The Cooperative Extension Service has been seeking to bring attention to the
impacts that climate change has had on Alaska forest ecosystems. The impacts
of global warming on the ecology of the boreal forest of Alaska has been
dramatic. The length of the growing season has nearly doubled in Fairbanks in
the past 100 years. There have been more fires and more intense fires in the
region (the 6 million acres burned in 2004 was a record fire season for
acreage burned). The forests are showing greater signs of stress and slower
growth and increased incidence and severity of insect attacks. The melting
permafrost and disappearance of seasonal permafrost has changed the forest
soil nutrient cycling and caused subsidence of the land in some areas as the
permafrost melting continues. Invasive species are now finding niches within
the forest ecosystems to become established as native plants are unable to
compete in the changing environment.
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