Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra
Mean annual air temperatures in Arctic regions have increased by about 2–3°C over the past 50 years. As a result, the abundance and maximum height of woody shrub species has increased (shrubification) at sites around the circumpolar Arctic. This paper examines the extent and impact of shrubification...
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ftlaurentian:oai:zone.biblio.laurentian.ca:10219/3839 2024-04-28T08:09:27+00:00 Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra Robinson, Chantae Ucaeci 2021-09-30 application/pdf https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3839 en eng Laurentian University of Sudbury https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3839 Shrubification Hudson Bay Lowlands permafrost remote sensing methane carbon dioxide nitrogen temperature soil chemistry carbon soil microbial community Thesis 2021 ftlaurentian 2024-04-03T14:07:51Z Mean annual air temperatures in Arctic regions have increased by about 2–3°C over the past 50 years. As a result, the abundance and maximum height of woody shrub species has increased (shrubification) at sites around the circumpolar Arctic. This paper examines the extent and impact of shrubification on relevant nutrient cycling, soil microbial community and GHG production potential at a fen environment in the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, MB. Greening during 1984-2017 was analyzed using Google Earth Engine, a 10-year litterbag study was conducted to compare nutrient release patterns between a sedge and shrub dominated site, soil microbial DNA was extracted from sites and compared, and active layer samples were incubated to determine potential GHG production. We found that greening was extensive in the area, methane production was lower in soils from shrub-dominated sites and shrub litters decomposed significantly slower than sedge litters in the first year. These results suggest that it is unlikely that permafrost is sustainable where shrubs encroach, yet the effects of permafrost thaw on carbon cycling could be in part offset by lower microbial methane production associated with shrubs in near surface soils. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biology Thesis Arctic Hudson Bay permafrost Subarctic Tundra LU|ZONE|UL @ Laurentian University |
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LU|ZONE|UL @ Laurentian University |
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ftlaurentian |
language |
English |
topic |
Shrubification Hudson Bay Lowlands permafrost remote sensing methane carbon dioxide nitrogen temperature soil chemistry carbon soil microbial community |
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Shrubification Hudson Bay Lowlands permafrost remote sensing methane carbon dioxide nitrogen temperature soil chemistry carbon soil microbial community Robinson, Chantae Ucaeci Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
topic_facet |
Shrubification Hudson Bay Lowlands permafrost remote sensing methane carbon dioxide nitrogen temperature soil chemistry carbon soil microbial community |
description |
Mean annual air temperatures in Arctic regions have increased by about 2–3°C over the past 50 years. As a result, the abundance and maximum height of woody shrub species has increased (shrubification) at sites around the circumpolar Arctic. This paper examines the extent and impact of shrubification on relevant nutrient cycling, soil microbial community and GHG production potential at a fen environment in the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, MB. Greening during 1984-2017 was analyzed using Google Earth Engine, a 10-year litterbag study was conducted to compare nutrient release patterns between a sedge and shrub dominated site, soil microbial DNA was extracted from sites and compared, and active layer samples were incubated to determine potential GHG production. We found that greening was extensive in the area, methane production was lower in soils from shrub-dominated sites and shrub litters decomposed significantly slower than sedge litters in the first year. These results suggest that it is unlikely that permafrost is sustainable where shrubs encroach, yet the effects of permafrost thaw on carbon cycling could be in part offset by lower microbial methane production associated with shrubs in near surface soils. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biology |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Robinson, Chantae Ucaeci |
author_facet |
Robinson, Chantae Ucaeci |
author_sort |
Robinson, Chantae Ucaeci |
title |
Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
title_short |
Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
title_full |
Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
title_fullStr |
Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the Hudson Bay subarctic tundra |
title_sort |
assessing patterns and biogeochemical impacts of shrubification in sedge fens of the hudson bay subarctic tundra |
publisher |
Laurentian University of Sudbury |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3839 |
genre |
Arctic Hudson Bay permafrost Subarctic Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic Hudson Bay permafrost Subarctic Tundra |
op_relation |
https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/handle/10219/3839 |
_version_ |
1797577816107122688 |