< Back to previous page

Project

Effect of grazing on the biological silicon buffer in subarctic ecosystems (Finnmark, Northern Norway).

Recently, the biological loop in the terrestrial Si cycle, the "biological Si buffer", has been shown to regulate the terrestrial Si export towards coastal systems. Studies on the functioning of this Si buffer and influences of human activities are currently scarce, incomplete, while scale-effects are unknown. This project will be a pioneer study on the effect of grazing on the functioning of the biological Si buffer in three subarctic bio-Si hotspot ecosystem types. The study will integrate four different scales, ranging from the plant-herbivore scale to the scale of the province Finnmark. Through combination of the most recently developed analysis methods, Si stocks and fluxes will be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Combined analysis on N, P and DOC will integrate the results with the biogeochemical cycles which are relevant in the light of marine primary production and the global climate. The end-result will be an integrated insight in the effect of grazing and land cover on biological Si pools and fluxes of Si in subarctic ecosystems. The results will be coupled in a modelling environment which will allow to predict Si fluxes with changing land cover, grazing intensity and climate. Today, these changes are highly relevant in subarctic regions.
Date:1 Oct 2010 →  30 Sep 2012
Keywords:BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, GRAZING EMISSION
Disciplines:Other chemical sciences, Geochemistry, Geology, Plant biology, Other biological sciences, Aquatic sciences, challenges and pollution
Project type:Collaboration project