Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

étiquettes: physical sciences, climate change, aquatic ecology, biodiversity, freshwater ecosystem, pollution, tundra ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystem, migratory birds

Objectif(s): The overall goal of the expedition Tundra Northwest 1999 is to study geographic variation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems of the tundra. By using the CCG icebreaker Louis St. Laurent for transport and as a scientific platform the the expedition route will include a longitudinal gradient from Baffin Island to the northern coast of Alaska and a latitudinal gradient through the Canadian Arctic to the North Magnetic Pole. The aim is to provide a circumpolar perspective of ecological patterns and processes in addition to studies on contamination and climate change. The scientific study has 5 main themes: A) Interplay between plants and organisms; B) Diversity among organisms and ecosystems; C) Bird migration; D) Freshwater ecology; E) Climate change and pollution. These themes will be coordinated in order to give a coherent picture of the ecology of the tundra.

Description du projet: The overall goal of the expedition Tundra Northwest 1999 is to study geographic variation of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems of the tundra. By using the CCG icebreaker Louis St. Laurent for transport and as a scientific platform the the expedition route will include a longitudinal gradient from Baffin Island to the northern coast of Alaska and a latitudinal gradient through the Canadian Arctic to the North Magnetic Pole. About 35 scientists will stop for 2-3 days at 16 different locations. The expedition will partly be a continuation of successful Swedish-Russiian Tundra Ecology Expedition to the Russian Arctic in 1994. The aim is to provide a circumpolar perspective of ecological patterns and processes in addition to studies on contamination and climate change. The scientific study has 5 main themes: A) Interplay between plants and organisms; B) Diversity among organisms and ecosystems; C) Bird migration; D) Fres... Plus de résultatshwater ecology; E) Climate change and pollution. At each site, the vegetation will be documented as well as the presence of birds and mammals. Samples will be collected from soil and different types of plants for later analysis of soil organisms, genetic variation, and chemical composition. Lemmings will be trapped both dead and alive for population estimation and for studies of the biology of the animals, Arctic fox will be trapped alive for measurements and blood sampling and then released. Pellets and sctas from mammals and birds will be collected for food choice analyses. Birds will be trapped for banding and sampling of blood and feathers. Bird navigation experiments will be carried out in the field, combined with radar observations of bird migration. Samples from freshwater systems will be taken for chemical analyses. Plankton as well as arctic char populations where present, will be sampled for genetic and other biological analyses. These themes will be coordinated in order to give a coherent picture of the ecology of the tundra. Afficher moins