The International Tundra Experiment – Endalen, Svalbard
In this project, we aim to study long-term effects of warming and exclusion of herbivores on plant communities in the High Arctic.
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Climate in Svalbard is warming fast, and we need to understand its effect on Arctic ecosystems. Plant communities are expected to change from mosses to higher plants. Biodiversity might decrease as cold-adapted plants lose their natural habitat.
The experiment in Endalen is part of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) – Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu). ITEX is a network of experimental sites distributed around the world, from arctic to alpine regions. At all ITEX sites, impacts of warming on tundra ecosystems are studied.
The experiment was set up in Endalen in the High Arctic tundra on Svalbard. Different vegetation types were included, ranging from drier to moister conditions. Treatments include warming by using Open Top Chambers, and exclusion of herbivores by using cages.
The project started in 2001 and will continue in the future. The last vegetation recording was done in 2022/2023, see “Long-term effects of climate warming on vegetation in Svalbard”.
Staff members:
External partners:
Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir (University of Iceland)
Anne Bjorkman (University of Gothenburg)