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Dataset - Long term studies of effects of climate manipulations on subarctic ecosystems

Aerts, Rien; Cornelissen, Hans (2009). Long term studies of effects of climate manipulations on subarctic ecosystems. (v1) The Netherlands. https://npdc.nl/dataset/6665e972-5a76-5776-a8d6-279f7ff26d69
Please use the citation above when using this dataset. Download as: BibTex or RIS

Summary

Since June 2000, we have been conducting a field manipulation experiment simulating climate scenarios in a subarctic Sphagnum-dominated blanket bog near Abisko, N Sweden. This experiment is unique in that it mimics six different combinations of (current and predicted) spring, summer and winter climate, each replicated five times. Passive spring and summer warming is achieved through transparent tent-like open-top chambers (OTC, 2.5 m diameter). In winter the same OTCs are effectively used to capture and retain snow, which in this wind-exposed site is often blown away from ambient plots but into the OTCs. The statistical design is factorial, i.e. there are 30 OTCs. i.e. 15 + 15 OTCs for ambient and warmed summer treatment and, within each summer treatment 5 for ambient spring and winter conditions, 5 with ambient spring but OTC in winter, and 5 with OTC both in spring. The replicates are organized in blocks each containing all 6 treatments.

Here we are measuring or have measured a range of features of the microclimate, soil (peat) properties, vegetation composition, diversity, structure and growth, carbon and nutrient exchange parameters, aspects of species responses (plants, microbes, soil invertebrates).

Datasets have been or are being assembled for:
- microclimate in the different treatments, including continuous recording of soil temperatures (ongoing) and (2000-2005) air temperatures; weekly snow depth; soil moisture and air humidity (in specific years); permafrost depth (active layer depth);
- soil (peat) properties at different depths;
- vegetation structure and composition down to species level, both vascular plants and cryptogams (2-yearly, through point-frame recording with associated biomass calibrations);
- plant species and functional diversity
- Sphagnum growth (in several specific years)
- annual shoot increments of target vascular species (in specific years)
- vegetative and reproductive phenology
- nutrient recycling, e.g. through resorption processes
- litter decomposition rates at the ecosystem and species level (environmental and species effects on decomposition; specific years)
- ecosystem level carbon exchange including soil respiration and photosynthesis; 13C signatures as indicators of respiration responses to warming for different peat horizons
- microbial community composition with special focus on their contributions on different nitrogen-transforming functions
- community composition of invertebrate soil fauna (Collembola, mites) and Thecamoebic protozoans (both being prepared)
The experiment, which is planned to run until at least 2020, is embedded in international scientific networks for global change investigations, for instance the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX).

Temporal coverage

Period

1 June 2000 to 31 December 2020


PlatformIn Situ Land-based Platforms > Field Investigation (field Investigation)
InstrumentIn Situ/laboratory Instruments > Samplers > Grabbers/traps/collectors > Tullgren Funnel

Originating center

VU University Amsterdam

Participants

NameOrganizationRole

No files

Dataset progress

in work

Data quality

Access constraints

N/A

Use constraints

Please contact principal investigators at the department of Systems Ecology (rien.aerts [at] falw.vu.nl, hans.cornelissen [at] falw.vu.nl) at VU University Amsterdam for use and proper citation


Projects

No projects linked to this dataset yet

Publications

Wookey, P.A., Aerts, M.A.P.A., et al., 2009. Ecosystem feedbacks and cascade processes: understanding their role in the responses of Arctic and alpine ecosystems to environmental change. Global Change Biology 15 (5), 1153-1172

Aerts, M.A.P.A., Callaghan, T.V., et al., 2009. Seasonal climate manipulations result in species-specific changes in leaf nutrient levels and isotopic composition in a sub-arctic bog. Functional Ecolog 23 (4), 680-688

Lang, S.I., Cornelissen, J.H.C., et al., 2009. Determinants of cryptogam composition and diversity in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands: the importance of temporal, spatial and functional scales. Journal of Ecolog 97 (2), 299-310

Dorrepaal, E., Toet, S., et al., 2009. Carbon respiration from subsurface peat accelerated by climate warming in the subarctic. Nature 460 (7255), 616-619

Dorrepaal, E., Cornelissen, J.H.C., & Aerts, M.A.P.A., 2007. Changing leaf litter feedbacks on plant production across contrasting sub-arctic peatland species and growth forms. Oecologia 151 (2), 251-261

Dorrepaal, E., Aerts, M.A.P.A., et al., 2006. Sphagnum modifies climate change impacts on sub-arctic vascular bog plants. Functional Ecology 20 (1), 31-41

Aerts, M.A.P.A., Cornelissen, J.H.C., & Dorrepaal, E., 2006. Plant performance in a warmer world: general responses of plants from cold, northern biomes and the importance of winter and spring events. Plant Ecology 182 (1), 65-77

Dorrepaal, E., Aerts, M.A.P.A., et al., 2004. Summer warming and increased winter snow cover affect Sphagnum fuscum growth, structure and production in a sub-arctic bog. Global Change Biology 10 (1), 93-104

Aerts, M.A.P.A., Cornelissen, J.H.C., et al., 2004. Effects of experimentally imposed climate scenarios on flowering phenology and flower production of subarctic bog species. Global Change Biology 10 (9), 1599-1609

Links

No links

Dif id: Experimental_Warming_Ecology_Arctic_Dorrepaal_NL | UUID: 6665e972-5a76-5776-a8d6-279f7ff26d69 | Version:1 | Added on: 13 November 2009 15:29