Adaptation of two woody plant species – Betula pubescens and Salix udensis to the high Arctic conditions (Tiksi settlement, Russia)

Abstract

The positive trends in climate change that have become apparent in recent decades are accompanied by a shift in the range boundaries of many boreal plant species further north, to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Monitoring the displacement of these boundaries, the introduction of plants unusual to the Arctic, as well as monitoring their adaptation to new conditions, is an important component of botanical research. In 2016, in the village Tiksi identified 2 species of woody plants – Betula pubescens and Salix udensis, known from the forest zone and not previously observed in this area. Obviously, both species appeared here due to the unintentional introduction of seeds by humans. Repeated observations of the condition of these species, conducted in 2023, showed that they exhibit stable vitality, withstood 7 winter periods and gave some increase in phytomass. Measurements of the area of the leaf blade of Betula pubescens and the size of 10 leaves of Salix udensis showed that these indicators are within the normal biological parameters of these species. Both species do not form generative structures yet. Salix udensis has grown significantly during the observation period, reaching a height of about 2.5 m. Perhaps this is the result of the protective influence of the building behind which it develops. Betula pubescens grows more slowly, hardly retains orthotropic shoots exceeding the average snow cover levels, which reach a height of 54 cm, but at the same time partially drained and deprived of foliage. Nevertheless, the lower part of the plant has fully leafy branches. Both species are valuable objects for further observations of their adaptation to Arctic conditions. Since Betula pubescens grows near the slope of the highway, it is recommended to move it to a safe place less susceptible to anthropogenic influence. Tiksi village, located in high latitudes, could serve as a good reference base for a wide range of scientific observations of plant adaptation to Arctic conditions. The optimal solution for this would be the creation of the Arctic Botanical Garden in Tiksi.