Arctic geoecology, 15 credits
The course is discontinued from 2021-06-21
Contents
The course examines global environmental changes and their consequences for biogeochemical processes in arctic and subarctic ecosystems. Theoretical studies are combined with practical field studies. The course has a strong connection to on-going research.
The course is divided into two parts:
Part 1. Biogeochemical processes and the climate in Arctic and Subarctic environments, 7.5 ECTS credits
This part gives extended knowledge about biogeochemical processes in Arctic and Subarctic environments and how these affect the aquatic ecosystem. The linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, transport of nutrients and green house gases are emphasized. Effects of past and present climate change on biological and geochemical processes and feedback mechanisms to the climate system are of special importance. The local climate and future climate change is discussed and excursions to different types of ecosystems is included.
Part 2. Project work, 7.5 ECTS credits
This part includes an extended study of abiotic/biotic processes in an arctic-subarctic ecosystem. The study can be conducted individually or in a group and be based on a combination of own sampled and previously published data. One part of the study should be field work and analysis of samples. The data should be evaluated and presented as a written report and at a seminar. The project work should be conducted in a scientific way.
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student should be able to:
Part 1
- analyse different biogeochemical processes in the Arctic and Subarctic environment and understand how these can affect the aquatic ecosystems
- understand the coupling between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and transport of nutrients and green-house gases in the Arctic and Subarctic environment
- analyse different effects of climate change on the Arctic and Subarctic ecosystem and understand feedback mechanisms of green-house gases on the climate system
Part 2
- conduct a project and present the results orally and as a written project report
- analyse, evaluate and discuss scientific reports
Required Knowledge
60 ECTS credits in biology or equvivalent knowledge.
English proficiency equivalent to IELTS Academic Training -minimum score 5.0 with no individual score below 4.5 (Tests taken before January 2005 not admissible or TOEFL - minimum score 500 on paper based test and not below 4.0 on the TWE, Alternatively 173 on computer based test with iBT61 is also required as well as basic entrance requirements for higher studies in Swedish language proficiency if the course in taught in Swedish.
Form of instruction
The teaching includes lectures, aquatic, terrestrial and paleolimnological field and laboratory techniques. An extended project work is obligatory. The project will be presented in a written report and at a seminar.
Examination modes
Examination of the course is both in the form of written exam and an oral and written presentation of a project. The project should analyze processes relevant for the subarctic-alpine communities. The grades on the written exam, the project and the course as a whole, are Failed, Passed and Passed with distinction. A student that has performed two test for a course or part of a course without getting the grade passed, has the right to get a new examiner appointed, if there are no particular reasons against it (HF 6 chapter 22§). The request for a new examiner is sent to the prefect for the department of ecology and environmental science. A student who has achieved a passed grade on an examination may not retake this examination in order to attampt to achieve a higer grade. To pass the whole course, all tests must be passed and compulsory parts performed. The grade on the course is a combined assessment of all the different parts of the examinations and is awarded when all compulsory parts are performed.
CREDIT TRANSFER
Credit transfers are always tried individually (See the universitys guidelines and credit-of-transfer-ordinance)
Literature
Valid from: 2010 week 35
Whole lake estimates of carbon flux through algae and bacteria in benthic and pelagic habitats of clear-water lakes.
Ask J. et al. 2009:
Ecology 90: :
1923-1932 :
The boundless carbon cycle.
Battin T.J. et al. 2009:
Nature Geoscience 2: :
598-600 :
Multi-proxy studies in palaeolimnology.
Birks H.H. et al. 2006
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 15: :
235-251 :
Linkages between N turnover and plant community structure in a tundra landscape.
Björk R.G. et al. 2007
Plant and Soil 294: :
247-261 :
Past Changes in Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystems, Climate and UV Radiation.
Callaghan T.V. et al. 2004
Ambio 33: :
398-403 :
Shifts in Lake N:P Stoichiometry and Nutrient Limitation Driven by Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition.
Elser J.J. et al. 2009
Science 326: :
835-837 :
Nutrient variations in boreal and subarctic rivers Swedish rivers: landscape control of land-sea fluxes.
Humborg et al. 2004
Limnol. and Ocean. 49: :
1871-1883 :
Climate Change. The Physical Science Basis.
IPCC report 2007
Links between terrestrial primary productin and lake mineralization and CO2 emission in a climate gradient in subarctic Sweden.
Jansson M. et al. 2008
Ecosystems 11: :
367-376, DOI: 10.1007/s10021-008-9127-2 :
What determines the current presence or absence of permafrost in the Torneträsk region, a Subarctic landscape in northern Sweden?
Johansson M. et al. 2006
Ambio 35: :
190-197 :
Controls on the dynamics of dissolved organic matter in soils: a review.
Kalbitz et al. 2000
Soils Science 165: :
277-300 :
Different carbon support for community respiration and secondary production in unproductive lakes.
Karlsson J. 2007
Oikos 116: :
1691-1696 :
Winter respiration of allochthonous and autochthonous organic carbon in a subarctic clear-water lake.
Karlsson J. et al. 2008
Limnology and Oceanography 53: :
948-954 :
Light limitation of nutrient-poor lake ecosystems.
Karlsson J. et al. 2009
Nature 460: :
506-509 :
An explorative study of mercury export from a thawing palsa mire.
Klaminder et al. 2008
JGR-Biogeosciencis 114:G04034 :
Soil carbon accumulatin in the dry tundra: the important role played by precipitation.
Klaminder et al. 2009
JGR-Biogeosciencis 114:G04005 :
Climate Change, Risks and Contaminants: A Perspective from Studying the Arctic.
Macdonald R.W. 2005
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 11: :
1099-1104 :
Stable isotopes in ecosystem studies
Peterson B. et al. 1987
Annual review of ecology and systematics :
293-302, 304-305, 307-309 :
Total organic carbon (TOC) of lake water during the Holocene inferred from lake sediments and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in eight lakes from northern Sweden.
Rosén P. 2005
Biogeochemistry 76: :
503-516 :
Effects of climate on organic carbon and ratio of planktonic to benthic primary producers in a subarctic lake during the past 45 years.
Rosén P. et al. 2009
Limnology and Oceanography 54: :
1723-1732 :
Climate driven release of carbon and mercury from permafrost mires increases mercury loading to subarctic lakes.
Rydberg et al. (submitted)
Modeling hydrology and silicon-carbon interactions in taiga and tundra biomes from a landscape perspective: implications for global warming feedbacks.
Smedberg E. et al. 2006
Global Biogeochemical Cycles 20: :
GB2014 :
Tracking long-term changes in climate using algal indicators in lake sediments.
Smol J.P. et al.
Journal of Phycology 36: :
986-1011 (15 pages) :
Carbon dioxide partial pressure and 13C content of north temperate and boreal lakes at spring ice melt.
Striegl R.G. et al. 2001
Limnology and Oceanography 46: :
941-945 :
Lakes and reservoirs as regulators of carbon cycling and climate.
Tranvik L.J. et al. 2009
Limnology and Oceanography 54: :
2298-2314 (15 pages) :
Effects of climate change on lakes. Encyclopedia of inland waters.
Vincent W. 2008
Elsevier: :
p. 1-6 :
Methane bubbling from Siberian thaw lakes as a positive feedback to climate warming.
Walter K.M. et al. 2006
Nature 443: :
71-75 :
Increased groundwater to stream discharge from permafrost thawing in the Yukon River basin: potential impacts on lateral export of carbon and nitrogen.
Walwoord M. et al. 2007
Geophysical Research Letters 34: :
L12402 :
Thawing Permafrost and Thicker Active Layers in Subartic Sweden.
Åkerman J. et al. 2008
Permafrost Periglacial Processes 19: :
279-292 :