Sub-Alpine Shrubs in North Sweden - Annual Growth Analyses of Juniperus nana, Betula nana, and Salix glauca

However, the existence of such vegetative expansion in North-Sweden, its rates, and the precise nature of climate-growth relationships is unknown. Our study in the sub-alpine belt of the Swedish Scandinavian Mountains investigates the three most abundant shrub species (Juniperus nana, Betula nana, Salix glauca) above tree-line on two slopes with different exposure (NE/S).

Here we present the preliminary results of the dendrochronological analysis of 35 individuals of Juniperus nana concerning the climatic influence on ring widths. Summer temperatures showed highest correlations with ring width, while there is evidence for an influence of winter snow depth. Shrub radial growth has mainly increased since the 1850s, with a small decrease in growth 1940-60.