Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Geography, origin and evolution of free-living protist diversity in changing polar climates.  (PROTDIV-CPC)

Outline
Geography, origin and evolution of free-living protist diversity in changing polar climates. Global warming is expected to affect the geographical distribution of biomes, as well as their biological diversity. The southern border of the Arctic is likely to move north, shrinking the arctic biome and favouring the establishment of new ecosystems on ice-free land. Shifts in diversity, also from free-living protists, can be expected. In order to assess these changes, we need to better understand the present status and the origin of free-living protist diversity and its relationship to climate. Our attention will thus focus on the following topics: 1. Determine the present status of protists diversity in relation to the present climate. - distribution of current protist communities (geography and diversity) along a latitudinal gradient from low arctic to high arctic regions and climates to assess the influence of different polar climates on the diversity of protists. - how protist diversity changes along an altitudinal gradient in several localities along the latitudinal gradient 2. Assessing the source of the present protist diversity - processes that contribute to the "genesis" and maintenance of the current diversity; i.e. dispersal and colonisation and resistance to climatic extremes. Experiments with traps. Ongoing experiments with infrared heated plots. - possible differences in colonisation processes (rate) along this gradient. Colonization experiments in water bodies with artificial substrates. - are there biodiversity hotspots, which might also have acted as source-area since the beginning of the Holocene? 3. Assessing the paleo-diversity. How did communities react to climate-related changes which occurred in Arctic lakes and ponds over the last millennia (emphasis on Medieval Warm Epoch - Little Ice Age - post LIA warm epoch). Sediment cores will be taken and analysed for protist diversity along both the latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. The diversity will be approached on several levels: community structure - morphology and genetic diversity of selected taxa. Groups to be included : testate amoebae, free-living naked amoebae, terrestrial foraminifera, free-living ciliates.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This proposal will enlarge our basic knowledge on processes which steer biodiversity of protists in different arctic climates. By studying different groups of protists, the underlying principles will more easily be recognised. As such, the data can be used in models to predict changes in the future.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Scientist of different countries are involved in this proposal.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Arctic: several localities along a latitudinal transect in West-Greenland. If possibility occurs, we could may try to coordinate with other transect related studies, e.g. as undertaken in the Canadian Arctic.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/07 - 09 / 07      05 /08 - 09/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No significant logistic facilities will be required.Only when appropiate some stay in existing field stations (e.g. in Qeqertarssuaq or in Kangerlussuaq), other sojourns mainly in tents. For sampling and transport in the most northern parts of Greenland, it would be suitable to have some contacts with other projects doing research in that area (i.e. north of Thule area).

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
NO

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Another national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
It is expected that the project will be endorsed by the Belgian 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

It is a new proposal, but it is erected on former experiments and work on free-living protists in both polar regions. At the moment we have terminated an ongoing heating experiment in Qeqertarssuaq where we worked for 3 summer periods. It is obvious that the results of these experiments can be used to explain the resistance/resilience of communities ( and community level diversity) to climate extremes.

How will the project be organised and managed?
If this letter of intent is given positive advise, the investigators will write the full proposal. We will also ask if the national science policy department is willing to give the necessary funding to such proposals. Much attention will also go to the planning of the fieldwork. After the IPY period the investigators will organise a workshop to prepare the output.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
- publishing in popular national science magazines and in the science pages of the main newspapers - a popular website - tours of presentation to the general public (The P.I. has till now given more than 75 lectures for general public on polar topics)

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
- national data management - use of data management of ITEX which is affiliated to GCTE

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Via own national agencies

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Louis Beyens
University Antwerpen, Research Unit Polar Ecology,Limnology & Paleobiology
Campus Middelheim, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerpen.
B-2020
Belgium

Tel: 32-(0)3-265 34 13
Mobile: no
Fax: 32-(0)3-265 32 95
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation