Browning events in Arctic ecosystems: Diverse causes with common consequences

作者：Gareth K. Phoenix, Jarle W. Bjerke, Robert G. Björk, Daan Blok, Anders Bryn, Terry V. Callaghan, Casper T. Christiansen, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Scott J. Davidson, Howard E. Epstein, M. M. Loranty, Andrew Martin, Isla H. Myers‐Smith, Johan Olofsson, Thomas C. Parker, Frans‐Jan W. Parmentier, Frøde Stordal, Rachael Treharne, Hans Tømmervik, Carolina Voigt · 发表于：PLOS Climate · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1371/journal.pclm.0000570 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Climate change and permafrost、Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology、Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics

Arctic ecosystems are experiencing extreme climatic, biotic and physical disturbance events that can cause substantial loss of plant biomass and productivity, sometimes at scales of >1000 km 2 . Collectively known as browning events, these are key contributors to the spatial and temporal complexity of Arctic greening and vegetation dynamics. If we are to properly understand the future of Arctic terrestrial ecosystems, their productivity, and their feedbacks to climate, understanding browning events is essential. Here we bring together understanding of browning events in Arctic ecosystems to compare their impacts and rates of recovery, and likely future changes in frequency and distribution. We also seek commonalities in impacts across these contrasting event types. We find that while browning events can cause high levels of plant damage (up to 100% mortality), ecosystems have substantial capacity for recovery, with biomass largely re-established within five years for many events. We also find that despite the substantial loss of leaf area of dominant species, compensatory mechanisms such as increased productivity of undamaged subordinate species lessen the impacts on carbon sequestration. These commonalities hold true for most climatic and biotic events, but less so for physical events such as fire and abrupt permafrost thaw, due to the greater removal of vegetation. Counterintuitively, some events also provide conditions for greater productivity (greening) in the longer-t...