A place for montane scrub and natural treelines in the British uplands

摘要

We are investigating interactions between climate and land management drivers on the development of montane scrub. This will better define locations suitable for their survival and expansion. Manipulative field experiments are testing the responses to a combination of browsing and wind exposure, and also to burial by snow of young whortle-leaved willow (Salix myrsinites L.), upright juniper (Juniperus communis L.) and dwarf birch (Betula nana L.). These species were selected as representative of different montane scrub communities. This paper reports on the progress of these manipulative experiments in year 1.