Project Detail

Expansion of woody plant species into alpine tundra – landscape interactions with global change

Name:	Expansion of woody plant species into alpine tundra – landscape interactions with global change
Researchers:	Müllerová Jana (head – principal researcher)
Provider:	J. WILLIAM FULBRIGHT COMMISSION
Realization from:	2017
Realization to:	2018
Summary:	The project focuses on the expansion of woody species into historically herb-dominated alpine tundra of the Niwot Ridge LTER site, Colorado, USA over the last 80 years. Remote sensing data will enable to explore the spatio-temporal patterns, mechanisms, constraints and implications of the increased shrub cover. To analyze drivers of change, detected dynamics will be related to both abiotic factors (derived from topography/geomorphology, geology, soil, climate and snow cover) and biotic conditions (vulnerability of tundra vegetation to the shrub encroachment). Remote sensing approach will enable to link patterns at both local and landscape scale. Project runs in collaboration with Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA.