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Arctic Long-Term Ecological Research - LTSE

Location:
Toolik Lake Field Station
United States
Latitude: 68.627500
Longitude: -149.597500
Background
Continent: 
North America
Website: 
Arctic Long Term Ecological Research Site
Year LTSE Began: 
1979
On-going or Terminated?: 
On-going
Comments: 
Research began in earnest at this site after the completion of the Dalton Highway (a.k.a. the Haul Road) between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay (a.k.a. Deadhorse), which parallels the oil pipeline. The earliest research (~1975) was aquatic, but terrestrial research began in the late 1970's and early 1980's. The first terrestrial studies examined plant-nutrient dynamics and limitations. Small greenhouses were erected to induce warming along and in combination with fertilizer applications. Some of these plots are still maintained and are available on a limited basis to soil scientists interested in how the soil biogeochemistry has changed over the decades. Many studies have been done measuring climate-change related parameters (e.g. GHG flux). A very large data set is maintained on the Arctic LTER website: http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/arc/Datatable.html Working at Toolik is relatively easy and comfortable, as the camp has expanded greatly in the last few years. Support is now available year-round. However, support for logistics (i.e. user-days, etc.) must be included in NSF0-funded proposals.
Environment
Annual Precipitation (mm): 
<400
Mean Annual Soil Temperature (C): 
Cryic/Frigid: <8C
Is temperature regime isothermic? ie, do mean monthly temperatures deviate by <6C?: 
No
Soil moisture regime: 
Aquic
Dominant plant species (latin genus and species): 
Eriophorum vaginatum (dominates tussock tundra), Betula nana & Salix spp. (dominate shrub tundra)
Landuse: 
Other
Ecoregion: 
Polar
Landform (general description): 
The camp is located in the foothills of the North Slope of the Brooks Mountain Range. Terrain right around camp is gently rolling and punctuated by larger hills.
Elevation (m): 
500-800
Soil Classification
soilorder: 
Gelisol
Soil taxa (ex, Great Group of Soil Taxonomy): 
Moist Acidic Tussock Tundra: Aquaturbel Shrub Tundra: Umbrothel Wet Sedge Tundra: Hemistel
Soil Solid Data
pH and acidity: 
Yes
Organic Carbon: 
Yes
Nitrogen: 
Yes
Water holding capacity: 
Yes
Soil Water Data
Dissolved organic carbon: 
Yes
Soil Gas Data
Surface Fluxes: 
Yes
Vegetation Data
Biomass above ground: 
Yes
Biomass below ground: 
Yes
Macronutrient contents: 
Yes
Micronutrient contents: 
Yes
Harvest mass: 
Yes
Harvest nutrient contents: 
Yes
Soil Biota Data
Macro-invertebrates: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
Yes
Micro-invertebrates: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
Yes
Microorganisms: Biomass, Densities, Taxonomy: 
Yes
Molecular biology studies: 
Yes