Transpiration response of boreal forest plants to permafrost thaw

Transpiration is an important process to quantify because it can be a significant ecosystem water flux and is a major hydrological pathway. The transpiration dynamics of boreal forest plants in permafrost affected regions is relatively understudied, making it difficult to predict how permafrost thaw will impact ecosystem water flux. Thawing permafrost may cause soils to drain in these semi arid systems, making the plants more reliant on precipitation and potentially causing species shifts from those that tolerate cold soil to those that tolerate warm and dry soil.

***Note: Dates are approximate as not listed on poster***