Project Title

Antarctica as a model system for responses of terrestrial carbon balance to warming

Summary

Event Number:
B-086-P
NSF / OPP Award 1947562

Program Director:
Dr. William Ambrose

ASC POC/Implementer:
Allison Barden / Jamee Johnson

Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Natasja Carla van Gestel
natasja.van-gestel@ttu.edu
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Project Web Site:
https://www.nvangestel.com/antarctica

Location

Supporting Stations: Palmer Station
Research Locations: Backyard and Litchfield Island

Description

This five-year Antarctic Peninsula project is focused on evaluating the magnitude feedback response of soil microbes and plant physiology to effects of changes in climate. The team will use experimental field deployed chambers to evaluate the effects of warming on microbial mediated carbon losses from soil located on a deglaciated sere gradient at sites in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Specifically, the team will evaluate the differential warming responses of individual taxa of bacteria, fungi and archaea and their potential roles in carbon cycling. The study will further assess the role of warming on photosynthetic uptake of carbon by the vegetation. Results will advance research in climate change, plant and soil microbial ecology, and ecosystem modeling.

Field Season Overview

No van Gestel participants will be deploying to Palmer Station this season. The Palmer Lab staff will assist with installation and monitoring of equipment to continue annual measurements of carbon fluxes in the field.