Arctic tundra vegetation shifts trigger permafrost collapse and ecosystem transformation.
Arctic tundra is changing due to warming temperatures, leading to shifts in vegetation and permafrost dynamics. A study in Northeastern Siberia found a cycle of vegetation changes related to permafrost collapse. Shrubs dominate initially, but removal leads to permafrost degradation and grass invasion. This is followed by sedges, then mosses, creating a loop of vegetation succession closely tied to permafrost dynamics.