A research project, starting out of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, to provide data across arctic vertebrate exclosure sites, is currently seeking collaborators!
Cole Brachmann and Robert Björk are beginning an experiment to evaluate the growth of fungal mycelia in arctic soils and how it is affected by the presence of herbivory and increasing abundance of deciduous and evergreen shrubs. The change in abundance and diversity of fungal mycelia under different herbivory regimes and dominant shrub communities has implications on soil carbon storage in the Arctic. Their study aims to determine potential feedback effects on climate change through herbivory-mediated shrub expansion and their associated mycorrhizal fungi altering carbon storage in the soil.
They are calling for collaborators to assist with the collection of mycelia and soil samples through the use of mesh bags and composite soil sampling at vertebrate exclosure experimental sites. You can find more information about the project and proposed sampling plan here.
If you are interested and want to know more about the experiment or if you
have any questions, please contact Cole Brachmann by email at cole.brachmann@gu.se.
Photo © Richard Humphrey (cc-by-sa/2.0)