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Pathways for Ecological Change in Canadian High Arctic Wetlands Under Rapid Twentieth Century Warming

Paleoecological techniques are used to investigate how Canadian High Arctic wetlands responded to a mid-twentieth century increase in growing degree days.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Creator T. G. Sim, G. T. Swindles, P. J. Morris, M. Gałka, D. Mullan, J. M. Galloway
Summary When observing wetlands, we see an increase in wetness, moss diversity, and carbon accumulation in a polygon mire trough, likely related to ice wedge thaw. Contrastingly, the raised center of the polygon mire showed no clear response. Wet and dry indicator testate amoebae increased concomitantly in a valley fen, possibly relating to greater inundation from snowmelt followed by increasing evapotranspiration. This occurred alongside the appearance of generalist hummock mosses. A coastal fen underwent a shift from sedge to shrub dominance. The valley and coastal fens transitioned from minerogenic to organic-rich wetlands prior to the growing degree days increase. A subsequent shift to moss dominance in the coastal fen may relate to intensive grazing from Arctic geese.
Local Relevance This study investigates wetlands in the NWT to better understand how these wetlands respond to climate change.
Notes
Tags Vegetation,Permafrost,Historical,Wetlands,Paleoecology,Research,Carbon Storage
Geographic Region Beaufort Delta
Release Date 2019-04-11
Last Modified Date 2019-04-11
Funding Program