Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are changing fast in response to ongoing climate change and increased human pressures linked to land use changes. One observed phenomenon in response to these changes is the northward and upward shift in the distribution of temperate or boreal species from southerly latitudes or lower elevations, a process known as borealization. Examples of tundra borealization include the encroachment of woody species, the spread of non-native species, and changes in the composition of plant, animal and microbial communities. Borealization also alters the trophic and functional structure of ecosystems, changes landscape structure and impacts ecosystem processes such as the strength of carbon sink and sources.
This session aims to address the drivers, processes, and consequences of the borealization of tundra ecosystems, as well as its quantification from the perspectives of different disciplines, such as biogeography, remote sensing, (historical) ecology, and forest sciences. Multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome.