Obiettivo The proposed research programme will increase understanding of ecosystem dynamics at the forest-tundra ecotone in northern Europe. In particular, it will quantify the dynamics of the response of this ecotone to changes in climate and in land use. In order to achieve this overall objective, the following more specific objectives will be addressed:- To establish the principal environmental determinant(s) of the position of the forest-tundra ecotone in northern Europe;- To evaluate the long-term stability of the position of this ecotone;- To test the extent to which stabilising feedback controls determine the sensitivity of the ecotone to environmental changes;- To investigate the extent to which potential dynamic responses of the ecotone to environmental changes are modulated by other limiting factors, including propagule dispersal, seedling establishment, disturbance régime and herbivore impacts;- To evaluate the impacts of a transformation from tundra to birch woodland upon carbon sequestration, trace-gas fluxes, soil organic matter mineralisation rates and catchment hydrology;- To construct a landscape-scale model of ecosystem dynamics able to simulate the response of the ecotone to a variety of scenarios of environmental change;-To simulate the impacts of alternative environmental change scenarios upon the ecotone.These objectives will be addressed through a combination of field measurements, experiments and modelling at 6 study sites in Fennoscandia. Palaeoecological data will be used to provide a longer time perspective where appropriate, whilst the programmes of measurement and field manipulations will establish bases for longer-term monitoring of the ecotone. The study sites will be arranged along two complementary transects within environmental space. Northern Europe exhibits a strong oceanic-continental climate gradient along which the first transect will extend. The topographic diversity of Fennoscandia leads to recurrence of the forest-tundra ecotone across a wide latitudinal range and thus under diverse conditions of insolation and photoperiod; the second transect will extend along this gradient. The contemporary climate, trace-gas fluxes and soil organic matter mineralisation rates will be monitored; tree seedling establishment and growth and propagule flow, will be measured; the role of outlying trees in ecotone response will be assessed; the past position of the ecotone and the palaeoclimate will be investigated; time-series of snow-cover data will be obtained from satellite data; experiments will investigate the influences of temperature, snow-cover, the presence of a canopy, herbivory and disturbance upon tree seedling establishment; and models will be developed of landscape-scale hydrology and ecosystem dynamics. Campo scientifico natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologyengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems Programma(i) FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998 Argomento(i) 01020203 - Biodiversity and environmental change Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore University of Durham Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo South Road DH1 3LE Durham Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (8) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF DENMARK AND GREENLAND Danimarca Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 8,Oester Voldgade 10 2400 KOEPENHAGEN Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE FOR WATER RESEARCH Norvegia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 19,Brekkeveien 19 0411 Oslo Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Norvegia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Realfagbygget 7491 TRONDHEIM Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE IMPACT RESEARCH Germania Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Telegrafenberg C4 1441 POTSDAM Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI Finlandia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 20 A,Siltavuorenpenger 20 A 00014 HELSINKI Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Umeå Universitet Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Universitetsomradet, Hus L 901 87 Umeå Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato University of Göteborg Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 22B,Carl Skottsbergs Gata 413 19 Göteborg Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Uppsala University Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 18B,Norbyvägen 752 36 Uppsala Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato