Siberian Larch Forests More Resilient to Climate Stress Than Mires

As the climate warms, polar ecosystems are under intense pressure. A five-year study in north-central Siberia has revealed a surprising difference in how two permafrost environments are coping. Scientists compared a mature larch forest with a subarctic palsa mire, a type of bog with a frozen core, monitoring their exchange of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and heat with the atmosphere.

The findings, gathered between 2019 and 2023, showed that while both ecosystems consistently absorb more CO₂ than they release during the growing season, their behaviour under stress diverges. During prolonged periods of high temperatures and low rainfall, the palsa mire’s ability to take up carbon faltered significantly. The larch forest, however, proved much more resilient.

Researchers suggest this resilience comes from the trees' deep roots, which can tap into deeper water sources. In contrast, the mire's vegetation relies on surface moisture that disappears quickly in a drought. This highlights that ecosystem responses to climate change are not uniform, a critical insight for accurately modelling the future of the Arctic's carbon cycle.