International scientists have investigated the relationship between the growth of the rings of Arctic shrubs with changes in sea ice extent, air temperature and precipitation in the Arctic. The work was led by Dr.Agata Buchwał, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.
Why is the growth of shrubs important? The researchers explain that the shrub tundra, like the forest at lower latitudes, are important regulators of the carbon cycle. While areas of tundra with lush shrubs can absorb and store more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, areas with shrubs showing growth declines are a potential source of carbon dioxide.
Researchers have shown that the decreasing extent of sea ice affects the growth of tundra dwarf shrubs in some regions of the Arctic, and reduces their growth in drier regions. The work was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
