biostudies-literatureMienna IMNorwegian University of Life SciencesThe Research Council of Norway801-814https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8956534biostudies-literatureUnknown198(3)Treelines are expected to expand into alpine ecosystems with global warming, but herbivory may delay this expansion. This study quantifies long-term effects of temporally varying sheep densities on birch recruitment and growth in the treeline ecotone. We examined treeline ecotone successional trajectories and legacy effects in a replicated experimental setup, where enclosures were present for 14 years with three different sheep densities (0, 25, 80 sheep km^-2). Before and after the enclosures were present, the site had an ambient sheep density of 20-25 km^-2. We sampled field data 4 years after enclosure removal and compared these to data sampled 8 and 9 years after enclosure erection. We sampled data on birch browsing pressure, birch distribution across life-stages (rOecologiaLegacy effects of herbivory on treeline dynamics along an elevational gradient.PMC8956534281066Austrheim GMienna IMSpeed JDMKlanderud KBollandsas OMfalseLegacy effects of herbivory on treeline dynamics along an elevational gradient.Treelines are expected to expand into alpine ecosystems with global warming, but herbivory may delay this expansion. This study quantifies long-term effects of temporally varying sheep densities on birch recruitment and growth in the treeline ecotone. We examined treeline ecotone successional trajectories and legacy effects in a replicated experimental setup, where enclosures were present for 14 years with three different sheep densities (0, 25, 80 sheep km^-2). Before and after the enclosures were present, the site had an ambient sheep density of 20-25 km^-2. We sampled field data 4 years after enclosure removal and compared these to data sampled 8 and 9 years after enclosure erection. We sampled data on birch browsing pressure, birch distribution across life-stages (r2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-22T12:58:50.531Z2025-04-06T00:25:42.557ZS-EPMC89565343514991910.1007/s00442-022-05125-8