Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ecosystem Processes Across Climatic Gradients in GreenlandSub-programme: Freshwater Ecosystems  (Greenland Gradients: Freshwater)

Outline
Polar environments are at the extreme end of gradients of physiological tolerance and production, with these two parameters constraining both the species richness and the community structures that can persist at the highest latitudes. Physiological tolerance has so far been the main descriptor of high latitude communities. However, community structure is determined by productivity rather than species identities. According theory, the low productivity of high latitudes will determine the trophic structure of the food, severely restricting the length of food chains that are possible, and thus eliminating higher trophic levels or forcing them to exploit a larger area to survive. Thus, such ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to changes in climate. To obtain knowledge of such processes is crucial for predicting ecological effects of global change. Greenland extends to the highest latitudes of any landmass in the northern hemisphere, yet it covers a wide range of latitudes and climatic zones. Greenland, therefore, offers an excellent opportunity to investigate the influence of latitude on communities, particularly as the effects of latitude and temperature can be isolated by comparing north-south and east-west gradients. We propose an investigation of the influence of latitude/temperature on productivity and food web structure of lakes in Greenland, using a standardised protocol and stable isotopes to focus on the trophic structure from fish to bacteria. 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 changes in temperature and precipitation. Both legs should be represented on both the East coast and the West coast of Greenland. In each region, lakes with and without fish will be used as fish dramatically alter food web interactions in high latitude lakes. For historic climate records, sediment cores from lakes provide important time series on climatic conditions, plant and insect composition, and physical–chemical parameters of climatic relevance, which will be linked to both the coast – inland and north-south gradients. By exploring the relationship between latitude and community structure, we aim to determine the factors that constrain the food webs, the densities of the component species, and the longevity, life histories and behaviour of individual animals in lakes at extremely high latitudes and how they might be affected by climate changes in the future.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project addresses all 6 IPY themes and the project will secure advances by:§ Improving the understanding of ecosystem structure, functioning and productivity along climate gradients in freshwater and saline lakes with and without fish – in the past and at present.§ Improving the understanding of how productivity affects the length of the food web in lakes and how climate affects this relationship. § Improving the understanding of how climate change has affected lake trophic dynamics in Greenland lakes at different latitudes in the past and how predicted changes might affect these ecosystems in the future.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Several institutes from abroad are included in the present proposal. In addition, we are engaged in extensive co-operation on cross-system of data from more than 400 lakes from polar and sub-arctic regions with several institutes in USA, Canada, Norway, The Faroe Islands, Iceland, Sweden, and Finland through a network established as a result of the Nordic Arctic Research Programme – NORLAKE (1998-2004).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
So far studies have been performed in Pittufik, Disko, Kangerlussuaq and Zackenberg. We wish to include transects (from the coast to the ice cap) in south-east and south-west, as well as north-east and north Greenland. We are, however, flexible concerning the precise locations that are to be co-ordinated with the terrestrial and marine project under the Greenland Gradient umbrella or other projects.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
We will need flight transport to locations and helicopter transport to the different sites of each location.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
NO

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 priority “Arctic Climate – Variability, Change and Impacts.” Furthermore, it builds on the recommendation by the Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland, which stresses the need for research on biodiversity, population dynamics, trophic interactions and ecosystem functioning along climatic gradients in Greenland.

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 includes several new topics (e.g. genetic studies, food-web length) and partners, but otherwise builds on now finished research projects (North Atlantic Research Programme, Nordic Arctic Research Programme, a project funded by the Carlsberg Foundation) and the newly initiated FP6 _IP project Eurolimpacs (2004-2008) dealing with effects of climate change on freshwaters (a minor component of this project concentrating on temperate to sub-arctic systems).

How will the project be organised and managed?
The sub-programme will be run by the National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Freshwater Ecology, in co-operation with the Freshwater Biological Laboratory of the University of Copenhagen. A steering group with a representative from each institute will be established. 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?
We expect master, PhD and Post-doctors to participate in the project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management will be handled by the participants and data stored in existing NORLAKE database at NERI.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The partners will all forward applications to national research foundations. In addition an EOI has been submitted by the consortium to the European Science Foundation – call for projects on “life in extreme environments”. We also plan to apply to the EU or other international agencies.

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

PROPOSER DETAILS

Research professor, DSc Erik Jeppesen
National Environmental Research Institute
Department of Freshwater Ecology
P.O. Box 354, Silkeborg
8600
Denmark

Tel: +45 892030 1423
Mobile: no
Fax: +45 8920 1414
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation