Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #54:Polar Moss Flora Project  (PMFP)

Outline
Bryophytes, in particular mosses, are important and often critical ecological components of polar habitats around the globe. These organisms and the environments to which they contribute are threatened by climate change, as documented in every arctic region. Although there are numerous ecological and taxonomic studies of arctic bryophytes, there are no comprehensive illustrated floras available for these groups which would assist researchers in the identification of important taxa. Without confidence in identification, some ecological studies, at least with respect to bryophytes, remain general in nature. In contrast, lichens, a group of similar ecological importance, are, in most part, better documented, and some wide-based floras exist to help scientists in their research. The focus of our project is to initiate a world-wide polar moss flora, followed, in time, with a liverwort flora. The first step was initiated earlier this year when we were supported by NatureServe Yukon to develop a moss inventory for the southern Yukon, with the eventual aim to produce an illustrated flora of this territory; two professional illustrators have already been approached and are willing to assist with the project. A thorough inventory is a necessary first step in projects of this type. Although a number of relatively small areas have been well documented for mosses in the Yukon, large regions, especially in areas not accessible by roads, need detailed inventory-based surveys. This is reflected in other parts of Polar Canada, where only local documentation exists. With an increased knowledge of mosses, we will better understand their distribution and their ecology, and will be better able to monitor individual or suites of species with respect to climate change. As the project develops, we will investigate the possibilities of completing similar projects in other parts of the arctic, such as Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, either separate from or as a single flora. Another aspect of this project is to complete a literature review and summary of all of the pertinent documents, taxonomic, phytogeographic, or ecological in nature, that contribute to the bryological knowledge of all polar regions. In this way, we can identify both knowledge gaps as well as compile a thorough knowledge base. A last aim of our project is to identify researchers across the northern polar regions who are willing to contribute to a global polar moss flora.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will address four of the IPY themes: Status: Although many relatively small areas of the Yukon and the north have been inventoried for mosses, wide and often inaccessible regions lack systematic surveys. Our plan is to continue detailed inventory surveys for mosses across the Yukon towards the completion of an illustrated moss flora of the territory. This will be followed up by a flora of all polar regions of North America, and, eventually the north polar regions. Change: Projects at all levels will benefit from an illustrated moss flora, as it will allow researchers to more readily identify mosses, an ecologically critical group in arctic regions. Mosses have been identified in most polar regions as being not only ecologically important, but also being negatively influenced by climate change. Global linkages: Our project, although not presently involving scientists outside of Canada, is designed to incorporate research initiatives across all polar regions. New Frontiers: An illustrated flora of mosses in arctic regions is presently unavailable. Floras of this type on vascular plants and lichens have proved invaluable in many research projects.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
At present, we are focused in the Yukon, and are generating contacts in other parts of arctic Canada. However, we aim to introduce this initiative to researchers across the polar sphere by 2006 at the latest.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Yukon (arctic coast, central mountains, and refugial areas) 2006: Yukon (unsampled 'critical' areas in the Yukon based on 2005 inventory work and other research efforts) 2007: Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/05-09/05      05/06-06/06      05/07-09/07
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The study of mosses requires less infrastructure than many projects in that mosses are relatively small and easy to collect and store, with the greatest expenses related to field work (travel, accommodations, accessibility, etc.). Logistic support for field work - we plan to use, with permission, existing field stations (e.g., Kluane Lake Research Station) as a base for some field work. We will also depend on available infrastructure of other groups already undertaking field work in the region (e.g., NatureServe Yukon; access, camping facilities, etc.) Also, following a bryological course in Whitehorse last summer, a number of field workers have been trained to collect mosses as part of backcountry projects not directly related to this project (especially with respect to NatureServe Yukon projects; we have already received three collections of mosses from parts of the Yukon which we were unable to get to last year). Many of the researchers listed in section 4.2 are keen on assisting this project by collecting and documenting mosses during their field work sessions. Herbaria at the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia will be used to identify and lodge specimens. With permission, it is likely that these herbaria can be used by other projects .

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Our legacy will be an illustrated regional or, hopefully, full arctic moss flora that can be used by both professionals and amateurs. Further, we will leave a complete reference collection of mosses from each area that we investigate, and these specimens will be housed in well-known herbaria. Another legacy will be the interest that this project will create in the study of the taxonomy and ecology of bryophytes, in particular mosses.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
At present, we do not have national endorsement, mostly because the project is relatively new. However, we are actively pursuing a support base at this level. We expect to be supported by a number of federal agencies, including the Canadian Wildlife Service, COSEWIC, and other agencies. We have been endorsed by a number of agencies within the Yukon, with NatureServe Yukon being a confirmed partner. International endorsement will be a next step, at first with researchers in Alaska, followed by European and Asian contacts. This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems Terrestrial Processes

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

This is, at this time a new project, established in July, 2004. However, we expect that by 2007, it will be well underway.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project will be self-managed, and is mostly a free-standing activity (we will probably, at least over the short term, be closely tied to activities of NatureServe Yukon, and we will combine management of field activities with this organization). Terry McIntosh will be principal manager and will be responsible for coordinating all activities, including organizing specimens, and writing the text and keys of the flora. Chris Marion will be the principal contact in the Yukon, and will be a main editor of the flora as well as the GIS (mapping) and illustration coordinator.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We will fully involve both scientists and the public as best we can. Last summer, two moss workshops that we led, one in Whitehorse and the other at Kluane, were well attended, and the interest in these types of activities is high at both scientific and outreach (educational levels). We will keep all of our sponsors informed of our activities. Potentially, we can also develop 'popular' field guides, for example of the more common mosses and their ecological and traditional roles.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
All collections, collection data, and researcher statistics will be coordinated through a database based either in Vancouver or in Whitehorse. We have GIS capabilities and maps will be produced for all taxa. Illustrations will be securely stored. Voucher specimens will be stored primarily in the Yukon with duplicates sent to UBC and Alberta.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We have secured start-up money (+/-$3000.00) from NatureServe Yukon for work in 2004 and are presently looking for more funding opportunities. Long-term costs will primarily be for field work, illustration preparation, and text writing, with lesser amounts necessary for specimen identification and preparation, and mapping.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Complete illustrated identification guides, no matter what the subject, are highly prized in research studies, when available. Considering the ecological importance of mosses in polar regions, an illustrated moss flora, even covering a smaller region such as the Yukon, will be valuable.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Terry McIntosh
Biospherics Environmental Inc.
3-1175 E. 14th Ave.,
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5T 2P2
Canada

Tel: 604-874-1175
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation