International Tundra Experiment

The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) is a long-term international collaboration of researchers examining the responses of arctic and alpine plants and ecosystems to climate change.[1] The ITEX network consists of more than 20 sites in polar and alpine locations around the world. Researchers measure plant responses to standardized, small-scale passive warming, snow manipulations, and nutrient additions. Researchers use small open-top chambers to passively increase mean air temperature by 1-2oC.[2] The ITEX approach has been validated by tundra responses at the plot level.[3] The network has published meta-analyses on plant phenology, growth, and reproduction,[4] composition and abundance,[5] and carbon flux.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Henry, GHR, and Molau, U. 1997. Tundra plants and climate change: the International Tundra Experiment. Global Change Biology, 3(S1): 1-9.
  2. ↑ Marion, G. et al. 1997. Open-top designs for manipulating field temperature in high-latitude ecosystems. Global Change Biology, 3(S1): 20-32.
  3. ↑ Hollister, RD and Webber, PJ. 2000. Biotic validation of small open-top chambers in a tundra ecosystem. Global Change Biology, 6: 835-842.
  4. ↑ Arft, AM, et al. 1999. Responses of tundra plants to experimental warming: Meta-analysis of the International Tundra Experiment. Ecological Monographs, 96(4): 491-511.
  5. ↑ Walker, MD, et al. 2006. Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(5): 1342-1346.
  6. ↑ Oberbauer, SF, et al. Tundra CO2 fluxes in response to experimental warming across latitudinal and moisture gradients. Ecological Monographs, 77(2): 221-238.

External links

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