Biocomplexity of Patterned Ground: Dalton Highway

The Biocomplexity project studies small patterned-ground ecosystems along the Arctic bioclimate gradient in North America. Various types of patterned-ground formations are found in the Arctic. These are a significant component of nearly all Arctic landscapes. Although these features have been studied by geomorphologists, their role in ecosystems has been largely unstudied. The project focuses on how climate influences the interactions between vegetation, soils, and patterned ground formation in order to better understand how climate change might affect these systems.生物复杂性研究项目（Biocomplexity project）聚焦于北美北极生物气候梯度沿线的小型图案化地表（patterned-ground）生态系统。北极地区分布有多种类型的图案化地表构造，此类构造几乎构成了所有北极景观的重要组成部分。尽管地貌学家已对这些地表特征开展过相关研究，但它们在生态系统中所扮演的角色却基本未被探索。本项目聚焦于气候如何影响植被、土壤与图案化地表形成之间的相互作用，以期更深入地理解气候变化可能对这些生态系统造成的影响。