Will more productive Arctic ecosystems sequester less soil carbon? A key role for priming in the rhizosphere ('PRIME-TIME')
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Biological and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
High latitudes are warming faster than other regions, and thus serve as critical arenas for climate change studies. Furthermore, they play a pivotally important role in the functioning of the Earth system, storing significant amounts of carbon (C) in soil organic matter (SOM). There is major uncertainty over the vulnerability of these C stores to both climate and land-use change. Previous research has focussed on the direct effects of warming on plant growth and/or SOM dynamics in isolation, but there is increasing evidence that plant-soil interactions complicate these relationships dramatically. Plants not only control litter inputs (both quality and quantity), but may also influence rates of decomposition if the amount of C allocated to the 'rhizosphere' (defined as the area of soil in the vicinity of plant roots in which the chemistry and microbiology is influenced by their growth, respiration, and nutrient exchange) is positively related to microbial activity and the breakdown of older more recalcitrant organic matter. This process is referred to as rhizosphere 'priming', and despite suggestions that it may be critical in determining ecosystem C storage, it remains extremely poorly understood, especially in natural and semi-natural ecosystems.
Changes in the distribution of particular communities, which are already taking place due to climate change and landscape management, may have unexpected impacts on C storage. Work carried out by our research team in the Swedish sub-Arctic suggests that transformations from unproductive heathland ecosystems into more productive deciduous forests could result in counterintuitive net LOSSES of C from soils. Such responses are inadequately simulated by C-cycle models which do not take into account plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere. Rather, most simulations predict C storage will increase substantially if productivity increases at high-latitudes.
This proposal will determine the impacts of shifts in plant (and associated mycorrhizal) functional composition on the dynamics of SOM. Specifically we will investigate the consequences of a shift from tundra heath to tall shrub communities and deciduous woodland in the Swedish Arctic. We will use a combination of novel experimental approaches, in both the field and the lab, to quantify and understand the role of rhizosphere priming effects (RPEs) for SOM dynamics. In the field in Swedish Lapland we will manipulate the rhizosphere across the mountain birch forest-tundra heath ecotone using experiments ('girdling'; removal of bark, including phloem tissues) to reduce phloem transport of organic C to the roots. We will combine this with manipulating rhizosphere processes using 'in-growth' cores (which selectively prevent fine root and/or fungal hyphal (filament) access) to determine the contributions of roots, mycorrhizal fungi and heterotrophic (soil decomposer) metabolism. We will deploy state of the art microbial molecular analyses to assess the impact of the treatments on fungal community structure (specifically targeting key mycorrhizal fungal groups), and novel C-isotope approaches to quantify RPEs.
The project outputs have the potential to improve significantly regional and global modelling of climate-biogeochemical interactions, with a particular focus on the indirect effects of shifting plant communities. The project has relevance for the pan-Arctic 'shrubification', as well as for UK upland ecosystems being managed for 're-wilding.'
Changes in the distribution of particular communities, which are already taking place due to climate change and landscape management, may have unexpected impacts on C storage. Work carried out by our research team in the Swedish sub-Arctic suggests that transformations from unproductive heathland ecosystems into more productive deciduous forests could result in counterintuitive net LOSSES of C from soils. Such responses are inadequately simulated by C-cycle models which do not take into account plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere. Rather, most simulations predict C storage will increase substantially if productivity increases at high-latitudes.
This proposal will determine the impacts of shifts in plant (and associated mycorrhizal) functional composition on the dynamics of SOM. Specifically we will investigate the consequences of a shift from tundra heath to tall shrub communities and deciduous woodland in the Swedish Arctic. We will use a combination of novel experimental approaches, in both the field and the lab, to quantify and understand the role of rhizosphere priming effects (RPEs) for SOM dynamics. In the field in Swedish Lapland we will manipulate the rhizosphere across the mountain birch forest-tundra heath ecotone using experiments ('girdling'; removal of bark, including phloem tissues) to reduce phloem transport of organic C to the roots. We will combine this with manipulating rhizosphere processes using 'in-growth' cores (which selectively prevent fine root and/or fungal hyphal (filament) access) to determine the contributions of roots, mycorrhizal fungi and heterotrophic (soil decomposer) metabolism. We will deploy state of the art microbial molecular analyses to assess the impact of the treatments on fungal community structure (specifically targeting key mycorrhizal fungal groups), and novel C-isotope approaches to quantify RPEs.
The project outputs have the potential to improve significantly regional and global modelling of climate-biogeochemical interactions, with a particular focus on the indirect effects of shifting plant communities. The project has relevance for the pan-Arctic 'shrubification', as well as for UK upland ecosystems being managed for 're-wilding.'
Planned Impact
This is a 'Discovery Science' proposal, addressing a fundamental aspect of the terrestrial C cycle. As such, it has important implications in global change science, for ecosystem management, and for broader society.
The specific beneficiaries of the research include:
- The global change biology and climate sciences research communities (refer to 'Academic Beneficiaries' for specific information on 'how'), and the national and international environmental policy communities. Through tackling the secondary 'cascading' effects of land-use, or climate driven shifts in plant community composition on ecosystem processes and properties, the project aims to quantify and understand a neglected aspect of global change science. The project will link with international research programmes/research networks such as IGBP iLEAPS (Integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmosphere Processes Study) and AIMES (Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System), and ITEX (the International Tundra Experiment);
- Statutory agencies concerned with C management, provision of ecosystem services, rural land-use, conservation and landscape, catchment hydrology and flood risk. Although, for robust scientific reasons (see 'Case for Support'), we have chosen to base our field research in northern Scandinavia, the processes being addressed have both pan-Arctic as well as UK relevance. In Sweden we will make contact with Naturvårdsverket (The Swedish Environment Protection Agency) to discuss our work and its implications. In the UK, upland management, in particular, has the potential to benefit from the work (e.g. Scottish Environment Protection Agency & Scottish Natural Heritage, and the equivalent devolved agencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Joint Nature Conservation Committee; Forestry Commission (FC); Deer Commission for Scotland; National Park authorities). Our group has research links with the FC and Forest Research and we will ensure that we establish contact with the Scottish Government/Forestry Commission Scotland's Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (WEAG; http://www.forestry.gov.uk/weag);
- NGOs and charities concerned with landscape, conservation, tourism and access (e.g. John Muir Trust; National Trust for Scotland (NTS); Moorland Forum; Scottish Native Woods; Woodland Trust; Scottish Wildlife Trust; RSPB; Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; Ramblers Scotland). Through several of these organisations there are strong links with the general public;
- Reindeer herding communities, and the commercial private sector: Within the specific context of northern Fennoscandia, and more broadly across northern Russia, our work has relevance for reindeer herding communities. Both in Scandinavia and the UK there are also potential links to the power generators (renewables sector; wind/hydro) and water companies, as well as commercial forestry;
- Broader society: There is huge public interest in the wildlands of the North, including the UK, while those living and working in these areas are aware of the on-going and changing land-use demands, potential conflicts, and the challenges of earning a viable living. It is important that society has a robust science base upon which to develop rational policies for upland land-use, and that the ecosystem services provided in these areas can be sustainably managed. Furthermore, through their effects on biodiversity and landscape quality, 're-wilding' and forest regeneration will have significant implications for quality of life, health and aesthetic value. This is relevant both for the local population and businesses reliant upon the uplands, as well as for visitors (from the UK and overseas) and recreational users of these areas.
The 'Pathways to Impact' describes what will be done during and after the project to increase the likelihood of the research reaching the identified beneficiaries and maximise the likelihood of the identified benefits being achieved.
The specific beneficiaries of the research include:
- The global change biology and climate sciences research communities (refer to 'Academic Beneficiaries' for specific information on 'how'), and the national and international environmental policy communities. Through tackling the secondary 'cascading' effects of land-use, or climate driven shifts in plant community composition on ecosystem processes and properties, the project aims to quantify and understand a neglected aspect of global change science. The project will link with international research programmes/research networks such as IGBP iLEAPS (Integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmosphere Processes Study) and AIMES (Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System), and ITEX (the International Tundra Experiment);
- Statutory agencies concerned with C management, provision of ecosystem services, rural land-use, conservation and landscape, catchment hydrology and flood risk. Although, for robust scientific reasons (see 'Case for Support'), we have chosen to base our field research in northern Scandinavia, the processes being addressed have both pan-Arctic as well as UK relevance. In Sweden we will make contact with Naturvårdsverket (The Swedish Environment Protection Agency) to discuss our work and its implications. In the UK, upland management, in particular, has the potential to benefit from the work (e.g. Scottish Environment Protection Agency & Scottish Natural Heritage, and the equivalent devolved agencies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Joint Nature Conservation Committee; Forestry Commission (FC); Deer Commission for Scotland; National Park authorities). Our group has research links with the FC and Forest Research and we will ensure that we establish contact with the Scottish Government/Forestry Commission Scotland's Woodland Expansion Advisory Group (WEAG; http://www.forestry.gov.uk/weag);
- NGOs and charities concerned with landscape, conservation, tourism and access (e.g. John Muir Trust; National Trust for Scotland (NTS); Moorland Forum; Scottish Native Woods; Woodland Trust; Scottish Wildlife Trust; RSPB; Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; Ramblers Scotland). Through several of these organisations there are strong links with the general public;
- Reindeer herding communities, and the commercial private sector: Within the specific context of northern Fennoscandia, and more broadly across northern Russia, our work has relevance for reindeer herding communities. Both in Scandinavia and the UK there are also potential links to the power generators (renewables sector; wind/hydro) and water companies, as well as commercial forestry;
- Broader society: There is huge public interest in the wildlands of the North, including the UK, while those living and working in these areas are aware of the on-going and changing land-use demands, potential conflicts, and the challenges of earning a viable living. It is important that society has a robust science base upon which to develop rational policies for upland land-use, and that the ecosystem services provided in these areas can be sustainably managed. Furthermore, through their effects on biodiversity and landscape quality, 're-wilding' and forest regeneration will have significant implications for quality of life, health and aesthetic value. This is relevant both for the local population and businesses reliant upon the uplands, as well as for visitors (from the UK and overseas) and recreational users of these areas.
The 'Pathways to Impact' describes what will be done during and after the project to increase the likelihood of the research reaching the identified beneficiaries and maximise the likelihood of the identified benefits being achieved.
Publications
Parker TC
(2020)
Rhizosphere allocation by canopy-forming species dominates soil CO2 efflux in a subarctic landscape.
in The New phytologist
Friggens NL
(2020)
Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales.
in Global change biology
Azevedo O
(2021)
Predicting Soil Respiration from Plant Productivity (NDVI) in a Sub-Arctic Tundra Ecosystem
in Remote Sensing
Parker T
(2021)
Shrub expansion in the Arctic may induce large-scale carbon losses due to changes in plant-soil interactions
in Plant and Soil
Garnett M
(2021)
A HIGHLY PORTABLE AND INEXPENSIVE FIELD SAMPLING KIT FOR RADIOCARBON ANALYSIS OF CARBON DIOXIDE
in Radiocarbon
Friggens N
(2022)
Trees out-forage understorey shrubs for nitrogen patches in a subarctic mountain birch forest
in Oikos
Parker T
(2022)
Resistance of subarctic soil fungal and invertebrate communities to disruption of below-ground carbon supply
in Journal of Ecology
Friggens N
(2022)
Whole-crown 13C-pulse labelling in a sub-arctic woodland to target canopy-specific carbon fluxes
in Trees
Description | Increasingly productive ecosystems in the Arctic, associated with global warming, may not mean that these systems remove (sequester) more carbon from the atmosphere than previously (as has often been assumed in modelling studies). Building on our NERC-funded work in Northwest Territories (NE/K000284/1 and NE/K000284/2), Canada, the 'PRIME-TIME' project investigates the process of 'rhizosphere priming' (whereby the presence of plant roots with specific types of symbiotic associations with fungi, accelerates the decomposition of soil organic matter in order to release nutrients in plant-available forms). We have achieved this through intensive fieldwork and novel experimentation based in Swedish Lapland. We have completed four field seasons in this project and we are now working on the remaining research outputs. A compelling set of results from PRIME-TIME shows the major role of tree and shrub cover for soil metabolic processes (respiration) which rapidly return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. These results have been published by Parker et al. (2020) (New Phytologist; https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16573), and they also featured in a high-profile 'Commentary' by Baltzer & Sonnentag (2020; https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16704), in the same journal. This commentary underscores the significance of canopy-forming trees and shrubs in the sub-Arctic, and their greater proportional contributions to soil respiration compared to their larger and more productive counterparts in more southerly temperate and tropical forests. Further to this, Dr Thomas Parker (Postdoctoral Research Associate on the project) leveraged additional funding from the EU INTERACT Transnational Access Programme (https://eu-interact.org/accessing-the-arctic/) to up-scale protocols for assessing the relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks across gradients of productivity in the Arctic. This work involved 'Remote Access', through the pandemic, where researchers at three locations in the Arctic collected samples for further analysis. This work supported our hypothesis that shrub expansion may induce large-scale carbon losses (from ecosystems to the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide) due to changes in plant-soil interactions, and is published in Plant and Soil (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-021-04919-8). Measurements of the radiocarbon content of this respired carbon dioxide from research plots which have undergone an experimental reduction in the delivery of recently-photosynthesized carbon dioxide to the root systems, as well as 'control' (un-manipulated plots), also demonstrate the importance of this very rapid cycling of carbon in these systems. Our ongoing analyses will provide a clearer indication of what is happening in these widespread ecosystems, in a region which is undergoing rapid environmental change. We aim to publish this work in a leading international journal. Furthermore, we now have an extensive set of data on soil fungal community composition following the secondment of Thomas Parker with Project Partners (Björn Lindahl and Karina Clemmensen) at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala. Further value has been added to the project through collaborative work both on litter decomposition and on soil invertebrate communities, with Dr Mathilde Chomel, University of Manchester, Dr Micael Jonsson, Umeå University (Sweden), and Dr Eveline Krab, SLU Uppsala (Sweden). A paper has now been published in Journal of Ecology (https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.13994) presenting the fungal and invertebrate data which, in summary, suggest a surprising level of resilience of below-ground community composition to perturbations in carbon delivery. This might be a key feature of sub-arctic mountain birch ecosystems, related to their ability to recover from cyclical defoliation events caused by outbreaks of Lepidopteran (specifically, autumn and winter moth) larvae. |
Exploitation Route | In particular we are looking to see our data (i) produce a step-change in our understanding of rhizosphere priming processes (RPEs) and their significance for ecosystem processes and element cycling, leading to publication in top international journals, (ii) encourage other researchers to deploy our sampling protocols, in order to up-scale to the pan-Arctic, and (iii) feed through to improved modelling of the C cycle in land surface models. Our team includes Mat Williams, who is leading on modelling, and this work is underway. The potential significance of these processes, as well as the uncertainties surrounding them, have also been highlighted by Guenet et al. (2018) (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.14069/full). Through our broader links to government agencies and NGOs, as well as to international fora, such as the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), we believe our results have the potential to influence land-management policy. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Energy Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Government Democracy and Justice Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
Description | Emerging from this, and related, research, is the increasing recognition that tree-planting for C-sequestration is not as straightforward as has been portrayed in some sections of the academic literature, and certainly in the non-specialist media. There is a growing awareness that it is important to plant the 'right trees in the right places'. Processes in the mycorrhizosphere (including interactions with pre-existing soil organic carbon stocks) have the potential to influence the magnitude, and even direction, of net ecosystem C fluxes. We anticipate this research will exert a growing influence on the debate in the future. Furthermore, the research also highlights the value of heathlands (rather than solely peatlands), with peaty podzol soils and open landscapes, for C storage. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Co-Chairing the International Arctic Science Committee's (IASC) Action Group on Carbon Footprint (AGCF) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
URL | https://iasc.info/our-work/action-groups/26-action-group-on-carbon-footprint |
Description | Turbo-charging the mycorrhizosphere - Could more productive ecosystems threaten soil carbon stocks in boreal and sub-arctic zones of transition? |
Amount | £999,543 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/X015076/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2023 |
End | 10/2026 |
Title | CO2 efflux, root and mycorrhizal hyphae production in subarctic willow shrub and treeline birch forest, Abisko 2017-2018 |
Description | This dataset contains in situ CO2 efflux, root production and fungal hyphae production from plots distributed across a subarctic landscape in Northern Sweden. Six paired plots were established in mountain birch forest and five paired plots were established in tall shrub tundra where one of each pair was 'girdled' and one acted as a non girdled 'control'. Efflux measurements were made during six sampling campaigns over 2017 and 2018 at an approximate frequency of once per week during each campaign, constituting a time series of measurements. Production measurements integrated root or hyphae production over the whole growing season (June-September) and therefore there is one data-point per plot per year. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | These data have been analysed and further value has been added to through collaborative work at these plots both on litter decomposition and on soil invertebrate communities, with Dr Micael Jonsson, Umeå University, and Dr Eveline Krab, SLU Uppsala, respectively, in Sweden. We have recently (February 2022) submitted a manuscript to the Journal of Ecology presenting these results which, in summary, suggest a surprising level of resilience of microbial and invertebrate community composition to perturbations in carbon delivery below-ground. |
URL | https://doi.org/10.5285/4418c631-c39c-467c-b3b8-c75142fcae0a |
Title | Soil fauna abundance under birch and willow vegetation in girdled and non-girdled plots, subarctic Sweden, 2019 |
Description | Data comprise numbers of soil microarthorpods (mesofauna) extracted over 10 days from soils in northern, subarctic Sweden sampled on 29th July 2019. Soils were sampled from treeline mountain birch forest and stands of tundra willow that were wither 'girdled' (connection between leaves and roots cut by disrupting the phloem transport) or 'control' (no treatment), 2 years prior. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We are still working on these data. |
URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/d3c98f24-7a4d-40b8-989a-6cc340e91cac |
Title | Soil fungi gene copy numbers and community composition under birch and willow vegetation in girdled and non-girdled plots, subarctic Sweden, 2017-2019 |
Description | Fungal community DNA was sequenced from soils in northern, subarctic Sweden. Soils were sampled from treeline mountain birch forest and stands of tundra willow that were wither 'girdled' (connection between leaves and roots cut by disrupting the phloem transport) or 'control' (no treatment), 0, 1 and 2 years after the treatment was applied. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The data suggest a surprising level of resilience of below-ground community composition to perturbations in carbon delivery. This might be a key feature of sub-arctic mountain birch ecosystems, related to their ability to recover from cyclical defoliation events caused by outbreaks of Lepidopteran (specifically, autumn and winter moth) larvae. |
URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/d6c787ec-146c-461b-b8a2-e0251259036c |
Description | Co-Investigator - Björn Lindahl |
Organisation | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a close collaboration on the research project, which brings in world-leading expertise from Björn Lindahl (and his team) on soil microbial ecology and community structure. The project Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Dr Thomas Parker) will work with Björn and team at Uppsala for several weeks each year, and benefit from access to their lab facilities and expertise. We provide Björn and team with access to our experiments and samples, as well as our expertise in ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry. |
Collaborator Contribution | This is a close collaboration on the research project, which brings in world-leading expertise from Björn Lindahl (and his team) on soil microbial ecology and community structure. The project Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Dr Thomas Parker) will work with Björn and team at Uppsala for several weeks each year, and benefit from access to their lab facilities and expertise. We provide Björn and team with access to our experiments and samples, as well as our expertise in ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry. |
Impact | The project is underway, but it is too early to list outputs at this stage. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Collaboration with Dr Matthias Siewert - Umeå University |
Organisation | Umea University |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Dr Siewert (Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matthias_Siewert) is an expert in remote sensing, and he is working on spatial and temporal variations in vegetation dynamics in the area of our field study. Through our experiments, and his acquisition of 'drone' (UAV) imagery, we are able to add value to our respective work. |
Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, for us, Dr Siewert is using drone imagery in order for us to detect treatment effects on vegetation canopy characteristics (spectral properties). He is involved in the preparation of our first manuscript. |
Impact | We are currently at the final stages of manuscript preparation involving his work. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | NERC 'HYDRA' Partnerships - Iain Hartley |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Department | Department of Geography |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This collaboration was made possible through UK DECC funding (via NERC), to Hartley, but with a salary contribution to Wookey. The project concerns quantifying and understandning methane fluxes in landscapes undergoing rapid transition, and my role has been to work with the project PDRA (Mark Cooper) at the Trail Valley research site in Northwest Territories, Canada. |
Collaborator Contribution | Through PDRA Cooper, Iain Hartley has extended our methane concentration and flux measurements at Trail Valley Creek to the landscape scale. This will also strengthen the links with partner Oliver Sonnentag. |
Impact | A related outcome is: Hartley IP, Hill TC, Wade TJ, Clement RJ, Moncrieff JB, Prieto-Blanco A, Disney MI, Huntley B, Williams M, Howden NJK, Wookey PA, Baxter R (2015) Quantifying landscape-level methane fluxes in subarctic Finland using a multiscale approach. Global Change Biology, 21, 3712-3725. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | NERC 'HYDRA' Partnerships - Mark Garnett |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Department | NERC Radiocarbon Facility (Environment) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Development and application of state-of-the-art 14C isotope approaches (at natural abundance levels) to global C cycle research. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development and application of state-of-the-art 14C isotope approaches (at natural abundance levels) to global C cycle research. |
Impact | Hartley IP, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Hopkins DW, Fletcher BJ, Sloan VL, Phoenix GK, Wookey PA (2012) A potential loss of carbon associated with greater plant growth in the European Arctic. Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1575. Hartley IP, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Hopkins DW, Wookey PA (2013). The age of CO2 released from soils in contrasting ecosystems during the arctic winter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 63: 1-4. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | NERC 'HYDRA' Partnerships - Mathew Williams |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are linking two NERC-funded projects (ours and 'CYCLOPS', coordinated by Mat Williams) to improve our understanding of processes by integrating experimental and observational data using ecosystem and biogeochemical models. This also involves Prof Pete Smith (Aberdeen) who is a direct participant in our broader project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Mutual expertise and data for modelling activities. |
Impact | Hartley IP, Hopkins DW, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Wookey PA (2008) Soil microbial respiration in arctic soil does not acclimate to temperature. Ecology Letters 11:1092-1100. Garnett MH, Hartley IP, Hopkins DW, Sommerkorn M, Wookey PA (2009) A passive sampling method for radiocarbon analysis of soil respiration using molecular sieve. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41:1450-1456. Hartley IP, Hopkins DW, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Wookey PA (2009) No evidence for compensatory thermal adaptation of soil microbial respiration in the study of Bradford et al. (2008). Ecology Letters 12:E12-E14. Hartley IP, Hopkins DW, Sommerkorn M, Wookey PA (2010) The response of organic matter mineralisation to nutrient and substrate additions in sub-arctic soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42:92-100. Hartley IP, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Hopkins DW, Fletcher BJ, Sloan VL, Phoenix GK, Wookey PA (2012) A potential loss of carbon associated with greater plant growth in the European Arctic. Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1575. Hartley IP, Garnett MH, Sommerkorn M, Hopkins DW, Wookey PA (2013). The age of CO2 released from soils in contrasting ecosystems during the arctic winter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 63: 1-4. Hartley IP, Hill TC, Wade TJ, Clement RJ, Moncrieff JB, Prieto-Blanco A, Disney MI, Huntley B, Williams M, Howden NJK, Wookey PA, Baxter R (2015) Quantifying landscape-level methane fluxes in subarctic Finland using a multiscale approach. Global Change Biology, 21, 3712-3725. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Partnership with Dr Lorna E Street (NERC IRF) |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are working directly in associate with Dr Street (i) on field-based experiments in Swedish Lapland (implementing experimental treatments, collecting and analysing samples), and (ii) on joint research manuscripts incorporating ecological modelling. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Street is leading on unique experiments on rhizosphere dynamics that we have established, and maintain, collaboratively. |
Impact | This work is on-going and too early to report outputs at this stage. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | 'Changing Canadian Arctic' Research Planning Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Delivered an invited presentation ('Natural environment - focused research activities in the Canadian Arctic') on behalf of UKRI / NERC, at the Changing Canadian Arctic Workshop, 19 June 2019, London. This was a discussion forum/workshop to engage with all stakeholders in advance of the launch of this new programme (expected in 2020). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.arctic.ac.uk/news/the-changing-canadian-arctic-workshop/ |
Description | All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions' Parliamentary Briefing on Permafrost |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This was a presentation by Prof Philip Wookey, together with Prof Margareta Johansson from Lund University (Sweden), Prof Mary Edwards from Southampton University and Dr Tori Herridge from the Natural History Museum, to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions. It was chaired by the Rt Hon James Gray MP. The title of the session (held on 29 June 2021) was "The Mammoths Found in the Thawing Permafrost." This theme provided an opportunity to brief parliamentarians, and their friends/family, on broader issues concerning permafrost thaw, palaeontology and global warming. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://mailchi.mp/1ff026dbe077/permafrost-report |
Description | Climate Impacts Research Centre and Abisko Scientific Research Station Joint Seminar. Abisko, Sweden. Dr Tom Parker. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on "Shrubs, trees and soil carbon: implications of a greening Arctic". Fostered broader interest in the project and catalysed discussion of potential new collaborative research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Co-Convener (Dr Tom Parker) of British Ecological Society Annual Conference Thematic Session: From Plants to Soil Organic Matter: The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Co-Convener of British Ecological Society Annual Conference Thematic Session: From Plants to Soil Organic Matter: The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi. This session was to raise the profile, in both research and land-management, of the role that mycorrhizal fungi play in ecosystem processes and the global carbon cycle. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Co-organiser (Dr Tom Parker): 'The Arctic Underground', an International Arctic Science Committee Workshop on Root Traits and response to climate change in the Tundra: Akureyri, Iceland. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A formal Project of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC); this project highlights that belowground ecosystem properties are likely one of the most important drivers of Arctic ecosystem response to climate change. The workshop (part of a series) was supported by the IASC Terrestrial Working Group and fostered the participation of many early career researchers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://iasc.info/our-work/working-groups/terrestrial/twg-projects/808-arctic-underground |
Description | Co-organiser (Dr Tom Parker): 'The Arctic Underground', an International Arctic Science Committee Workshop on Root Traits and response to climate change in the tundra: Lisbon, Portugal. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A formal Project of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC); this project highlights that belowground ecosystem properties are likely one of the most important drivers of Arctic ecosystem response to climate change. The workshop (part of a series) was supported by the IASC Terrestrial Working Group and fostered the participation of many early career researchers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://iasc.info/our-work/working-groups/terrestrial/twg-projects/808-arctic-underground |
Description | Conference Presentation (Dr Tom Parker), British Ecological Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation (by Tom Parker) at the British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting, Belfast, UK. "Inputs of leaf and root litter from an advancing arctic treeline species accelerate tundra soil decomposition" by Parker TC, Hartley I, Johnson D, Subke J-A & Wookey PA. Sparked questions and discussion regarding feedbacks between arctic terrestrial ecosystems, carbon cycling, and global change. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Conference Presentation (Dr Tom Parker), International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Conference presentation (by Tom Parker) at the 19th ITEX (International Tundra Experiment) Meeting, held in Stirling, Scotland, 24-28 April 2018, entitled "Soil respiration from sub-arctic tree and shrub communities is driven by recent photosynthate", by Parker TC, Clemmensen K, Lindstrom-Friggens N, Garnett M, Hartley I, Johnson D, Lindahl B, Street L, Subke J-A & Wookey PA. Stimulated substantial debate on the role of tundra and northern boreal ecosystems in the global carbon cycle. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.gvsu.edu/itex/19th-itex-meeting-stirling-scotland-12.htm |
Description | Conference presentation ar 'Polar2018', Davos, Switzerland, 21 June 2018 - "Will Rhizosphere ´Priming´ Limit Soil Carbon Sequestration in a Warmer Arctic?" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a conference presentation at Polar2018, Davos, Switzerland, 21 June 2018, co-authored by Philip A Wookey, Thomas C Parker, Karina E Clemmensen, Mark H Garnett, Iain P Hartley, David Johnson, Björn D Lindahl, Lorna E Street, Jens-Arne Subke & Mathew Williams . Introducing research on global change and ecosystem dynamics to an international audience. Broadening understanding of global change impacts on ecosystem dynamics, and their feedback implications on climate. This presentation, focused on what happens around plant roots in a changing Arctic, attracted a large audience (standing room only) interested in global change and the carbon cycle. Lively debate afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.professionalabstracts.com/POLAR2018/iPlanner/#/presentation/575 |
Description | Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Seminar Series. University of Umeå, Sweden. Dr Tom Parker. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on "Carbon Cycling in the Terrestrial Arctic: Implications of Shrub and Tree Expansion?". Fostered broader interest in the project and catalysed discussion of potential new collaborative research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology Seminar Series. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Dr Tom Parker. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on "Carbon Cycling in the Terrestrial Arctic: Implications of Shrub and Tree Expansion?" Fostered broader interest in the project and catalysed discussion of potential new collaborative research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Environment and Microbiology Seminar Series. University of Warwick. Dr Tom Parker. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation entitled "Going underground to predict ecosystem feedbacks in a changing arctic tundra." Fostered broader interest in the project and catalysed discussion of potential new collaborative research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Interview for national news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview on BBC Reporting Scotland (with BBC Scotland's Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs correspondent, Kevin Keane) regarding preparations for COP26, following the postponement of the conference from November 2020 to 2021 (due to COVID-19). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://ukcop26.org/ |
Description | Invited Keynote Speaker (Dr Tom Parker). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited Keynote Speaker (Dr Tom Parker) "Plant-soil interactions in the Arctic: How may treeline advance change the ecosystem carbon balance? Above and Belowground Interactions", Joint British Ecological Society (Plants-Soils-Ecosystems) - Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology. Aix-Marseille Université, France. Fostered broader interest in the project and catalysed discussion of potential new collaborative research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited Public Lecture - University of Calgary, Arctic Institute of North America - "Biospheric feedbacks and the 'Arctic Amplification' of climate change" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was an invited presentation as part of the Arctic Institute of North America's 'Arctic Speaker Series 2017-18'. Purpose; to engage with the public on key research topics relating to the Arctic. Title: "Biospheric feedbacks and the 'Arctic Amplification' of climate change" The talk resulted in a lively debate subsequently. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://arctic.ucalgary.ca/arctic-speaker-series-2017-18 |
Description | Invited Seminar Speaker (Prof. Philip Wookey). Nature of Life Seminars, Department of Ecological Science (AEW), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | A seminar and discussion with ~45 taught postgraduate (MSc) and PhD students and staff scientists, with interests ranging across evolutionary biology, ecotoxicology, environmental genomics, community ecology, terrestrial biogeochemistry and ecological modelling. The discussion was arranged around several key papers, regarding which the MSc students posted questions in advance. Sparked a lively debate and received excellent feedback. Further informal discussions subsequently. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.amsterdamecology.nl/seminars/ |
Description | Invited keynote talk (Prof Philip Wookey) in Swedish Lapland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was the University of Umeå's Climate Impact Research Centre (CIRC) annual Autumn Research Symposium, held at Abisko Scientific Research Station in Swedish Lapland, on 11-13 September 2019. The participants were mainly professional practitioners (researchers) but included local stakeholders, for example reindeer herders. Philip Wookey gave an invited keynote talk entitled "Arctic Soil Biogeochemistry." The talk sparked a lot of discussion afterwards; in particular, relating to the implications of changing vegetation for soil processes and the global carbon cycle, and the potential modifying role of herbivory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.arcticcirc.net/arcticnews/2019/6/5/registration-open-autumn-science-symposium-11-to-13-s... |
Description | Invited seminar presentation (Dr Tom Parker) in Sweden |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited seminar (by Tom Parker) it the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Seminar Series, University of Umeå, Sweden, entitled "Carbon Cycling in the Terrestrial Arctic: Implications of Shrub and Tree Expansion?" Stimulated debate on key issues relating to global change research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited seminar presentation in Sweden |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited seminar (by Tom Parker) at the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, entitled "Carbon Cycling in the Terrestrial Arctic: Implications of Shrub and Tree Expansion?" Stimulated debate on key issues relating to global change research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited seminar presentation in Swedish Lapland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited seminar (by Tom Parker) at the Climate Impacts Research Centre and Abisko Scientific Research Station (Joint Seminar Series) entitled "Shrubs, trees and soil carbon: implications of a greening Arctic". Stimulated debate on key issues relating to global change research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Organisation of Conference Thematic Session, British Ecological Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Organisation of the Thematic Session entitled "From plant input to soil organic matter: the role of mycorrhizal fungi." This prestigious session was co-organised by François-Xavier Joly (University of Stirling) and Tom Parker (University of Stirling). Remit: "The mycorrhizal dominance of a given ecosystem is increasingly viewed as a central mediator of plant-soil interactions. In this session, we aim to bring together ecologists whose research aims, through diverse approaches, at exploring how mycorrhizal fungi control the fate of plant inputs in the soil." The session brought together world-leading researchers in this field, and sparked a vigorous, and on-going, debate, highlighting the global significance of this, often overlooked, topic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/events/annual-meeting-2019/call-thematic-sessions/ |
Description | Public ('inaugural') lecture in connection with professorial appointment to the University of Stirling. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Professorial inaugural lecture in connection with appointment, entitled "Biospheric feedbacks and the 'Arctic Amplification' of climate change." The purpose of this is to 'profess' the discipline, and provide an accessible overview of a personal career contribution. The talk was delivered as one of the opening contributions to the University of Stirling's 2018 Research Week. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Public Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk to the Cheshire Wildlife Trust on mycorrhizal fungi |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Scotland-Arctic Network Series: Environmental Pollution and Biodiversity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation (by Philip Wookey) as part of an online panel debate/discussion organised by the Centre for Climate Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University https://www.gcu.ac.uk/climatejustice/ The event included a debate about how Scotland-based researchers are contributing to Arctic research, and why this is important to broader society, both in Scotland and in the Arctic, as well as globally. This is seen as the beginning of a process, and is part of a series of related events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.caledonianblogs.net/climatejustice/2021/02/02/scotlandarcticresearchnetwork/ |
Description | Stirling Science Festival 2020 - Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A 'bite-size' (20 min) public lecture entitled "On second thoughts, let's not plant trees to mitigate climate change!", by Philip Wookey. Due to COVID-19 this was pre-recorded. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://stirlingevents.org/tolbooth-event/stirling-science-festival-2020-2/ |
Description | Stirling Science Soc Presentation - "Arctic Terrestrial Ecology - Phil's Pictorial Guide" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on my research career, and what inspired it. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |