This is the accepted version of the following article: Le Moullec M, Buchwal A, van der Wal R, et al. Annual ring growth of a widespread high arctic shrub reflects past fluctuations in community‐level plant biomass. J Ecol. 2019;107:436–451., which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.13036. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Wiley SelfArchiving Policy [https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/JournalAuthors/licensing-open-access/open-access/self-archiving.html].