Biocomplexity of Patterned-Ground Ecosystems

In progress, will be added as funding allows

Howe Island

Aerial photo of Howe Island

The Biocomplexity of Patterned-Ground Ecosystems project studies the complex linkages between frost heaves, soil biogeochemical processes, and vegetation patterns in small patterned-ground ecosystems along an Arctic bioclimate gradient from treeline to the coldest portions of the Arctic (Walker et al. 2004). Prior to this study, these features have been studied by geomorphologists but not by ecologists. The project focuses on how climate influences the interactions between vegetation, soils, and patterned-ground formation.

Numerous small patterned-ground features are unique to permafrost regions — the most common in the Low Arctic are non-sorted circles and hummocks, which are small, 1-3 min diameter, often circular patches that are caused by frost heave and are spaced from 1-10 m apart. They occur in regular patterns of "spotted tundra" that cover large landscapes of the northern Low Arctic. These features have recently been linked to a wide variety of important ecosystem properties including the flux of energy, water, and nutrients to the land surface, watersheds and the atmosphere (Bockheim et al., 1998; Nelson et al, 1998; Walker et al, 1998), and even the forage quality for wildlife (Walker et al, 2001).

Part of the study included mapping the vegetation, active-layer depth, and snow depth in 10x10 m grids in zonal and common vegetation types. Grids were established at the following locations along transects in northern Alaska, northern Canada, and Kolyma River in Russia. Maps were made at the following locations:

Isachsen, Nunavut - 3 grids
Mould Bay, NWT - 2 grids
Howe Island, Alaska - 1 grid
West Dock, Alaska - 1 grid
Green Cabin, NWT - 3 grids
Deadhorse, Alaska - 1 grid
Franklin Bluffs, Alaska - 3 grids
Sagwon MNT, Alaska - 2 grids
Ambarchik, Chukotka - 1 grid
Sagwon MAT, Alaska - 1 grid
Happy Valley, Alaska - 3 grids
Kurishka, Chukotka - 1 grid
Inuvik, NWT - 1 grid

Total number of grids: 23


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