Plant Diversity Dynamics Over Space and Time in a Warming Arctic

Authors

• Mariana García Criado, University of Edinburgh
• Isla H. Myers-Smith, University of British Columbia
• Anne D. Bjorkman, University of Gothenburg
• Sarah C. Elmendorf, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Signe Normand, Aarhus University
• Peter Aastrup, Aarhus University
• Rien Aerts, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE)
• Juha M. Alatalo, Qatar University
• Lander Baeten, Ghent University
• Robert G. Björk, University of Gothenburg
• Mats P. Björkman, University of Gothenburg
• Noémie Boulanger‐Lapointe, University of Victoria
• Ethan E. Butler, University of Minnesota
• Elisabeth J. Cooper, The Arctic University of Norway
• J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE)
• Gergana N. Daskalova, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
• Belen Fadrique, University of Liverpool
• Bruce C. Forbes, University of Lapland
• Greg H. R. Henry, University of British Columbia
• Robert D. Hollister, Grand Valley State University
• Toke Thomas Høye, Aarhus University
• Ida Bomholt Dyrholm Jacobsen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
• Annika K. Jägerbrand, University of Gävle
• Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, University of Iceland
• Elina Kaarlejärvi, University of Helsinki
• Olga Khitun, University of Gothenburg
• Kari Klanderud, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
• Tiina H. M. Kolari, University of Eastern Finland
• Simone I. Lang, University Centre in Svalbard
• Nicolas Lecomte, University of Moncton
• Jonathan Lenoir, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
• Petr Macek, Estonian University of Life Sciences
• Julie Messier, University of Waterloo
• Anders Michelsen, University of Copenhagen
• Ulf Molau, University of Gothenburg
• Robert Muscarella, Uppsala University
• Marie-Louise Nielsen, Aarhus University
• Matteo Petit Bon, Utah State UniversityFollow
• Eric Post, University of California, Davis
• Katrine Raundrup, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
• Riikka Rinnan, University of Copenhagen
• Christian Rixen, Extremes and Natural Hazards in Alpine Regions Research Centre (CERC)
• Ingvild Ryde, University of Copenhagen
• Josep M. Serra‐Diaz, Université de Lorraine
• Gabriela Schaepman‐Strub, University of Zurich
• Niels M. Schmidt, Aarhus University
• Franziska Schrodt, University of Nottingham
• Sofie Sjögersten, University of Nottingham
• Manuel J. Steinbauer, University of Bayreuth
• Lærke Stewart, University of South-Eastern Norway
• Beate Strandberg, Aarhus University
• Anne Tolvanen, Natural Resources Institute Finland
• Craig E. Tweedie, University of Texas at El Paso
• Mark Vellend, Université de Sherbrooke

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Nature

Author ORCID Identifier

Mariana García Criado https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7480-6144

Isla H. Myers‐Smith https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8417-6112

Anne D. Bjorkman https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2174-7800

Sarah C. Elmendorf https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-8521

Signe Normand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8782-4154

Peter Aastrup https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4258-3358

Rien Aerts https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6694-0669

Juha M. Alatalo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5084-850X

Lander Baeten https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4262-9221

Robert G. Björk https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7346-666X

Mats P. Björkman https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5768-1976

Noémie Boulanger‐Lapointe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0104-6065

Ethan E. Butler https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3482-1950

Elisabeth J. Cooper https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0634-1282

Gergana N. Daskalova https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5674-5322

Belen Fadrique https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6919-9156

Greg H. R. Henry https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2606-9650

Robert D. Hollister https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4764-7691

Toke T. Høye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5387-3284

Ida Bomholt Dyrholm Jacobsen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2481-8061

Annika K. Jägerbrand https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5322-9827

Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3804-7077

Elina Kaarlejärvi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0014-0073

Simone I. Lang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6812-2528

Nicolas Lecomte https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8473-5375

Jonathan Lenoir https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0638-9582

Petr Macek https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4792-9461

Julie Messier https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1637-6793

Anders Michelsen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9541-8658

Matteo Petit Bon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9829-8324

Eric Post https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9471-5351

Katrine Raundrup https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2110-3709

Riikka Rinnan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7222-700X

Christian Rixen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2486-9988

Ingvild Ryde https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6544-1446

Gabriela Schaepman‐Strub https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4069-1884

Niels Martin Schmidt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4166-6218

Franziska Schrodt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9053-8872

Manuel J. Steinbauer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7142-9272

Volume

642

Publisher

Nature Portfolio

Publication Date

4-30-2025

Journal Article Version

Version of Record

First Page

653

Last Page

661

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Abstract

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average¹ and plant communities are responding through shifts in species abundance, composition and distribution^2,3,4. However, the direction and magnitude of local changes in plant diversity in the Arctic have not been quantified. Using a compilation of 42,234 records of 490 vascular plant species from 2,174 plots across the Arctic, here we quantified temporal changes in species richness and composition through repeat surveys between 1981 and 2022. We also identified the geographical, climatic and biotic drivers behind these changes. We found greater species richness at lower latitudes and warmer sites, but no indication that, on average, species richness had changed directionally over time. However, species turnover was widespread, with 59% of plots gaining and/or losing species. Proportions of species gains and losses were greater where temperatures had increased the most. Shrub expansion, particularly of erect shrubs, was associated with greater species losses and decreasing species richness. Despite changes in plant composition, Arctic plant communities did not become more similar to each other, suggesting no biotic homogenization so far. Overall, Arctic plant communities changed in richness and composition in different directions, with temperature and plant–plant interactions emerging as the main drivers of change. Our findings demonstrate how climate and biotic drivers can act in concert to alter plant composition, which could precede future biodiversity changes that are likely to affect ecosystem function, wildlife habitats and the livelihoods of Arctic peoples^5,6.

Comments

The final published version is available here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08946-8, and the publisher is Nature Portfolio.

Recommended Citation

García Criado, M., Myers-Smith, I.H., Bjorkman, A.D. et al. Plant diversity dynamics over space and time in a warming Arctic. Nature 642, 653–661 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08946-8