The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) is a long-term international collaboration of researchers examining the responses of arctic and alpine plants and ecosystems to climate change.[1] Researchers measure plant responses to standardized, small-scale passive warming, snow manipulations, and nutrient additions. Researchers use small open-top chambers (OTCs) to passively increase mean air temperature by 1-2 °C.[2] The ITEX approach has been validated by tundra responses at the plot level.[3] The network has published meta-analyses[4][5][6] on plant phenology, growth, and reproduction,[7] composition and abundance,[8] and carbon flux.[9] The ITEX network consists of more than 50 sites in polar and alpine locations around the world.[10]
Other nearby related study sites on Ellesmere: Sverdrup Pass, Princess Marie Bay, Hot Weather Creek,
Sverdrup Pass, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
Name of site leader(s): Esther Lévesque, Josef Svoboda (1986-1994)
University: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
Site elevation: 180 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 79.14
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -79.7
Date site was established: 1990
Does your site have OTC's? No
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 13 in total along altitudinal gradients (300m to ca. 700m) on two substrates (granite and dolomite) D1-D6 and G1-G7
When were they established? 1990
Have they been closed? If so, when? Yes, 1994
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Ungulates, Hares (Lagomorphs)
Climate data: Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Precipitation Soil temperature year round (1986-1994)
Current or past data collection: Individual plant phenology, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage)
Main genera in plots: Papaver
Citation: Lévesque, E., Henry, G.H.R., Svoboda, J., 1997. Phenological and growth responses of Papaver radicatum along altitudinal gradients in the Canadian High Arctic. Global Change Biology 3, 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.1997.gcb145.x
Bylot Island, Nunavut
Name of site leader(s): Esther Lévesque
University: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 73.3652
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -79.0153
Nunatsiavut (Nain and Torr Bay)
Name of site leader(s): Laura Siegwart Collier, Luise Hermanutz
University: Memorial University
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 58.4774° N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 62.8295° W
Date site was established:2009
Nain
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 18
When were they established? 2009
Have they been closed? If so, when? Yes, the subsite is closed
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data:Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, PAR, Soil moisture probe
Current or past data collection:Point framing, Flower counts (total), Plot photos, Fruit production
Main genera in OTC plots:Betula, Vaccinium, Empetrum, Rhododendron, Carex, Bryophytes, Lichen
Torr Bay
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 60
When were they established? 2009
Have they been closed? If so, when? No but visited infrequently (once 3–5 years)
Is there grazing at your site?
Climate data: Air temperature >1m Soil temperature, PAR, Soil moisture probe
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Flower counts (total), Fruit production
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Empetrum, Rhododendron, Carex, Eriophorum, Poa, Juncus, Bryophytes, Lichen, Oxytropis
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 12
When were they established? 1999
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Precipitation
Current or past data collection:Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Herbivory, Flower counts, Plot photos, Snowmelt dates, GIS data, Drones (https://arcticdrones.org/), Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Soil sampling, Shrub common garden
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Sedges, Grasses, Mosses/Lichens
Name of site leader(s): Cassandra Elphinstone, Courtney Collins, Nathalie Chardon
University: University of British Columbia
Site elevation: 1470m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 49.927275
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -122.992919
Date site was established: 2022
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 24
When were they established? 2022
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Plot level Air temperature, Soil temperature, radiation
Current or past data collection:Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Plot photos, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Cassiope, Phyllodoce, Kalmia, Triantha, Pinguicula, Equisetum, Carex
Greenlandic sites
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Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Snow fences, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, Drones, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Sedges, Rushes, Equisetum, Mosses/Lichens
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Auðkúluheiði, Iceland
Name of site leader(s): Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir
University: University of Iceland and University Centre in Svalbard
Site elevation: 450m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 65°12'0" N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 19°42'0" W
Date site was established: 1996
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 30
When were they established? 1996
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Precipitation, Total radiation, PAR
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Herbivory, Flower counts, Plot photos, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Equisetum, Silene, Cerastium, Mosses/Lichens, Empetrum
Name of site leader(s): Ólafur S. Andrésson 2017–present, Alejandro Salazar 2017-2019
University: University of Iceland, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences
Site elevation: 600m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 64.0364
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 19.219017
Date site was established: 2017
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 16
When were they established? 2018
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Ungulates, Birds
Climate data: Soil temperature, Snowmelt date,
Current or past data collection: Soil moisture probe, Vegetation cover, microbial composition, soil respiration, N fixation, Plot photos, Below ground microbe surveys, CO2 Flux, Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Litter bags, Soil (chemical nutrient composition), N fixation (ARA), cyanobacteria cover on biocrust, soil respiration
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Empetrum, Carex, Bryophytes, Lichen, Liverwort (Anthelia) biocrust is the primary research subject and main ground cover (followed by moss).
Name of site leader(s): Magnus Gaard, Anna Maria Fosaa
University: University of the Faroe Islands
Site elevation: 600 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 62.0667
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -6.95
Date site was established: 2001
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Knutshø, Dovre, Norway
Name of site leader(s): Annika Hofgaard
University: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)
Site elevation: 1050-1150m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 62 18' N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 09 37' E
Date site was established: 1998
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 3
When were they established? 1998
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: No, two year of air and soil temperature data (ambient and OTC) at the start of site use
Current or past data collection: Above ground plant traits, Herbivory, Plot photos, plant cover (%)
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Equisetum, Mosses/Lichens, Empetrum, Astragalus and a number of other dwarf shrubs and herbs
Finse, Norway
Name of site leader(s): Kari Klanderud
University: Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Site elevation: 1500 m asl
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 60.6051° N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 7.5046° E
Date site was established: June 2000
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 40 OTCs 40 controls
When were they established? 2000
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Precipitation, Done by climate station at Finse (1200 m asl)
Current or past data collection: Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Plot photos, Soil moisture, Soil sampling, Vegetation analyses by sub plot frequencies and % cover
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Sedges, Grasses, Silene, Mosses/Lichens
Kilpisjärvi Finland
Name of site leader(s): Anne Tolvanen
University: Natural Resources Institute Finland
Site elevation: 670 m a.s.l.
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 69.4N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 20.490E
Date site was established: 01.06.1994
Does your site have OTC's? Currently have
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 20
When were they established? 1994
Have they been closed? If so, when? running experiment
Is there grazing at your site? Yes, factorial simulated herbivory treatment.
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Herbivory,[18] Soil sampling, GHG fluxes, plant C/N concentrations,[19] soil microbial communities[20]
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Rushes, Mosses/Lichens
Kilpisjärvi Finland II
Name of site leader(s): Friederike Gehrmann
University: University of Helsinki
Site elevation: 700m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 69.0443
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 20.8033
Date site was established: 2014
Does your site have OTC's? Never had
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 24
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, ecophysiology
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Saxifraga, Silene
Latnjajaure, Sweden
Name of site leader(s): Robert Bjork and Mats Bjorkman
University: Göteborg University
Site elevation: 981 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68.21N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 18.31E
Date site was established: 1990 (First full ITEX year 1993)
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 50 plots (in 5 plant communities)
When were they established? 1993, 1994, 1996
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Precipitation, Cloud cover, Wind, global radiation etc.
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Herbivory, Flower counts, Plot photos, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, Soil sampling, soil fauna, soil parameters
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Saxifraga, Equisetum, Silene, Cerastium, Oxyria, Draba, Mosses/Lichens, many mosses and lichens determined to species of genera level
Paddus, Abisko, Sweden
Name of site leader(s): Anders Michelsen
University: University of Copenhagen
(mesic tree-line heath)
Site elevation: 550m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 19 N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 18 51 E
Date site was established: 1989
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 1989
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Herbivory, Flower counts, Fertilizer plots, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Equisetum, Silene, Mosses/Lichens
Substrate (graminoid-rich heath)
Site elevation: 560m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 19 N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 18 50 E
Date site was established: 2012
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 30
When were they established? 2012
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Fertilizer plots, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Equisetum, Mosses/Lichens
Multe (wet heath)
Site elevation: 430m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 20 N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 18 49 E
Date site was established: 1999
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 30
When were they established? 1999
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Fertilizer plots, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Equisetum, Mosses/Lichens
Forest (understory in open birch forest)
Site elevation: 430m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 20 N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 18 50 E
Date site was established: 2009
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 10
When were they established? 2009
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Soil moisture, Soil sampling
Main genera in OTC plots: Vaccinium, Grasses, Mosses/Lichens
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Soil moisture, Transplant experiments, Nutrients; (Transplanted) seedling survival; Experiment includes OTCs and moss removal treatments for vegetation dominated by three different moss species, across 8 sites along a precipitation gradient
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Mosses/Lichens, Empetrum; In general very variable, since the experiment includes 8 sites (one replicate per site) and 3 dominant moss species per site
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 80
When were they established? 2010
Have they been closed? If so, when? NA
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Soil moisture
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Soil moisture, Soil sampling, Transplant experiments, Soil nutrients; Nematodes; Microbial community (PLFA); (Transplanted) seedling survival; Litter decomposition; Experiment consists of OTC x moss removal x shrub removal (full factorial) across 10 sites with varying fire history in the northern boreal forest (Pine/Spruce/Birch), with one treatment replicate per site
Main genera in OTC plots: Vaccinium, Mosses/Lichens, Empetrum
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 20
When were they established? 2008
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Plot photos, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, litter decomposition
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Cerastium, Mosses/Lichens, Veronica, Cardamine, Poa, Leucanthemopsis
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 100
When were they established? 2007
Have they been closed? If so, when? running experiment
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Precipitation, Snow depth and snow melting
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Plot photos, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, GIS data, Vegetation data (composition and % coverage)
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Saxifraga, Silene, Cerastium, Oxyria, Mosses/Lichens
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, GIS data, Soil sampling, Vegetation analyses (composition and % cover)
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Sedges, Grasses, Mosses/Lichens
Val Bercla, Switzerland
Name of site leader(s): Christian Rixen
University * WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Site elevation 2500m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees) 46.47
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees) 9.58
Date site was established 1994
Does your site have OTC's? Currently have
Number of plots at your site (include OTC's control plots, etc.) 9
When were they established? 1994
Have they been closed? If so, when? No OTCs from 1987 to 2008
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Does your site collect climate data? If yes, what type? No climate station directly at site but in the general area. Air temperature, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Precipitation, Cloud cover
Current or past data collection at your site:Phenology, Above ground plant traits, Herbivory, Plot photos, Abundance estimates
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Sedges, Grasses, Saxifraga, Silene, Mosses/Lichens
Name of site leader(s):Sonja Wipf and Christian Rixen
University: WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Site elevation: 2220 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 46.77224
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 9.86569
Date site was established: 2003
Does your site have OTC's? No Snow removal
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 21
When were they established? 2004
Have they been closed? If so, when? No but since 2006 maintained with minimal effort (snow manipulation done, not many measurements). Vegetation does not show much response.
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, PAR, Wind speed, Wind direction, Solar radiation, Weather station <500m away
Current or past data collection: Individual plant phenology, Plot photos, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Litter bags, Individual growth
Main genera in OTC plots: Vaccinium, Empetrum, Rhododendron, Carex, Loiseleuria, Helictotrichum
Jakobshorn, Davos, Switzerland
Name of site leader(s): Janet Prevey
University: Pacific Northwest Research Station
Site elevation: 2320 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 46.77
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 9.86
Date site was established: 2014
Pyrenees, Spain
Name of site leader(s): Estela Illa Bachs, Benjamin Komak, Olivier Argagnon and Ludovic Olicard
University:Universitat de Barcelona
Ulldeter
Site elevation: 2400 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42.41926
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 2.24756
Date site was established: 2018
Does your site have OTC's?Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 8
When were they established?2019
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data:Air temperature >1m, Snow depth, Precipitation, Wind speed, Solar radiation, Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm), Snowmelt date
Current or past data collection: Snapshot phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition), Species Abundance and Phenology
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Poa, Agrostis, Gentiana, Nardus, Trifolium
Ratera
Site elevation: 2560 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42.6053
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 0.96021
Date site was established: 2016
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 8
When were they established? 2017
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Ungulates
Climate data: Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm), Snowmelt date
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition) Species Abundance and Phenology
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Carex, Poa, Bryophytes, Agrostis, Nardus
Envalira
Site elevation: 2500 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42.52372
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 1.73507
Date site was established: 2017
Does your site have OTC's?Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 8
When were they established? 2017
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm)
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition) Species Abundance and Phenology
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Carex, Poa, Agrostis, Gentiana, Nardus, Sibbaldia
Arrious
Site elevation: 2370 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42.84143
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -0.33682
Date site was established: 2017
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 8
When were they established? 2017
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Unknown
Climate data: Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm), Snowmelt date
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition) Species Abundance and Phenology
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Festuca, Gentiana, Trifolium
Cataperdís (Andorra), Spain
Name of site leader(s): Estela Illa Bachs, Benjamin Komak, Empar Carrillo Ortuño, Josep Maria Ninot Sugrañes, Alba Anadon Rosell, Aaron Pérez Haase, and Oriol Grau Fernández
University: Universitat de Barcelona
Site elevation: 2535 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42.61678
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 1.48186
Date site was established: 2017
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 16
When were they established? 2019
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm), Snowmelt date
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Below ground microbe surveys, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Litter bags, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition), Species Abundance and Phenology, OTCs, Snow removal
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Poa, Bryophytes, Lichen, Sibbaldia, Leontodon (= Scorzoneroides)
Asian sites
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Name of site leader(s):Shengwei Zong, Hongshi He; 2015-ongoing, Zhengfang Wu; 2009-ongoing, Haibo Du; 2009-ongoing, and Xu Jiawei; 2008-ongoing
University: Northeast Normal University
Site elevation: 2300 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 72
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 42
Date site was established: 2009
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs and Fertilizer (2013), Snow removal (2019), Vegetation removal (2018)
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.)128
When were they established? 2011
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Precipitation, Solar radiation, Wind speed, Wind direction, Soil moisture probe
Current or past data collection: Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Above ground biomass harvest, Below ground biomass harvest, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition) Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Reciprocal transplant experiment
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Vaccinium, Rhododendron, Carex, Festuca, Poa, Juncus, Oxyria, Lycopodium, Bryophytes, Lichen, Oxytropis
American sites
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Name of site leader(s): Christian Bay 1994–1995, Patrick Webber 1995–2007, Robert Hollister 2007-current
University: Grand Valley State University
Barrow/Utqiagvik Dry Site
Site elevation: 5m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 71.31502696
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -156.6010247
Date site was established: 1994
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 1994
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Rodents, Birds
Climate data: Air temperature 10 cm, Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, PAR, Wind speed, Wind direction, Soil moisture probe, Active layer depth
Current or past data collection: Plot level phenology, Individual plant phenology, Snapshot phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage), Plot photos, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Transplant experiments, Multispectral data, CO2 Flux, Methane Flux, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Above ground biomass harvest, Below ground biomass harvest, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Multispectral data, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Reciprocal transplant experiment, Dark diversity (species richness), Taxonomic classification of bryophytes
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Cassiope, Carex, Eriophorum, Poa, Saxifraga, Cerastium, Stellaria, Papaver, Draba, Bryophytes, Lichen
Barrow/Utqiagvik Wet Site
Site elevation: 3 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 71.31051842
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -156.5978987
Date site was established: 1995
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 1995
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Rodents, Birds
Climate data: Air temperature 10 cm, Soil temperature, Snowmelt date, Soil moisture probe, Active layer depth
Current or past data collection: Plot level phenology, Individual plant phenology, Snapshot phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage), Plot photos, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Multispectral data, CO2 Flux, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Multispectral data, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Dark diversity (species richness), Taxonomic classification of bryophytes
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Carex, Eriophorum, Poa, Saxifraga, Cerastium, Stellaria, Draba, Cardamine, Bryophytes
Atqasuk Dry Site
Site elevation: 22 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 70.45373011
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -157.4073879
Date site was established: 1996
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 1996
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Ungulates, Rodents, Birds
Climate data: Air temperature 10 cm, Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, PAR, Wind speed, Wind direction, Soil moisture probe, Active layer depth
Current or past data collection:Plot level phenology, Individual plant phenology, Snapshot phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage), Plot photos, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Multispectral data, CO2 Flux, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Above ground biomass harvest, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Multispectral data, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Dark diversity (species richness), Taxonomic classification of bryophytes
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Carex, Poa, Bryophytes, Lichen
Atqasuk Wet Site
Site elevation: 17 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 70.45303348
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -157.4003018
Date site was established: 1996
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 1996
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Ungulates, Rodents
Climate data: Air temperature 10 cm, Soil temperature, Snowmelt date, Soil moisture probe, Active layer depth Air temperature (near ground, ~10 cm), Soil temperature, Snowmelt date, Soil moisture probe, Active layer depth
Current or past data collection: Plot level phenology, Individual plant phenology, Snapshot phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage), Plot photos, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Multispectral data, CO2 Flux, Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Multispectral data, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Dark diversity (species richness), Taxonomic classification of bryophytes
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Carex, Eriophorum, Bryophytes, Lichen
Subsites: Toolik Historic Site, Imnavait Sites, ARC LTER sites - many local sites and experiments, all within about 25 km of Toolik Lake. We break these down by vegetation type, including Moist acidic tussock tundra, Moist nonacidic tussock tundra, moist nonacidic nontussock tundra, dry heath tundra, wet sedge tundra, and deciduous shrub tundra. Much of the data on these sites is available at the ARC LTER web site at: http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/arc/Archived 2012-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
Date site was established: 1976
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs (1982) and Fertilizer (1982), Herbivory exclosure (1996), Vegetation removal (1995), Shade treatments
When were they established? Dates above are dates of first expt, new experiments with same treatments established at various dates in the 1980s-2000s
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Insects, Ungulates, Rodents, Birds
Climate data:Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, Cloud cover, PAR, Wind speed, Wind direction, Soil moisture probe, Soil moisture (% water by weight), Active layer depth, Solar radiation, UV
Current or past data collection: Plot level phenology, Individual plant phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Flower counts (per stage), Plot photos, Transplant experiments, Below ground microbe surveys, Multispectral data, Above ground invertebrates, Below ground invertebrates, CO2 Flux, Methane Flux, Plant abundance measure (other than point framing), Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Plant tissue nutrient composition, Above ground biomass harvest, Below ground biomass harvest, Litter bags, Soil (physical texture), Soil (chemical nutrient composition), Lots of soil chemistry, plant allometry and vegetative and sexual demography Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Multispectral data, Common garden experiment, Reciprocal transplant experiment
Note: Many protocols established before ITEX; some ITEX protocols developed from ours
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Empetrum, Rhododendron, Carex, Eriophorum, Festuca, Poa, Juncus, Saxifraga, Silene, Cerastium, Stellaria, Papaver, Oxyria, Draba, Cardamine, Equisetum, Lycopodium, Ferns, Bryophytes, Lichen, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Rubus, Above checked spp occur at >50% occurrence at at least one local site but none at every site
Toolik Lake, Alaska (Gough)
Name of site leader(s): Laura Gough, Ed Rastetter, Donie Bret-Harte
University: MBL Woods Hole, University of Alaska, Towson University
Site elevation: 730 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 deg 38 min N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 149 deg 34 min W
Date site was established: 1976
Does your site have OTC's? No
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) hundreds
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Point framing, Above ground plant traits, Below ground traits, Herbivory, Flower counts, Plot photos, Snow fences, Snow addition and removal, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil moisture, GIS data, Soil sampling, NPP GPP, bulk CNP stocks and turnover
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Rushes, Mosses/Lichens, NO OTCs—plastic greenhouses. 5 contrasting veg types
Name of site leader(s): Ned Fetcher 2014–present, Jim Tang 2014-present, Michael Moody 2014–present
University: Wilkes University, Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Texas - El Paso
This is a reciprocal transplant experiment using three populations, Sagwon, Toolik, Lake, and Coldfoot. Each plot contains three tussocks of Eriophorum vaginatum that were transplanted in August 2014. At Sagwon and Toolik Lake, half of the plots had OTC's beginning in July 2015.
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 72
When were they established? 24 in 2011, 48 in 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature 10 cm, Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, Cloud cover, PAR, Wind speed, Wind direction, Active layer depth, Solar radiation, Data available from Toolik Field Station website
Current or past data collection: Individual plant phenology, Snapshot phenology, Above ground plant traits, Below ground plant traits, Flower counts (total), Plot photos, Phenocams (GoPros etc.), Transplant experiments, CO2 Flux, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Drone images, Phenocams of site (GoPros etc.), Common garden experiment, Reciprocal transplant experiment
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Empetrum, Rhododendron, Carex, Eriophorum, Bryophytes, Lichen, Rubus
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 48
When were they established? 2015
Have they been closed? If so, when?
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, Wind speed, Wind direction, Solar radiation, Data is available from USDA SNOTEL website
Current or past data collection: Individual plant phenology, Above ground plant traits, Below ground plant traits, Plot photos, Transplant experiments, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Common garden experiment, Reciprocal transplant experiment
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Rhododendron, Carex, Eriophorum, Bryophytes, Lichen, Rubus
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 24
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? NA
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature >1m, Soil temperature, Snow depth, Snowmelt date, Precipitation, Wind speed, Wind direction, Solar radiation, Data are available from the USDA-SNOTEL website.
Current or past data collection: Individual plant phenology, Above ground plant traits, Plot photos, Litter bags Fine-scale geospatial data (GPS points for each plot), Common garden experiment, Reciprocal transplant experiment
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Vaccinium, Rhododendron, Carex, Eriophorum, Bryophytes, Lichen, Rubus
Toolik Lake (Welker and Oberbauer)
Name of site leader(s): Jeffrey M Welker and Steven F Oberbauer
University: Florida International University
Toolik Moist
Site elevation: 720 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68.62
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -149.603
Date site was established: 1994
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs, Snow fences
When were they established? 1994
Toolik Dry
Site elevation: 720 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68.62
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -149.598
Date site was established: 1994
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs, Snow fences
When were they established? 1994
Toolik Snowfield
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68.62
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -149.601
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs
Imnaviat Creek, Alaska
Name of site leader(s): Jeremy May and Steven Oberbauer
University: Florida International University
Dry Heath
Site elevation: 927m asl
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 37' N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 149 18' W
Date site was established: 2016
Does your site have OTC's? Currently have
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 16
When were they established? June 2016
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: No
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, NDVI
Main genera in OTC plots: Dryas, Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Saxifraga, Mosses/Lichens
Wet Acidic
Site elevation: 927 m asl
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 68 37' N
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 149 18' W
Date site was established: 2016
Does your site have OTC's? Currently have
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 16
When were they established? June 2016
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: No
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, NDVI
Main genera in OTC plots: Salix, Betula, Cassiope, Vaccinium, Sedges, Grasses, Saxifraga, Mosses/Lichens
Alaska Ice Cut
Name of site leader(s): Ellen Dorrepaal
University: Umeå University
Site elevation: 385 m asl
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): N69°048'
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): W148°836'
Date site was established: 2014
Does your site have OTC's? Currently have
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 24
When were they established? 2014 (snow fences), 2016 (OTCs)
Does your site have OTC's? No, but it does have precipitation shields, nutrient additions, and long-term monitoring without manipulations
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 88
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil sampling, Vegetation coverage and floristic composition
Does your site have OTC's? No, but it does have precipitation shields, nutrient additions, and long-term monitoring without manipulations
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 36
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No ongoing experiment
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil sampling, vegetation coverage and floristic composition
Does your site have OTC's? No, but it does have precipitation shields, nutrient additions, and long-term monitoring
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 36
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No, ongoing experiment
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil sampling, vegetation coverage and floristic composition
Main genera in OTC plots: Mosses/Lichens
Tarn Flat
Site elevation: 20m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 74°59'S
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 162°37'E
Date site was established: 2014
Does your site have OTC's? No, but it does have precipitation shields, nutrient additions, and long-term monitoring
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 36
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No, ongoing experiment
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Soil temperature
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil sampling, vegetation coverage and floristic composition
Main genera in OTC plots: Mosses/Lichens
Boulder Clay
Site elevation: 150 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 74°44'S
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 164°01'E
Date site was established: 2014
Does your site have OTC's? No, but it does have precipitation shields, nutrient additions, and long-term monitoring
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 36
When were they established? 2014
Have they been closed? If so, when? No, ongoing experiment
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, Snow depth
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Snow fences, Fertilizer plots, Snowmelt dates, Soil sampling, vegetation coverage and floristic composition
Main genera in OTC plots: Mosses/Lichens
Falkland Islands
Name of site leader(s): Stef Bokhorst (previously R. Aerts, P. Convey and A. Huiskes (all in 2003))
University: VU Amsterdam
Site elevation: 2 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -51.76
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -59.03
Date site was established: 2003
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 24
When were they established? 2003
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Birds
Climate data: No full monitoring only during 2003-2005
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Litter bags, Soil (chemical nutrient composition)
Main genera in OTC plots: Empetrum, Ferns, Bryophytes, Lichen
Anchorage Island
Name of site leader(s): Stef Bokhorst (previously R. Aerts, P. Convey and A. Huiskes)
University: VU Amsterdam
Site elevation: 30 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -67.61
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): -68.22
Date site was established: 2004
Does your site have OTC's? Yes OTCs and Fertilizer (2015)
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 12
When were they established? 2004
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? No
Climate data:Air temperature >1m, Wind speed, Wind direction, Solar radiation, Soil temperature, full soil temp, PAR and rel hum during 2004-2007
Current or past data collection: Point framing, Plot photos, Below ground microbe surveys, Multispectral data, Below ground invertebrates, CO2 Flux, Lichen cover, Bryophyte cover, Soil (chemical nutrient composition) Taxonomic classification of lichens, Taxonomic classification of bryophytes
Main genera in OTC plots: Bryophytes, Lichen
Yes Yes, but infrequently (once 3–5 years) No Yes, year round
Reserva Ecológica Antisana
Name of site leader(s): Priscilla Muriel, Francisco Cuesta
University: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Site elevation: 4580 m
Latitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 0°28'1.50"S
Longitude (WGS84 decimal degrees): 78° 9'43.00"W
Date site was established: August 2013
Does your site have OTC's? Yes
Number of plots at your site (include OTCs control plots, etc.) 25 control plots, 25 OTC plots (2013), 7 OTC+phenology plots and 7 corresponding control plots (2017)
When were they established? August 2013
Have they been closed? If so, when? No
Is there grazing at your site? Yes
Climate data: Air temperature, Soil temperature, This summer 2018 we will install a station with precipitation, radiation (PAR), soil water content
Current or past data collection: Phenology, Above ground plant traits, Flower counts, Plot photos, Planned: soil sampling, herbivory
Main genera in OTC plots: Páramo (tropical alpine vegetation) species
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