Effects of Experimental Warming on Phenology and Growth of Carex aquatilis-stans in Northern Alaska

• Main Author: Botting, Timothy
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: ScholarWorks@GVSU 2012
• Subjects: Environment; Life Science; Physical Science; Arctic; Barrow; Carex aquatilis; Climate change; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ssd/2012/oral_visual/84

Global climate change will affect many areas of the world in differing degrees of magnitude. High latitude regions have shown the impact of climate change the most. In 1995 and 1996, two study sites were established in Barrow and Atqasuk, Alaska. Atqasuk is approximately 60 miles south of Barrow. The ongoing study uses open-top chambers to examine the response of vegetation to experimental warming. The change of numerous Arctic species has been documented. The phenology of the dominant sedge, Carex aquatilis-stans, was investigated and patterns of change have become apparent. Generally, the study has shown that Carex aquatilis-stans has grown taller, has longer leaves, and has flowered earlier over time. These patterns suggest that Carex aquatilis-stans will become an even more dominant sedge in the Arctic community since experimental warming likely altered reproduction and growth.