Shady business: Shrubs take over as climate change rearranges Arctic biodiversity

The Arctic is warming fast, yet researchers have found that this is not translating into increased plant diversity.Led by the University of Edinburgh and the University of British Columbia, a team of 54 scientists from numerous institutions conducted a decades-long study, published in the journal Nature on April 30.

Analyzing 42,234 records from 2,174 plots across the Arctic from Alaska to Norway, researchers found that rising temperatures and expanding shrub cover are reshaping biodiversity. Areas with more shrub expansion showed greater species loss, but overall species richness remained stable.

“These compositional changes could result in further species reshuffling… potentially leading to losses of rare and ecologically important species and associated changes in ecosystem function,” the report states. These ecological shifts have important implications for wildlife, ecosystem stability, and the livelihoods of Arctic Indigenous peoples.

Among the key findings:
− No Net Gain in Species: Even with dramatic warming, there’s no consistent increase or decrease in the number of plant species at local levels.

− Immense Turnover: 99% of Arctic plots saw a shift in which species were present, gains, losses, or both, indicating a major reshuffling of plant life.

− Shrubs are Shaping the Future: As erect shrubs expand, they cause more species loss by outcompeting sun-loving plants through shading.

− Warming is Driving Change Unevenly: Rising temperatures lead to more gains and losses, especially in colder regions.

− No Homogenization Yet: Unlike many ecosystems, Arctic plant communities are not becoming more alike across regions—each is still unique.

− Local Context Matters: Plant changes depend heavily on local conditions such as temperature, moisture, and which species are nearby.

These shifts in Arctic plant life could disrupt ecosystems and traditional ways of life—affecting everything from caribou migration routes to the availability of culturally important berries for Indigenous communities, according to the researchers.

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Mary McAuliffe, formerly a Jerusalem-based correspondent for an international news channel, is a freelance journalist, photographer and filmmaker, covering the most pressing issues facing society for television, digital, and radio.