Synthesing the roles of High-latitude eRicaceous dwarf shrubs: Underappreciated Biodiversity, ecological functions and ecosystem Services

Ericaceous dwarf-shrubs are dominant in the boreal, alpine and arctic ecosystems of the Nothern hemisphere, including Norway, and they are strongly affected by global changes. Thanks to their high functional diversity, unique mycorrhiza associations and many plant-animal interactions, ericaceous dwarf-shrubs contribute disproportionally to ecosystem functions and services. Despite this, they are understudied and a comprehensive overview of their roles in ecosystem functioning and their response to climate change is lacking. Leveraging the RCN DURIN project network, SHRUBS will gather researchers at different career stages (PhD students, young and established researchers) from a wide range of disciplines and expertise. In the workshop, we will produce a synthesis paper combining a review of the functions and services provided by ericaceous dwarf-shrubs with a bibliometric analysis of the cited studies creating an ideal background for enhanced collaboration across disciplines.