Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ecosystem Processes Across Climatic Gradients in GreenlandSub-programme: Terrestrial ecosystems  (Greenland Gradients: Terrestrial)

Outline
The wide range of climatic regimes available in Greenland offers a unique possibility for studying ecological processes across regional climatic gradients. To obtain knowledge of such processes is crucial for predicting ecological effects of global change. Considering the complexity of an ecosystem with its inter-trophic dynamics, large-scale manipulation is a true bottleneck in our options for analysing the cascading effects of temperature and precipitation across trophic levels. Effects of increased temperature on plant phenology are well documented by for instance the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX), but effects on higher trophic levels (as indirect effects) are still poorly understood. The use of large-scale gradients enables us to develop tools for building scenarios reflecting the ecosystem response to predicted climate change scenarios developed by the Hadley Centre forecasting a temperature increase of 2-10°C in Greenland (most pronounced in the High Arctic region). This will move the High Arctic biome out into the Arctic Ocean and change the present High Arctic into a Low Arctic climate with dramatic consequences for biodiversity and trophic interactions due to prolonged growing seasons, immigration of new species and increased plant cover in Arctic deserts, etc. Along with this temperature rise, precipitation will change dramatically, affecting breeding phenology for High Arctic shorebirds and survival of herbivores and hence also the predators including Man. Main focuses along the gradients will be on both the biotic environment (biodiversity, population density, genetic diversity within populations, soil biology, plant phenology, spatial habitat use by animals) and the abiotic environment (climatic variables, active layer depth, soil water content and nutrient transport, etc.) using ground surveys as well as remote sensing (satellite images). A two-legged concerted project will be carried out simultaneously along two different gradient regimes: a coast – inland regime that represents a latitudinally fixed (equal day length) gradient of temperature (increasing towards the inland) and precipitation (decreasing towards the inland), and a north – south gradient with increasing temperature and precipitation. Both legs should be represented on both the East coast and the West coast of Greenland. Long-term monitoring programmes at Zackenberg in central Northeast Greenland have documented the linkage between local climate and biological variables at a local scale. The expansion of this monitoring to cover the entire range of climatic gradients in Greenland will facilitate up-scaling of Zackenberg results used together with dendrochronological analyses of tree-like species and sediment cores from lakes, who already provide important time series on climatic conditions, plant and insect composition, and physical–chemical parameters of climatic relevance.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Obligatory criteria:1) The programme will contribute to Status, Change, Global Linkages, New Frontiers and Human Dimension.2) The programme is entirely taking place within the sub-Arctic and Arctic zones and within the IPY years.3) The programme it affiliated with almost all relevant international co-operations including direct collaboration with the IPY Greening of the Arctic: Monitoring circumpolar arctic biomass project.4) The programme is managed within existing institutions with much experience in running field projects particularly in Greenland.5) Potential funding is available.6) Logistic facilities are already available for the proposed programme.7) Data will be public domain after quality check and initial analysis.8) The programme will involve a large number of masters as well as PhD students, and public outreach will be an integrated part of it.9) See above.Additional criteria:3) The programme builds on existing plans, programmes and initiatives.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The research and monitoring already performed at Zackenberg follow the standards developed by a range of international programmes and co-operations, and we are part of or co-operate with SCANNET, ENVINET, CEON, CALM, ABBCS, ACD, ITEX, CAFF, STORM, and AMAP (http://www.zackenberg.dk). Further, the project is collaborating with the IPY projects: Snow Trends from Remote Monitoring (Birger Ulf Hansen, University of Copenhagen), Greening of the Arctic: Monitoring circumpolar arctic biomass (Skip Walker, University of Alaska Fairbanks), Arctic Wildlife Observatories Linking Vulnerable EcoSystems (Gilles Gauthier, Université Laval, Canada).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
All elements of the programme are already in operation on an annual basis at Zackenberg Research Station in central Northeast Greenland, and a slightly modified version of the programme will be replicated at about 10 sites distributed within all main biogeographical zones of Greenland. The sites will be selected on the basis of existing background data from the sites as well as on their logistic facilities.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/07-09/07            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Most of the selected sites will be at existing research facilities with access by regular flights, boats and STOL planes. Several of the sites are already operated at a regular basis.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The programme will involve a scientific upgrading of already existing research and monitoring facilities, and it is expected that further monitoring will be initiated at several of the sites.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
NO - No national endorsement of IPY proposals has yet been made in Denmark, but the programme falls within the national IPY priority “Arctic Climate – Variability, Change and Impacts.” Furthermore, it builds on the recommendation by the Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland, that stress the need for research on biodiversity, population dynamics, trophic interactions and ecosystem functioning along climatic gradients in Greenland, which is further echoed by the Danish National IPY committee.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
YES
The programme is a combination of existing programmes operated during 10 years at Zackenberg Research Station in central Northeast Greenland (http://www.zackenberg.dk and http://biobasis.dmu.dk) and similar sub-programmes performed at a further c. 10 new sites.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The sub-programme will be run by the National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment, Denmark, in co-operation with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, the University of Copenhagen, and the Danish Polar Center. The overall programme will be co-ordinated by a joint co-ordination committee consisting of the heads of the sub-programmes and chaired by the Director of the Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Like work already performed at Zackenberg Research Station, extensive communication efforts will be directed towards the general public in Greenland, Denmark and internationally, and like all programmes at Zackenberg extensive training of masters and PhD students will take place. See www.zackenberg.dk.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Like all monitoring already performed at Zackenberg Research Station, data from the programme will be public domain, presented within a year after the termination of field activities in publicly accessible data bases on the internet (http://www.zackenberg.dk).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Predominantly national foundations and agencies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The project is submitted under a common umbrella topic “Greenland Gradients” including also a freshwater and a marine project (please see cover letter).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Director of Department, DSc Jesper Madsen
National Environmental Research Institute
Department of Arctic Environment
P.O. Box 358, Roskilde
4000
Denmark

Tel: +45 4630 1940
Mobile:
Fax: +45 4630 1914
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information