Landscape Function and Disturbance in Arctic Tundra

ISBN-13: 9783662011478 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 440 str.

James F. Reynolds;John D. Tenhunen

Opis

Following the discovery of large petroleum reserves in northern Alaska, the US Department of Energy implemented an integrated field and modeling study to help define potential impacts of energy-related disturbances on tundra ecosystems. This volume presents major findings from this study. A broad range of basic and applied research topics are examined, ranging from ecosystem physiology and biogeochemistry to landscape models that quantify the impact of road-building on tundra hydrology and ecosystem structure.
It is an important resource for researchers and students interested in arctic ecology, as well as for environmental managers concerned with practical issues of disturbances.

Recenzje

"..a very important contribution to arctic ecology...The book will soon be a classic and is indispensable for everyone interested in the ecology of the Arctic tundra." Entomologia Generalis

Spis treści

I Introduction.- 1 Ecosystem Response, Resistance, Resilience, and Recovery in Arctic Landscapes: Introduction.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 NRC Committee Report.- 1.3 The R4D Program.- 1.3.1 Objectives and Conceptual Framework.- 1.3.2 Program Implementation.- 1.3.3 Landscape Function.- 1.4 Summary.- References.- 2 Integrated Ecosystem Research in Northern Alaska, 1947–1994.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Early Days at NARL.- 2.3 The U. S. Tundra Biome Program.- 2.4 The Meade River RATE Program.- 2.5 Eagle Creek and Eagle Summit.- 2.6 The Arctic LIER Program at Toolik Lake.- 2.7 Other Studies In Alaska and Elsewhere.- 2.8 Summary and Prospects.- References.- 3 Disturbance and Recovery of Arctic Alaskan Vegetation.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Disturbance and Recovery.- 3.3 Typical Disturbance and Recovery Patterns.- 3.3.1 Small Disturbed Patches.- 3.3.2 Contaminants.- 3.3.2.1 Hydrocarbon Spills.- 3.3.2.2 Seawater and Reserve-Pit Spills.- 3.3.3 Fire.- 3.3.4 Transportation Corridors.- 3.3.4.1 Bulldozed Tundra and Related Disturbances.- 3.3.4.2 Off-Road Vehicle Trails.- 3.3.4.2.1 Summer Travel.- 3.3.4.2.2 Winter Travel.- 3.3.4.3 Permanent Roads and Pads.- 3.3.4.4 Gravel Mines.- 3.3.4.5 Native Species in Revegetation of Gravel Pads and Mines.- 3.3.4.6 Road Dust.- 3.3.4.7 Roadside Impoundments.- 3.3.5 Cumulative Impacts.- 3.4 Conclusions.- References.- 4 Terrain and Vegetation of the Imnavait Creek Watershed.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Terrain.- 4.2.1 Glacial Deposits.- 4.2.2 Retransported Hillslope Deposits.- 4.2.3 Colluvial Basin Deposits.- 4.2.4 Floodplain Deposits.- 4.3 Vegetation.- 4.3.1 Flora.- 4.3.2 Vegetation Types.- 4.3.2.1 Lichen-Covered Rocks.- 4.3.2.2 Dry Heath.- 4.3.2.2.1 Exposed Sites.- 4.3.2.2.2 Snowbeds.- 4.3.2.3 Tussock Tundra.- 4.3.2.4 Riparian Areas.- 4.3.2.5 Mires.- 4.3.2.6 Beaded Ponds.- 4.4 West-Facing Toposequence.- 4.5 Terrain Sensitivity to Disturbance.- 4.6 Conclusions.- Appendix A. List of Plants for Imnavait Creek, Alaska.- References.- 5 Vegetation Structure and Aboveground Carbon and Nutrient Pools in the Imnavait Creek Watershed.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Description of Vegetation.- 5.3 Sampling Methods.- 5.3.1 Cover.- 5.3.2 Biomass and Nutrient Pools.- 5.4 Cover.- 5.5 Aboveground Biomass.- 5.5.1 Live Biomass.- 5.5.2 Photosynthetic Biomass.- 5.5.3 Lichen Biomass.- 5.5.4 Organic Litter.- 5.5.5 Watershed Patterns.- 5.6 Nutrient Pools.- 5.6.1 N and P in Heath Cryptogams.- 5.6.2 N and P in Communities.- 5.7 Discussion and Conclusions.- References.- II Physical Environment, Hydrology, and Transport.- 6 Energy Balance and Hydrological Processes in an Arctic Watershed.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Radiation and Thermal Regimes.- 6.2.1 Surface Energy Balance.- 6.2.2 Snow Cover and Soil Thermal Regime.- 6.3 Hydrological Processes.- 6.3.1 Snowmelt.- 6.3.2 Plot and Basin Water Balance.- 6.3.3 Runoff and Basin Discharge.- 6.3.4 Precipitation, Evaporation, and Evapotranspiration.- 6.4 Energy Balance and Hydrology Models.- 6.4.1 Simulation of the Thermal Regime.- 6.4.2 Simulation of Snowmelt.- 6.4.3 Simulation of Catchment Runoff.- 6.5 Conclusions.- References.- 7 Shortwave Reflectance Properties of Arctic Tundra Landscapes.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Shortwave Reflectance Studies in Arctic Environments.- 7.2.1 Environmental Considerations.- 7.2.2 Radiometric Data.- 7.2.3 Image Data.- 7.3 Spectral Reflectance.- 7.3.1 Aboveground Biomass.- 7.3.2 Vegetation Composition.- 7.3.3 Landscape Patterns.- 7.3.4 Effects of Dust Deposition.- 7.4 Albedo.- 7.4.1 Undisturbed Tussock Tundra.- 7.4.2 Effects of Dust Deposition.- 7.5 Conclusions.- References.- 8 Isotopic Tracers for Investigating Hydrological Processes.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.1.1 Units.- 8.1.2 Conservative vs Nonconservative Isotopes.- 8.2 Nonconservative Tracers.- 8.3 Sulfur-35.- 8.4 Oxygen-18.- 8.4.1 Oxygen-18 Content of Snowpack.- 8.4.2 Oxygen-18 Content of Imnavait Creek.- 8.4.3 Oxygen-18 Content of Soil Moisture.- 8.4.4 Covariance of Oxygen-18 and Deuterium in Watershed Compartments.- 8.4.5 Covariance of Oxygen-18 and Deuterium in Plant Water.- 8.5 Long-Lived Radioisotopes: Lead-210 and Cesium-137.- 8.5.1 Distribution of 137Cs on Tundra and in Lake Sediments.- 8.5.2 Cycling of 137Cs in Annual Berries.- 8.5.3 Distribution of 210Pb in Tundra.- 8.6 Conclusions.- References.- III Nutrient and Carbon Fluxes.- 9 Surface Water Chemistry and Hydrology of a Small Arctic Drainage Basin.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Watershed Instrumentation.- 9.3 Snowmelt Period.- 9.3.1 Snowmelt Hydrology.- 9.3.2 Snowmelt Chemistry.- 9.3.2.1 Overland Flow.- 9.3.2.2 Water Track Flow.- 9.3.2.3 Imnavait Creek Flow.- 9.4 Post Snowmelt Period.- 9.4.1 Atmospheric Inputs.- 9.4.1.1 Rainfall.- 9.4.1.2 Dry Deposition.- 9.4.1.3 Rime.- 9.4.2 Water Chemistry.- 9.4.2.1 Overland Flow.- 9.4.2.2 Active Layer Flow.- 9.4.2.3 Imnavait Creek Flow.- 9.5 Conclusions.- References.- 10 Nutrient Availability and Uptake by Tundra Plants.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Controls on Mineralization and Nutrient Supply.- 10.2.1 Patterns of Nutrient Supply in the Soil.- 10.2.2 Patterns of Mineralization.- 10.2.3 Controls on N and P Mineralization.- 10.2.4 Controls on Decomposition and Mineralization.- 10.2.4.1 Temperature.- 10.2.4.1.1 Enzyme Activities.- 10.2.4.1.2 Microbial Activity at Low Temperatures.- 10.2.4.1.3 Freeze-Thaw Events.- 10.2.4.2 Effects of Low Oxygen on Microbial Activity and Mineralization.- 10.2.4.3 Substrate Quality.- 10.3 Fate of Available Nutrients.- 10.3.1 Microbial Nutrient Uptake and Competition with Plants.- 10.3.2 Plant Uptake.- 10.3.2.1 Soil Factors Controlling Nutrient Absorption.- 10.3.2.2 Rooting Strategies.- 10.3.2.3 Uptake Characteristics of Tundra Plants.- 10.3.2.4 Retranslocation vs Current Uptake.- 10.4 Disturbances.- 10.4.1 Vehicle Tracks.- 10.4.2 Road Dust.- 10.4.3 Gray Water.- 10.4.4 Climate Change.- References.- 11 Landscape Patterns of Carbon Dioxide Exchange in Tundra Ecosytems.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Methods.- 11.2.1 Community Types.- 11.2.2 Leaf Photosynthesis.- 11.2.3 Ecosystem Efflux.- 11.2.4 Ecosystem Net CO2 Exchange.- 11.3 CO2 Uptake.- 11.3.1 Factors Affecting CO2 Uptake.- 11.3.1.1 Light.- 11.3.1.2 Temperature.- 11.3.1.3 Phenology.- 11.3.1.4 Water Availability.- 11.3.1.5 Nutrition.- 11.3.2 Landscape Patterns in Leaf Photosynthesis.- 11.4 CO2 Efflux.- 11.4.1 Factors Affecting CO2 Efflux.- 11.4.1.1 Live Plant Biomass.- 11.4.1.2 Soil Quality.- 11.4.1.3 Thaw Depth and Depth to Water Table.- 11.4.1.4 Soil Moisture.- 11.4.1.5 Soil Temperature.- 11.4.2 Landscape Patterns of CO2 Efflux.- 11.4.3 Daily and Seasonal Patterns of CO2 Efflux.- 11.4.4 Dust Deposition Effects on CO2 Efflux.- 11.5 Landscape Patterns in Net CO2 Exchange.- 11.6 Conclusions.- References.- 12 Control of Tundra Methane Emission by Microbial Oxidation.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Sampling Procedure.- 12.3 Results and Discussion.- 12.3.1 Methane Flux and Environmental Variables in Tundra and Taiga.- 12.3.2 Physiology, Controls, and Potential for Microbial CH4 Oxidation.- 12.3.3 Methane Oxidation by Tundra Soils in a Warmer Climate.- 12.4 Conclusions.- References.- 13 Dynamics of Dissolved and Particulate Carbon in an Arctic Stream.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Site Description.- 13.2.1 Imnavait Creek Watershed.- 13.2.2 Description of Imnavait Creek.- 13.3 Field and Laboratory Procedures.- 13.4 Physical Regime.- 13.5 Carbon in Imnavait Creek.- 13.5.1 Concentrations.- 13.5.2 Transport.- 13.5.3 Spatial Variability.- 13.5.4 Seasonal Dynamics.- 13.6 Conclusions.- IV Modeling Landscape Function.- 14. Patch and Landscape Models of Arctic Tundra: Potentials and Limitations.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Modeling Framework.- 14.2.1 Spatial Simulation Units.- 14.2.2 Types of Models.- 14.3 Bottom-Up Models.- 14.3.1 Ecosystem Gas Exchange.- 14.3.1.1 Motivation.- 14.3.1.2 Description.- 14.3.1.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.3.2 Plant Growth.- 14.3.2.1 Motivation.- 14.3.2.2 Description.- 14.3.2.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.3.3 Nitrogen Uptake.- 14.3.3.1 Motivation.- 14.3.3.2 Description.- 14.3.3.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.3.4 Decomposition.- 14.3.4.1 Motivation.- 14.3.4.2 Description.- 14.3.4.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.4 Top-Down Models.- 14.4.1 Hydrologic Transport.- 14.4.1.1 Motivation.- 14.4.1.2 Description.- 14.4.1.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.4.2 Topographically Derived Vegetation Model.- 14.4.2.1 Motivation.- 14.4.2.2 Description.- 14.4.2.3 Potentials and Limitations.- 14.5 Conclusions.- References.- 15 Modeling Dry Deposition of Dust Along the Dalton Highway.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Model Fundamentals.- 15.3 Modeling Heavy Particle Dispersion.- 15.4 Estimation of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Parameters.- 15.5 Dust Characterization and Mass Transfer Through the Atmosphere.- 15.6 Theory of Particle Dry Deposition into Vegetation.- 15.7 Numerical Results.- 15.8 Conclusions.- References.- 16 Modeling Decomposition in Arctic Ecosystems.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Controls on Decomposition.- 16.3 Arctic Decomposition Models.- 16.3.1 ABISKO.- 16.3.2 ARTUS.- 16.3.3 BARK.- 16.3.4 GENDEC.- 16.3.4.1 General Description.- 16.3.4.2 Validation.- 16.4 Model Comparisons.- 16.5 Effects of Environmental Changes.- 16.5.1 Climate Change.- 16.5.2 Effects of Elevated CO2.- 16.5.3 Impacts of Road Dust Deposition.- 16.5.4 Tussock Phosphorus Dynamics.- 16.6 Conclusions.- References.- 17 Hydrological Controls on Ecosystem Gas Exchange in an Arctic Landscape.- 17.1 Introduction.- 17.2 Description of Models.- 17.2.1 Community Gas Exchange.- 17.2.2 Spatial Variation in Water Availability.- 17.3 Coupling of Hydrology and Ecosystem Gas Exchange.- 17.3.1 Vegetation Distribution.- 17.3.2 Spatial Variation in Water Table.- 17.4 Water Balance and Seasonal Changes in Water Fluxes.- 17.4.1 Evapotranspiration.- 17.4.2 Discharge.- 17.4.3 Interception and Surface Water Retention.- 17.5 Carbon Balance and Seasonal Changes in Carbon Fluxes.- 17.5.1 Predicted Water Table and Soil Respiration.- 17.5.2 Predicted Watershed Level Net CO2 Balance.- 17.6 Discussion and Conclusions.- References.- 18 Road-Related Disturbances in an Arctic Watershed: Analyses by a Spatially Explicit Model of Vegetation and Ecosystem Processes.- 18.1 Introduction.- 18.2 Environmental Gradients and Vegetation Distribution.- 18.2.1 Vegetation and Topography.- 18.2.2 Role of Water and Light.- 18.2.3 Role of Nutrients.- 18.3 Description of Model.- 18.3.1 Overview.- 18.3.1.1 T-HYDRO.- 18.3.1.2 T-VEG.- 18.3.1.3 T-NUT.- 18.3.1.4 T-PLT.- 18.3.2 Disturbance Scenarios.- 18.3.2.1 Effects of Altering Discharge.- 18.3.2.2 Effects of Road Dust.- 18.3.3 Model Validation and Limitations.- 18.4 Model Predictions for Undisturbed Watershed.- 18.4.1 Vegetation.- 18.4.2 Discharge.- 18.4.3 N Availability and NPP.- 18.4.4 Model Evaluation.- 18.5 Model Predictions for Disturbed Watershed.- 18.5.1 Discharge Disturbance.- 18.5.1.1 Road #1.- 18.5.1.2 Road #2.- 18.5.1.3 Roads #3 and #4.- 18.5.2 Dust and Discharge Disturbance.- 18.5.3 Effect of Disturbance on Spatial Patterns.- 18.6 Discussion.- 18.6.1 Model Comparisons.- 18.6.2 Patterns of N Availability.- 18.6.3 Extrapolation Potential: Some Cautionary Notes.- 18.7 Conclusions.- References.- V Summary.- 19 Ecosystem Response, Resistance, Resilience, and Recovery in Arctic Landscapes: Progress and Prospects.- 19.1 The NRC Tasks and R4D Accomplishments.- 19.2 Conclusion.- References.

Blurb

The discovery of large petroleum reserves in northern Alaska prompted the US National Research Council to recommend priorities for ecological research on disturbance effects in the Arctic. Subsequently, this led to the implementation of a field study by the Department of Energy, based in a small watershed on the North Slope of Alaska. This volume describes results by a research team charged with seeking answers to a number of questions related to disturbance in tundra regions: Will short-term disturbances have long-term ecological consequences? Will localized effects be transferred to adjacent systems, e.g., from terrestrial to aquatic? Is it possible to extrapolate understanding of impacts from one landscape to another? The results reported in this volume are an important contribution towards the goal of implementing ecosystem-based management in arctic tundra landscapes.

Landscape Function and Disturbance in Arctic Tundra covers a broad array of topics, from ecosystem physiology to landscape modeling. It is an important resource for researchers and students interested in arctic ecology, as well as for environmental managers concerned with practical issues of disturbance.