Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #138: Structure and dynamics of the circumpolar forest-tundra ecotone  (Structure and dynamics of the circumpolar forest-tundra ecotone)

Outline
The structure of the forest-tundra ecotone varies along its circumpolar extent due to factors such as latitude, topography and species composition. For example, in Quebec, Canada, the treeline is a wide, fragmented region with a heterogeneous mosaic of natural forest edges and conifer krummholz, whereas in Scandinavia, it is composed of sparsely distributed deciduous trees. Ecotone structure and gradient are also affected by different types of disturbance such as fire in North America and reindeer grazing in Scandinavia. The arctic treeline has been a focus of ecological research as an indicator of climate change. The sensitivity to climate change may be affected by both local ecotone structure and natural disturbance regime. Response to climate change is also likely to be affected by the internal stucture of the ecotone, particularly with respect to the abundance and characteristics of inherent forest-tundra edges. We will collaborate with other researchers to investigate the current structure of the forest-tundra ecotone in different circumpolar locations, and to predict the effects of climate change on the dynamics of the arctic treeline. One of our specific objectives will be to determine how sensitivity to climate change varies with disturbance and ecotone structure.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will assess the current spatial structure of the arctic treeline (Theme 1) and predict its future dynamics (Theme 2). The forest tundra ecotone will be compared among different global locations (Theme 3). More details will be provided later.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
I will collaborate with Andrea Lloyd from Middlebury College who conducts studies on treeline in Alaska. We also hope to collaborate with other researchers from Canada and the United States, and with researchers in Scandinavia and Siberia (Russia). We will provide more details later.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
One of the locations will be northern Quebec, where the forest-tundra treeline occupies a broad ecotone dominated by Picea mariana (black spruce). Another location will be in Alaska. Other locations will be determined as others join this collaborative project, but we hope to include Scandinavia and Siberia.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: TBC            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Details for 2.2 and 2.3 will be available later.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Permanent sampling plots will be established with the potential for resampling to monitor change.

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

No details are available at this time.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This current pre-proposal contains my ideas about a potential project. In the next couple of months, I hope to get together a group of international researchers and further develop this project. 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?

How will the project be organised and managed?

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
As I mentioned above, this project idea is in the initial stages but we hope to gather a team of international researchers to develop this idea further and submit a complete pre-proposal at a later date.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Karen Harper
Département de biologie, Université Laval
Local 3058, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, Sainte-Foy, Québec
G1K 7P4
Canada

Tel: (418) 656-2131 x3857
Mobile: no
Fax: (418) 656-2043
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation