may relate to intensive grazing from Arctic geese. Our findings highlight the complex response of Arctic wetlands to warming and have implications for understanding their future carbon sink potential. Plain Language Summary: The response of Arctic wetland ecosystems and carbon stores to climate change is uncertain. We investigate the response of wetland ecosystems in the Canadian High Arctic to twentieth century climate warming. We use proxies for changes in vegetation (plant macrofossils) and wetness (testate amoebae) preserved in the wetland soil in combination with radiocarbon dating to reconstruct the past ecology of these wetlands. This approach allows us to explore beyond the timeframe of monitoring studies. Our results suggest that wetland type is an important determinant of the response of ecological, hydrological, and soil carbon accumulation to climate warming. Our findings highlight the clear but complex response of Arctic wetlands to twentieth century warming. This has important implications for understanding the future carbon sink potential of these ecosystems. Key Points: The ecological, hydrological, and C accumulation responses of Arctic wetlands to climate warming may be strongly influenced by wetland type Contrasting site‐specific responses to an increase in growing degree days include increased moss diversity and a shift to shrub dominance Intensive grazing from Arctic geese may be an important driver for recent vegetation change in High Arctic coastal wetlands