Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #144:The fate of the arctic-alpine flora of tundra uplands within the circumboreal forest: a major indicator of climate change during this century  (FATALITY)

Outline
Plants above the subarctic tree line across the circumboreal forest are at risk because of the on-going major change in climatic conditions. IPCC (2001) scenarios of a warmer Arctic and Subarctic during this century are realistic, and tundra environments within the forest-tundra and the boreal forest zones will be exposed to more stress because of future forest encroachment. Tundra uplands within the circumboreal zone are forming islands of floral diversity. They are southern outposts of the Arctic in terms of environmental conditions and biota in direct contact with the boreal biota, a tribute to island biogeography. Tundra islands support several, circumpolar, amphi-atlantic and continental arctic-alpine species able to survive and reproduce in wind-exposed uplands immediately surrounded by boreal forests. Tundra islands also are affected by severe frost action damaging the soil surface in the form of several periglacial features. Because the global climate is getting warmer since the end of the nineteen century, boreal forest species are able to invade the open environment of the tundra islands and out-compete the sensitive arctic-alpine plants. If the warming scenario is realized within the next decades, there is a high probability that upland tundra islands will be transformed into new forest. If so the arctic-alpine plants and the adjoining periglacial ground will soon disappeared and will be replaced by complacent, ubiquist boreal species. In this project we propose to monitor the fate of upland arctic-alpine ecosystems in view of the on-going and future changes in climate across the circumboreal forest zone (Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Finland and Russia). Similar upland sites in Australia and New-Zealand and South America also will be good candidates for our project. In similar upland tundra environments, our international team will monitor the same parameters and components of the ecosystem though time. Satellite imagery and field measurements will be used repeatedly over the years and decades to track the ups and downs of the arctic-alpine realm. This initiative will be useful as a direct indicator of major environmental changes at the edge of the Arctic associated with the variable global climate.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project addresses the issue of conservation of biodiversity of arctic regions corresponding to theme 1 of IPY program. Changes in the abundance of arctic-alpine plants is also an important point related to theme 2. Interaction between the physical environment and arctic biota is also an aspect related to theme 3.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project will involve colleagues from the Taiga/Tundra Interface Committee of IASC (see www.iasc.no) (IASC: International Arctic Science Committee).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, South Island of New-Zealand, Highlands of New South Wales in Australia

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/2007 – 03/2010      04/2007 – 03/2010      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Polar Continental Project, Centre d’études nordiques, IASC support. A coordination effort will be done at every location by using the facilities of research stations. The use of the Centre d’études nordiques field stations will attract colleagues in other parts of Canada and form the circumpolar scientific community.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes, as small field stations which can be shared with other research groups (and projects)

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
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

New project of Louis-Marie Herbarium of Université Laval and Centre d’études nordiques with TTI Committee of IASC. I am the new Curator of the Herbarium and would like to pursue such a nice and global project with colleagues in Canada and across the circumpolar North.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Too soon at this time of the pre-proposal. But the Steering Committee for this project is already active, i.e., the Taiga/Tundra Interface Committee of IASC.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Too soon at this time of the pre-proposal

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
This aspect has to be developed with the group at the stage of the full-proposal preparation. Data sharing is necessary for publication of collective work across the circumpolar regions. The group will envisage the possibility of sharing field data on a serve. The Centre d’études nordiques has some capacity of holding such a site (high capacity SQL-server).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Too soon at this time of the pre-proposal. At this stage, IASC colleagues have some possibilities of local support. We will seek an annual support of c. 300K$

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr  Serge Payette
Centre d’études nordiques
Département de Biologie, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, U Laval, Québec City
G1K 7P4
Canada

Tel: 418-656-2131 poste 7538
Mobile: no
Fax: 418-656-2043
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation