The work was carried out in June-September 2024 to solve the problems of the scientific consortium “RHYTHM Carbon” and create the Russian Climate Monitoring System (VIP GS).
New monitoring sites with an area of 50×50 m were laid in the northeast of the Murmansk region near the village of Teriberka. Scientists conduct complex studies there to assess the reserves and cycles of carbon and nitrogen.
The vegetation is represented by lichen-shrub communities typical of the southern tundra, which form on automorphic relief elements. It is dominated by lichens: Cladonia stellata (Cladonia stellaris) with forest cladonia (C. arbuscula)cladonia gloomy (C. stygia) and Cladonia deer (C. rangiferina). This composition of species indicates the strong influence of winds and the cryogenic factor in the formation of communities. Among shrubs, the leading role in the composition of the vegetation cover of communities is played by the dwarf birch (Betula nana) and crowberry (For a hermaphrodite)which acquire a prostrate (prostrate) shape.
To assess the productivity of the vegetation cover of communities, PABSI staff conducted phytomass cuttings and prepared annual and long-term growth for further research on carbon and nitrogen content.
According to a unified methodology developed by scientists of the RITM Carbon consortium, in the buffer zone of each of the five test sites, scientists laid one full-profile soil section (to the parent rock), as well as two diggings. This work was carried out by colleagues from the Smart Urban Nature scientific center and the soil-ecological laboratory. The territory is dominated by coarse-humused illuvial-ferruginous podzols; to a lesser extent, coarse-humused podzolized illuvial-ferruginous podzols are represented, which is due to the heterogeneity of the distribution of boulders over the area. Further analysis of the chemical, physical and microbiological properties of the soil will provide insight into carbon stocks in tundra soils.
From June to September 2024, PABSI scientists also monitored the flow of CO2 from the underground sphere. Measurements were carried out twice a month. At the same time, the values of temperature and soil moisture were measured at a depth of 5 and 10 cm. In this field season, the air temperature at a height of 50 cm warmed up to 29.20C, and soils at a depth of 5 cm – 240S.
The research carried out will make it possible to assess carbon pools and flows, predict its dynamics in tundra ecosystems, and also clarify the methods for collecting and in-house processing of soil and plant samples.
Based on materials from the press service of the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute (PABSI).
Source: www.nkj.ru
