Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 59)

1.1 Title of Activity
Terrestrial ecosystems in ARctic and ANTarctic: Effects of UV Light, Liquefying ice, and Ascending temperatures

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
TARANTELLA

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Ad Huiskes
Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Unit for Polar Ecology
The Netherlands

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
RiSCC programme SCAR
ITEX programme
NULL
NULL

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
United Kingdom
Sweden
Japan
NULL
USA
Argentina
Spain
NULL
Norway
Finland
Czech Republic
NULL
Belgium
Australia
NULL
NULL

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
10, 792, 930

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Bipolar

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
3. Polar-global linkages/tele-connections

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

The structure of and the processes in Polar terrestrial ecosystems are predominantly governed by temperature, water availability, and solar radiation. Therefore, any variation in these factors caused by, for instance, climate change and ozone depletion is likely to strongly influence these high latitude systems. Predictions are that changes in ozone and climate are most pronounced in Polar systems and detection of their impacts are not masked by elaborate interspecific relationships typical for lower latitudes. Studying the effects of these key driving forces impacting on Polar biota can be performed by long-term studies of ecosystem properties such as the structure of the vegetation, the invertebrate community, and the microbial community and processes, such as primary production, decomposition, and interspecific relationships such as competition or facilitation, or by experimentally enhancing the impacts on these properties and processes which may render effect in the shorter period. Both observational and experimental research on the effect of climate change and ozone depletion are and have been the subject of national research projects, partly affiliated to international research programmes (Regional Sensitivity to Climate Change in Antarctic Terrestrial and Limnetic Ecosystems RiSCC (SCAR) in the Antarctic and International Tundra Experiment ITEX (GCTE) in the Arctic). The present proposal built on this work and, by focusing on the experimental approach, aims to identify differences and similarities in the effects of climate change and ozone depletion in both Polar regions. For this, results generated by existing projects will be used and their activities continued as a concerted effort in both Polar regions. Also, sites where this type of research has been terminated will be revisited to investigate restoration. In the light of further predicted changes in climate and ozone concentrations in Polar regions, it is critically important to understand how key environmental perturbations influence Polar terrestrial ecosystems via the modification of their individual but interconnected components. Effects on individual components could impact on critical ecosystem services such as C-sequestration. In order to study these different components we need an interdisciplinary approach. For the interpretation of the climate variability and UV-B depletion patterns collaboration with climatologists and atmospheric physicists is sought. IPY forms the right vehicle to generate this interdisciplinary approach in both Polar areas. In order to increase temperature and alter other climatic variables artificially in both soil and vegetation, a common methodology is used, the so-called Open-Top Chambers (OTC) or small greenhouses; for UV-B field research UV-B supplementation (lamps) and/or UV-B exclusion (foils), are used to experimentally establish varied UV-B levels to simulate ozone depletion scenario’s. Existing projects have applied these or similar methodologies across a wide geographical rangeof different latitude and longitude, representing ecosystems in both Polar Regions, as well as locations along different environmental gradients and in areas with contrasting climate change and ozone depletion patterns. In most of these experiments, studies on a broad range of ecosystem components and processes are executed. As the experiments simulating the impact of climate change and ozone depletion have been running for different time periods (approx. 2-15 years), the longer-term effects of this experimentation can now also be studied,. Moreover, an analysis of processes under unmanipulated conditions can reveal how natural ‘background’ processes are proceeding.The bipolar experiment will be executed in close collaboration with other intended IPY projects on Polar terrestrial ecosystems.(e.g. BTF, GOA, CALM, CARMA, parts of ITEX and RiSCC and the IPY proposal MESAO). The objectives of this proposal are multifaceted:
·To compare the effects of experimentally induced climate change and enhanced UV-B radiation on the structure and processes of the various components of Antarctic and Arctic terrestrial ecosystems to determine similarities and differences in response between the Arctic and the Antarctic biome.
·To study and analyse effects of temperature (including moisture and nutrient availability) and UV-B radiation manipulations deployed over different periods of time and in different localities on vegetation patterns, above-ground and soil invertebrate communities, and soil microbial communities, and species- and functional biodiversity in these communities paying special attention to the responses of species with bipolar distribution.
·To compare the patterns and processes of manipulated with non-manipulated natural controls.
·To study these changes along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients.
·To study plant morphological and chemical effects in response to UV-B radiation
·To test how the balance between facilitation versus competition among autotrophic species varies with temperature and UV-B radiation and other climatic variables, e.g. along climatic gradients.
·To investigate the effects of environmental perturbation on carbon- and nutrient dynamics within and between the different compartments of the ecosystem and to measure C fluxes of ecosystems associated with manipulations over different timescales.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
For the interpretation of the climate variability and UV-B depletion patterns in the longer run collaboration with climatologists and atmospheric physicists is necessary.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
Climate change processes and ozone depletion events over the Arctic and Antarctic regions have been significant since measurements began several decades ago. Research on the effects of changes in UV-B radiation and temperature and moisture changes on Polar terrestrial ecosystems has to date been fuelled predominantly by unilateral national support focussing on small scale but long term experimental manipulations. There is a growing need to address larger scale changes also to compare responses in Arctic and Antarctic regions. A concerted effort to which the IPY will give the incentive will increase this research from a local to a regional scale and beyond, will compare the speed and direction of changes in ecosystem structure and processes and will bring the results, as they comprise regional or even continental scales to the fore of political thinking and policy.This project will coordinate national activities, integrate research agendas and develop an international concerted effort to address climate change and ozone depletion impacts on terrestrial ecosystems in Polar regions on a long-term basis and a regional or even continental scale.

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Existing field stations
Snow terrain vehicles

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This is a pulse of activity during 2007-2009 within an existing programme

If part of an existing programme please name the programme – RiSCC, ITEX

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The project proposal will be distributed broadcast to potentially interested research groups. As soon as the interested parties are known, these will be invited to a workshop (held mid-2006). During this workshop a small steering committee, headed by a co-ordinator will be established, responsible for the co-ordination of the activities and the field studies. A science implementation plan will be drafted. The field work will be conducted according to a series of agreed procedures, defined already in the ITEX - and RiSCC manuals. Field parties should be formed to execute work in the different field sites designated by the project group. By means of a website and a list server (either as part of an existing website or a newly developed simple website) will guarantee easy exchange of information.After the first field seasons in both the Arctic and the Antarctic a second workshop will be held to discuss preliminary results and adjust the field programme if necessary.It might be necessary to revisit sites of former field experiments. For this special field parties may be formed or scientists in charge of the research in the former field experiments may participate in the project just to refurbish their data and to study the development of the ecosystem since the end of the experimentation.Special field trips will be made to sites of experiments that have been terminated, in order to study ecosystem rehabilitation.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
Field manipulation experiments will remain deployed beyond the IPY, thus forming a network of Long-Term Ecological Research sites analogous to and connected with the US-LTER network. By re-analysis of archival data from the various existing and previous studies, the dataset compiled during the IPY can be extended to periods well before the IPY, which enables the study of long-term effects and the development of scenarios for ecosystem change over future decades.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
The project is in principle open to scientists from any nationality expressing the desire to be involved in this project. Apart from existing field sites, the installation of new experimental field sites, will only enhance the strength of the network.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
The project will specifically focus on the involvement of Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. It also presents scope for undergraduate field work. The project has therefore links with the Education, Outreach and Communication target.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
Existing data of ongoing and finished field experiments as well as new data will be entered into existing databasesAppropriate databases in existence are the RiSCC Antarctic Biodiversity database (managed by the Australian Antarctic Division) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), based in Copenhagen, Denmark. With one of these databases or with both of them negotiations will start as soon as the present project has received the go-ahead.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
The project will specifically focus on the involvement of Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. It also presents scope for undergraduate field work. The project has therefore links with the Education, Outreach and Communication target. It also offers further training to starting and established scientists in interdisciplinarity as a functional tool to understanding and predicting the consequences of global ecosystem perturbations.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project will specifically focus on the involvement of Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. It also presents scope for undergraduate field work. The project has therefore links with the Education, Outreach and Communication target.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Participants to the project will apply for funding of the contributing research to their respective national agencies.

3.11 Additional Comments

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Ad Huiskes
Netherlands Institute for Ecology, Unit for Polar Ecology
P.O. Box 140, Yerseke
4400 AC
The Netherlands

Tel:          +31 113 577 456
Mobile:   +31 6518 178 45
Fax:         +31 113 573616
Email:       a.huiskes@nioo.knaw.nl

Second Contact
Prof Jelte Rozema
Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
De Boelelaan 1087, Amsterdam
1081 HV
The Netherlands

Tel:          +31 20 598 7055
Mobile:   N/A
Fax:         +31 20 598 7123
Email:      jelte.rozema@ecology.falw.vu.nl

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation