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June 30, 2025

Across the Canadian subarctic, warming temperatures are driving the rapid expansion of tall, woody vegetation known as erect shrubs. While this phenomenon - commonly referred to as “shrubification” -has been linked to a variety of ecological changes, its impact on low-lying berry species, which are culturally and ecologically vital, remains understudied. A new study conducted by UVic Geography professor Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe and former Lansdowne Lecturer Esther Lévesque near the Inuit community of Umiujaq, Nunavik (shown below), sheds light on how increasing shrub cover is already affecting the growth, fruiting, and phenology of key Arctic berry species.

Berries Under Pressure

The study focused on three dominant berry species in the region: Vaccinium uliginosum (blueberry), Empetrum nigrum (crowberry), and Vaccinium vitis-idaea (cranberry). Researchers examined how the presence of erect shrub patches - areas with greater than 25% canopy cover - influenced the abundance and reproductive performance of these species across hundreds of sites.

Findings showed that blueberry and crowberry were significantly less abundant and less productive inside shrub patches, particularly at their centers where shading and competition are most intense. Cranberry, on the other hand, appeared more resilient, maintaining similar levels of cover and fruit productivity regardless of shrub presence. However, all three species showed delayed fruit ripening when growing beneath the canopy of erect shrubs.

Consequences for Wildlife and Culture

Berries play a crucial role in Arctic food webs, providing late-summer nutrition for animals such as bears, geese, ptarmigans (above), and small mammals. Delays in ripening could cause mismatches in seasonal food availability for these species, with unknown consequences for migration patterns and population dynamics.

The study also highlights impacts on Indigenous cultural practices. Berry picking remains an important seasonal activity and food source for communities across the North. As erect shrubs encroach on traditional harvesting areas, local gatherers may be forced to shift routes or abandon sites altogether.

Looking Ahead

With climate models predicting further expansion of shrub cover across the Arctic, this research underscores the need for closer monitoring of plant-climate interactions. While berry species are unlikely to disappear altogether, reductions in fruit availability could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and human communities alike.

By documenting these changes at the local scale, the study contributes to a growing understanding of how global climate change manifests in complex, place-based ways.