Ecosystem Development within Circumpolar Polar Deserts

高北极地区极地荒漠生态系统的发育和功能尚未得到研究。为了提供对控制极地沙漠生态系统发展的关键成分的理解，布利斯博士建议研究这些系统中的土壤、藻壳、土壤无脊椎动物和维管植物的小气候。据推测，藻皮，特别是蓝藻，在土壤发育中起着核心作用，并在更大程度上影响维管植物的物种多样性和生物量。生物群对土壤发育的总体影响将通过分析土壤、大气和溶液中的二氧化碳和碳酸盐来估计。为了验证维管植物的分布主要与整个夏季的水分有效性有关的假设，将沿着水分梯度确定冬季降雪和夏季融雪。人们进一步认为，藻壳在维持较高水平的土壤水分方面起着核心作用。由于极地沙漠是北极地区最不为人所知的生态系统之一，因此，就预测全球变暖而言，了解控制极地沙漠发展的重要因素至关重要。此外，了解现代系统是如何发展的，可以为大陆冰退缩后系统的发展提供一个类比。

Polar desert ecosystems in the high arctic have not been studied in terms of their development and function. To provide an understanding of the critical components controlling development of polar desert ecosystems, Dr. Bliss proposes to study the microclimate of soils, algal crusts, soil invertebrates and vascular plants within these systems. It is hypothesized that algal crusts, especially cyanobacteria, play a central role in soil development and to a greater extent species diversity and biomass of vascular plants. The overall influence of biota on soil development will be estimated from carbon dioxide and carbonate analysis in the soil atmosphere and in solution. To evaluate the hypothesis that the distribution of vascular plants relates primarily to water availability throughout the summer, winter snow fall and summer snow melt will be determined along moisture gradients. It is further believed that the algal crusts play a central role in maintenance of higher levels of soil moisture. Because polar deserts are one of the least understood ecosystems in the arctic, it is critical, in terms of predicted global warming to understand important components controlling development of polar deserts. Additionally, knowing how modern systems develop may provide an analog to development of systems following continental ice retreat.