Zackenberg Ecological Research Operations 12th Annual Report, 2006 Danish Polar Center 2007 Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Klitgaard, A.B., Rasch, M. and Caning, K. (eds.) 2007. Zackenberg Ecological Research Operations, 12th An- nual Report, 2006. - Copenhagen, Danish Polar Center, Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, 2007. © 2007 Danish Polar Center Editors Anne B. Klitgaard, Morten Rasch and Kirsten Canning Layout Special-Trykkeriet Viborg a-s Printed by Special-Trykkeriet Viborg a-s Impression 800 Paper 80 g recycled Front cover: From 28 - 30 July Arina Arctica from Royal Arctic Line anchored outside Zackenberg. During that period c. 220 helicopter slings were carried out between Arina Arctica and Zackenberg Research Station mainly with building materials and fuel. Photo Henning Thing. Back of cover: In 2006 a photo competition were held among previous guests at Zackenberg Research Station. The purpose of the competition was to provide pictures for decoration of the new accommodation building at Zackenberg. The winners of the competition were: 1. Mikkel Peter Tamstorf (small river), 2. Stefano Massetti (halo over Zackenberg Research Station), and 3. Charlotte Sigsgaard (Zackenberg during sunset). ISBN 87-90369-14-9 This book is free of charge and may be ordered from Danish Polar Center Strandgade 102 DK-1401 Copenhagen K Tel. (+45) 32880100 Fax (+45) 32880101 Email: [email protected] Contents Executive summary by Charlotte Sigsgaard, Niels Martin Schmidt and Morten Rasch . 5 1 Introduction by Morten Rasch . 8 2 Zackenberg Basic: The Climate Basis and GeoBasis programmes by Charlotte Sigsgaard, Kisser Thorsøe, Annette W. Fugl, Mikhail Mastepanov, Thomas Friborg, Mikkel Tamstorf, Birger Ulf Hansen, Lena Ström and Torben Røjle Christensen . 12 3 Zackenberg Basic: The BioBasis programme by Niels Martin Schmidt (ed.) . 35 3.1 Vegetation by Jannik Hansen and Niels Martin Schmidt . 35 3.2 Arthropods by Jannik Hansen and Niels Martin Schmidt . 38 3.3 Birds by Jannik Hansen, Anders P. Tøttrup and Nette Levermann . 44 3.4 Mammals by Martin Ulrich Christensen and Niels Martin Schmidt . 58 3.5 Lakes by Kirsten Christoffersen and Erik Jeppesen . 62 4 Zackenberg Basic: The MarineBasis Programme by Søren Rysgaard, Mikael K. Sejr, Morten Frederiksen, Kristine Arendt and Egon R. Frandsen . 66 5 Research projects . 78 5.1 Effects of current UV-B fluxes on high arctic vegetation (UV-exclusion experiments) by Kristian R. Albert, Marie Arndal, Helge Ro-Poulsen, Anders Michelsen and Teis N. Mikkelsen . 78 5.2 Effects of manipulations of local climate on processes and organisms in high arctic terrestrial ecosystems by Anders Michelsen, Susanne Ellebjerg, Marie Arndal, Mikkel Tamstorf, Niels M. Schmidt, Lotte Illeris, Kristian R. Albert and Helge Ro-Poulsen . 80 5.3 Spatial variation in growth and phenology of arctic willow by Ditte K. Hendrichsen, Gösta Nachman and Mads C. Forchhammer . 81 5.4 Ressource allocation and allometry of plant growth in the Arctic: key constraints on change and predictability of the arctic system by Gaius R. Shaver, Lorna Street, Mark van Wijk, Peter van Buuren and Craig Menzies . 82 5.5 Studies in basidiomycetes (fungi) in the Zackenberg-area in 2006 by Torbjørn Borgen Lindhardt . 83 5.6 A soil map for the Zackenberg Valley by Maria Rask Pedersen, Bo Elberling, Charlotte Sigsgaard, Stina Nordmand Rasmussen and Birger Ulf Hansen . 84 5.7 Air-Sea CO2 flux in Young Sund and the Greenland Sea by Mikael K. Sejr, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Morten Frederiksen and Søren Rysgaard . 85 5.8 Suggestions for future monitoring of the breeding colony of Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) and Sabine’s gulls (Xema sabini) on Sandøen by Anders P. Tøttrup and Nette Levermann . 88 5.9 Walrus observations on Sandøen by Nette Levermann, Anders P. Tøttrup and Søren Rysgaard . 91 5.10 Genetic basis and evolution of ventral plumage melanism in skuas by Kirstin Janssen and Nick I. Mundy . 91 5.11 ITACA² – Dayside aurora joint observations in the Greenland-Svalbard sector by Stefano Massetti . 92 6 Disturbance in the study area by Jannik Hansen . 93 7 Logistics by Christian Dinsen and Morten Rasch . 95 8 Personnel and visitors compiled by Christian Dinsen and Morten Rasch . 97 9 Publications compiled by Vibeke Sloth Jakobsen . 100 10 References . 102 Executive summary Charlotte Sigsgaard, Niels Martin Schmidt and Morten Rasch 2006 was a very busy year at Zackenberg ture measured in Zackenberg since the Research Station. In total, the station was meteorological station was established in visited by 33 scientists from the opening 1995. The record high temperature of 22.8 on 26 May until the closing on 31 August. °C was measured 21 July at midday and The number of research projects carried the mean monthly temperature in July out on the station totalled fifteen. (6.6°C) ended up being above average. 2006 was also the year in which our Also August was warmer than average dream about modernising the station fi- with a mean monthly temperature of nally was fulfilled. This was accomplished 5.5°C. with the construction of a new accommo- The winter 2005/2006 was snow rich dation building housing 18 people and a and by the end of winter an extensive new power station with three generators, snow cover was registered with one meter a workshop and a garage at Zackenberg of snow at the meteorological station in and a new boat house with plenty of space the valley. On 10 June, the snow cover was for all the boats involved in the research much more extensive than previous years activities in Young Sund and Tyrolerfjord. in all sub-zones in Zackenbergdalen and The terrestrial part of Zackenberg Basic at the meteorological station snow lasted was evaluated by an international evalua- until 3 July. tion panel in 2006. The evaluation (Cal- Throughout the summer the total pre- laghan et al. 2006) was generally very cipitation (rain) was only 15 mm which positive. The main conclusion was that mainly fell in early and late July whereas ‘Zackenberg Research Station has been an June and August were relatively dry. Since outstanding success in the 10 years since 1998, it is the summer with the lowest its inception’. Besides this, the evalua- registered precipitation. tion panel listed eight recommendations Zackenbergelven broke up 12 June to improve the work at Zackenberg even which is late compared to previous ob- further. servations where break up have occurred The ownership of Zackenberg Research between 30 May and 10 June. Water Station was in 2006 transferred from The discharge peaked in the end of July in con- Ministry of Science, Technology and Inno- nection with the very warm period where vation to The Greenland Home Rule. Con- the diurnal temperatures reached 16°C. currently with the transfer of the owner- By the end of August the river almost ship, a covenant was signed which oblige dried out but then 29 August, a large flood Danish Polar Center to keep the station passed through Store Sødal and increased open and run it on the current conditions the discharge dramatically. In half a day, in the next ten years. the water level increased from 25 cm to The field season in 2006 was character- 188 cm at the hydrometric station. The ized by a large accumulation of snow water level peaked at midnight and in the at the end of winter and relatively low morning 30 August the water level had temperatures in June and the first part of dropped to 97 cm. No more observations July resulting in a late snow melt. At the were possible as the last people at the sta- meteorological station the first positive tion left the same morning. What caused diurnal air temperatures were measured this surprisingly late flood was most likely 26 April and mean monthly temperatures drainage of a reservoir in the glaciated in April and May were among the high- part of the drainage basin. Total runoff est measured so far. With a mean monthly from the Zackenberg drainage basin in temperature of 1.0°C, June was the coldest 2006 has been estimated to 169 mio. m3. recorded except from 1998 and air tem- However, this amount is only preliminary peratures did not exceed 10°C until the as water was still running when the field middle of July. The last part of July was season ended on 30 August. warm and included the highest tempera- During the flood, the suspended sedi- 12th Annual Report, 200 ment concentration peaked at 5,566 mg/l age. Two plots had earlier than usual and in total the transport of suspended flowering. The short growing season also sediment from the terrestrial to the marine resulted in late dates of 50% open seed ecosystem (Young Sund/Tyroler fiord) has capsules for the three species monitored. been estimated to c. 27,000 tons. Also, more than 70% of all plots produced The fiord ice between Zackenbergdalen fewer flowers than the 1996-2005 aver- and Clavering broke up 14 July, but not age. Berry production on the other hand until 23 July there was open water all the was generally high. The greening of the way to the sea. After four years with an vegetation plots peaked with a single peak early break up of the fiord ice the situa- in mid or late July, which was relatively tion in 2006 was more similar to what was late compared to previous years, and with experienced in 1997-2001 (where the fiord generally low NDVI values. Landscape was open to the sea around 22 July). NDVI inferred from a satellite image In the two grid sites ZEROCALM-1 and showed that, despite the late melting of ZEROCALM-2 where snow melt and ac- the snow, NDVI in all sections was around tive layer is measured throughout the field the average of the previous years.