About the project
Background
Global environmental change is a major threat to both biodiversity and human well-being. Understanding how global change influences the biogeochemical environment, biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as interactions between different global change drivers, is therefore vital for the future sustainable management of ecosystems.
The research network "The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX)" was established in 1990 to increase our knowledge about how global environmental change affects vulnerable ecosystems in Arctic and alpine regions. Our study site at alpine Finse is part of this network. Common to all ITEX sites is the use of ecological field experiments to study effects of global warming on vegetation. ITEX is known for the use of so-called open-top chambers (OTCs) for experimental warming. At least 80 studies of how terrestrial ecosystems respond to environmental change have been carried out at Finse since 1975. Nearly half of these are related to the warming experiments that are part of the ITEX network. They mainly take place on the mountain Sanddalsnuten (1554 m.a.s.l.), an area with especially species rich vegetation. A detailed summary of these studies can be found here (external link).
Ongoing projects
Experimental warming of vegetation using open-top chambers (OTCs) has been conducted since 2000 and will continue. The OTCs are located in the Dryas heath at Sanddalsnuten. In the summer of 2024, a master’s student from NMBU will record vascular plants, lichens and bryophytes within the OTCs and associated control plots.
Both harsh climate and herbivory can reduce the establishment of seedlings in alpine areas, but it is unclear which of these factors is more important. In the summer of 2024, a master’s student from NMBU will examine this by planting seedlings in small cages with and without herbivorous insects present, both at ambient temperature and under experimental warming in the OTCs at Sanddalsnuten.
Competition with existing vegetation can slow down the establishment of lowland species in the alpine as the climate warms. In the summer of 2024, a PhD student and a master’s student from NMBU will examine the effect of competition on the establishment of seedlings in different habitat types near the Finse research station.
Silene acaulis has a distinct cushion-shaped growth form and may play an important role in alpine ecosystems by promoting the establishment of other species. We are working to better understand the mechanisms by which S. acaulis copes with the extreme environmental conditions found in alpine environments and how this affects other plants. This includes an ongoing exploration of the endophyte communities found in S. acaulis and the effects of extreme temperatures on reproduction.
Previous projects
- Monitoring of snowmelt, flowering and pollinator visits of Dryas octopetala using cameras was conducted at Sanddalsnuten in the period 2019-2021.
- Exclusion experiments of large herbivores were conducted at Sanddalsnuten using mesh cages in the period 2007-2016.
- Fertilization experiments were conducted at Sanddalsnuten in the period 2000-2007. The effect of these experiments were also followed up after the fertilization ceased in order to study the recovery of the vegetation.
- Studies of competition between Dryas and other plants were conducted at Sanddalsnuten in the period 2000-2003.
- Studies of phenology and pollination of selected species, with a particular focus on Ranunculus acris, were conducted at and near Sanddalsnuten since the 1990s.
Researchers
Publications
Scientific papers
Andresen, L.C., Bode, S., Bjork, R.G., Michelsen, A., Aerts, R. Boeckx, P., et al. 2022. Patterns of free amino acids in tundra soils reflect mycorrhizal type, shrubification, and warming. Mycorrhiza, 32: 305–313. Available here.
Van Zuijlen, K., Asplund, J., Sundsbø, S., Dahle, O.S., and Klanderud, K. 2022a. Ambient and experimental warming effects on an alpine bryophyte community. Arctic Science, 8(3): 831–842. Available here .
Van Zuijlen, K., Klanderud, K., Dahle, O.S., Hasvik, Å., Knutsen, M.S. Olsen, S.L., et al. 2022b. Community-level functional traits of alpine vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens after long-term experimental warming. Arctic Science, 8(3): 843–857. Available here.
Jeanbille, M., Clemmensen, K., Juhanson, J., Michelsen, A., Cooper, E.J. Henry, G.H., et al. 2022. Site-specific responses of fungal and bacterial abundances to experimental warming in litter and soil across Arctic and alpine tundra. Arctic Science, 8(3): 992–1005. Available here.
Roos, R.E., Birkemoe, T., Asplund, J., ˇLuptaˇcik, P., Raschmanova, N. Alatalo, J.M., et al. 2020. Legacy effects of experimental environmental change on soil micro-arthropod communities. Ecosphere, 11(2): e03030. Available here.
Birkemoe, T., Bergmann, S., Hasle, T.E., and Klanderud, K. 2016. Experimental warming increases herbivory by leaf-chewing insects in an alpine plant community. Ecology and Evolution, 6(19): 6955–6962. Available here.
Ida, T.Y., and Totland, Ø. 2014. Heating effect by perianth retention on developing achenes and implications for seed production in the alpine herb Ranunculus glacialis. Alpine Botany, 124(1): 37–47. Available here.
Lázaro, A., Lundgren, R., and Totland, Ø. 2013. Experimental reduction of pollinator visitation modifies plant-plant interactions for pollination. Oikos 123(9): 1037-1048. Available here.
Olsen, S.L., and Klanderud, K. 2014a. Biotic interactions limit species richness in an alpine plant community, especially under experimental warming. Oikos, 123(1): 71–78. Available here.
Olsen, S.L., and Klanderud, K. 2014b. Exclusion of herbivores slows down recovery after experimental warming and nutrient addition in an alpine plant community. Journal of Ecology, 102(5): 1129–1137. Available here.
Olsen, S.L., Sandvik, S.M., and Totland, Ø. 2013. Influence of two N-fixing legumes on plant community properties and soil nutrient levels in an alpine ecosystem. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 45(3): 363–371. Available here.
Elmendorf, S.C., Henry, G.H., Hollister, R.D., Bjork, R.G., Bjorkman, A.D., Callaghan, T.V., et al. 2012a. Global assessment of experimental climate warming on tundra vegetation: heterogeneity over space and time. Ecology Letters, 15(2): 164–175. Available here.
Elmendorf, S.C., Henry, G.H.R., Hollister, R.D., Bjork, R.G., Boulanger-Lapointe, N. Cooper, E.J., et al. 2012b. Plot-scale evidence of tundra vegetation change and links to recent summer warming. Nature Climate Change, 2(6): 453–457. Available here.
Nybakken, L., Sandvik, S.M., and Klanderud, K. 2011. Experimental warming had little effect on carbon-based secondary compounds, carbon and nitrogen in selected alpine plants and lichens. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 72(3): 368–376. Available here.
Sandvik, S., and Eide, W. 2011. Long-term experimental warming affects tissue C/N ratios differently in three strongly chionophilous alpine species. In Global warming in the twenty-first century. Edited by J.M. Cossia. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY; pp 187–198.
Klanderud, K. 2010. Species recruitment in alpine plant communities: the role of species interactions and productivity. Journal of Ecology, 98(5): 1128–1133. Available here.
H˚agvar, S., and Klanderud, K. 2009. Effect of simulated environmental change on alpine soil arthropods. Global Change Biology, 15(12): 2972–2980. Available here.
Sandvik, S.M., and Eide, W. 2009. Costs of reproduction in circumpolar Parnassia palustris L. in light of global warming. Plant Ecology, 205(1): 1–11. Available here.
Klanderud, K. 2008. Species-specific responses of an alpine plant community under simulated environmental change. Journal of Vegetation Science, 19(3): 363–372. Available here.
Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2008. Diversity-stability relationships of an alpine plant community under simulated environmental change. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 40(4): 679–684. Available here.
Nybakken, L., Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2008. Simulated environmental change has contrasting effects on defensive compound concentration in three alpine plant species. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 40(4): 709–715. Available here.
Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2007. The relative role of dispersal and local interactions for alpine plant community diversity under simulated climate warming. Oikos 116: 1279-1288. Available here.
Walker, M.D., Wahren, C.H., Hollister, R.D., Henry, G.H.R., Ahlquist, L.E., Alatalo, J.M., et al. 2006. Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103–5: 1342–1346. Available here.
Klanderud, K. 2005. Climate change effects on species interactions in an alpine plant community. Journal of Ecology, 93(1): 127–137. Available here.
Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2005a. The relative importance of neighbours and abiotic environmental conditions for population dynamic parameters of two alpine plant species. Journal of Ecology, 93(3): 493–501. Available here.
Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2005b. Simulated climate change altered dominance hierarchies and diversity of an alpine biodiversity hotspot. Ecology, 86(8): 2047–2054. Available here.
Klanderud, K., and Totland, Ø. 2004. Habitat dependent nurse effects of the dwarf-shrub Dryas octopetala on alpine and Arctic plant community structure. Ecoscience, 11(4): 410–420. Available here.
Totland, Ø., and Alatalo, J.M. 2002. Effects of temperature and date of snowmelt on growth, reproduction, and flowering phenology in the Arctic/alpine herb, Ranunculus glacialis. Oecologia, 133(2): 168–175. Available here.
Arft, A., Walker, M., Gurevitch, J., Alatalo, J., Bret-Harte, M. Dale, M., et al. 1999. Responses of tundra plants to experimental warming: meta-analysis of the International Tundra Experiment. Ecological Monographs, 69(4): 491–511. Available here.
Nylehn, J., and Totland, Ø. 1999. Effects of temperature and natural disturbance on growth, reproduction, and population density in the alpine annual hemiparasite Euphrasia frigida. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 31(3): 259–263. Available here.
Sandvik, S.M., Totland, Ø., and Nylehn, J. 1999. Breeding system and effects of plant size and flowering time on reproductive success in the alpine herb Saxifraga stellaris L. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 31(2): 196–201. Available here.
Totland, Ø. 1997a. Effects of flowering time and temperature on growth and reproduction in Leontodon autumnalis var. taraxaci, a late-flowering alpine plant. Arctic and Alpine Research, 29(3): 285–290. Available here.
Totland, Ø. 1997b. Limitations on reproduction in alpine Ranunculus acris. Canadian Journal of Botany, 75(1): 137–144. Available here.
Totland, Ø. 1994a. Influence of climate, time of day and season, and flower density on insect flower visitation in alpine Norway. Arctic and Alpine Research, 26(1): 66–71. Available here.
Totland, Ø. 1994b. Intraseasonal variation in pollination intensity and seed set in an alpine population of Ranunculus acris in southwestern Norway. Ecography, 17(2): 159–165. Available here.
Totland, Ø. 1993. Pollination in alpine Norway: flowering phenology, insect visitors, and visitation rates in two plant communities. Canadian Journal of Botany, 71(8): 1072–1079. Available here.
PhD dissertations
Roos, R.E. 2019. Functional traits across primary producer groups and their effects on micro-arthropod communities in alpine Norway. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Lundgren, L.L. 2014. Cascading effects of mutualistic interactions: from insect flower visitation to plant community dynamics. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Olsen, S.L. 2014. Climate change and biotic interactions in plant communities: effects on plant recruitment and growth, population dynamics and community properties. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Klanderud, K. 2005. Direct and indirect effects of climate change on alpine plant community diversity: The abiotic environment modifies species interactions. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
Sandvik, S. 2000. Reproductive ecology and effects of climate change in the late-flowering herb Saxifrag stellaris L. PhD thesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Master's theses
Apalnes, I.C. 2024. Effect of experimental warming on Dryas octopetala-dominated vegetation in High Arctic versus alpine ecosystems. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Eiterjord, G. 2024. Heating the heath: How 23 years of experimental warming changes an alpine biodiversity hotspot. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Prince, S.L.H. 2024. The impact of environmental stress on the plant sex expression and reproduction of Silene acaulis at Finse, Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Finne, L.M. 2023. Korleis vil auka temperaturar påverke reproduksjonsevna og kjønnsfordelinga til Dryas octopetala? M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Nordbø, V. 2023. The importance of microclimate and plant species richness for alpine arthropods in a Dryas heath at Finse. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Næss, K.S. 2023. Plant-plant interactions do not result in reproductive costs for Silene acaulis across an elevational gradient at Finse, Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Karlsson, C. 2022. The effect of Silene acaulis on soil bacterial communities across elevational and latitudinal gradients in Scandinavia. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Rozite-Arina, I. 2020. Effects of long-term experimental warming on fitness, morphology and species interactions of Silene acaulis. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Hovde, K. 2021. Effect of elevation differences in alpine insect activity on Silene acaulis at Finse, Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Dahle, O.S. 2019 Effects of long-term experimental warming on alpine bryophytes: trends in functional traits. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Sundsbø, S. 2019. Long-term experimental warming in an alpine heath: decrease in cover of the most abundant bryophytes. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Hasvik, Å. 2018. The effect of long-term experimental warming on lichens and vascular plants in an alpine Dryas heath. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Knutsen, M. S. 2018. Vascular plant and lichen functional trait responses to warming in an alpine ecosystem. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Karr, E.H. 2017. En studie av klimaendringenes påvirkning på nedbrytning av plantemateriale i et alpint miljø. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Bergmann, S. 2013. Experimental warming increased insect herbivory in an alpine Dryas heath at Finse, Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Hasle, T.E. 2013. The effect of experimental warming on insect herbivory in an alpine plant community. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Molovcakova, I. 2012. Effects of climate change on alpine plant species at Finse, southern Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Olsen, S.L. 2011. Do nitrogen-fixing legumes affect soil nutrient levels, plant growth or community properties of an alpine ecosystem? M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Gulbrandsen, J.M. 2010. What limit alpine plant reproduction? A multifactor study from Finse, Southern Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Kjøhl, M. 2008. Experimental assessment of the quantitative and qualitative components of pollen limitation in alpine Ranunculus acris. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Lundemo, S. 2004. Spatial variation in pollinator visitation and pollen limitation on female reproductive success within a population of an alpine species. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. Available here.
Klepsland, J.T. 2003. Genetic variation, growth and reproduction in the alpine plant Dryas octopetala (Rosaseae), along an altitudinal transect of Hardangervidda, Norway. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
Frantzen, H.H. 2002. Respons hos engsoleie ved tilførsel av ekstra næring og pollen i to alpine mikrohabitat. M.Sc. thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.