Birch sapling characteristics growing beyond the tree line in Norway and Sweden

Questions: How do population structure and recruitment characteristics of Betula saplings beyond the treeline vary among climatic regions, and what is the potential for development into tree-sized individuals with interacting grazing pressure? Location: Scandes Mountains. Methods: Sapling characteristics of Betula pubescens subsp. tortuosa, their topographic position above the treeline, growth habitat and evidence of recent grazing was investigated in three areas with a long continuous grazing history, along a latitudinal gradient (62-69°N). Results: Saplings were common up to 100 m above the treeline in all areas. The northern areas were characterised by small (