First Training Event 2020

The functioning Arctic ecosystem. A joint Icelandic field experience

June 29 – July 3 and October 7- 8 2020

The First Network-wide Training event consists of two parts.

• An online pre-course
  April 20 – June 15 2020
  2 ECTS

• A part in Iceland with lectures, meetings and field visits
  June 29 – July 7 2020
  2 ECTS

Due to Covid19 travel restrictions the training outline had to be modified. It is impossible to have second part of the training in Iceland. We postponed the field courses and life meetings to October 2020. The training now has three parts. See below for details about the different parts.

• The online pre-course
  April 20 – June 15 2020
  2 ECTS
• The online part with lectures and meetings
  June 29 – July 3 2020
  1 ECTS
• The part in Iceland with field courses and work meetings
  October 7 – 8 2020
  1 ECTS

Training Description:

This course introduces new PhD students to the functioning of sub-Arctic ecosystems. It emphasises different linkages between multiple organisms in grassland ecosystems, linkages between C, nutrient and H₂O cycles, and the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. It also gives background information on the volcanic soils and other special characteristics of the Icelandic sub-Arctic ecosystems. 

Different topics include e.g.:  

• Icelandic soils, characteristics, physics and chemistry
• Introduction to UAV remote sensing of sub-Arctic ecosystems
• Climate adaptations specific to sub-Arctic vegetation, and how plants use phenology to respond to environmental change.  
• Root-rhizobiome-microbiome interactions in the soil, and how life in the soil affects growth of sub-Arctic vegetation  
• Root adaptations to Northern conditions
• Microbiome composition, physiology and functionality
• Advanced methods in ecosystem science 
• Next-generation sequencing
• Isotope applications to unravel how organisms impact the C cycle  
• the use of metabolites to unravel the healthiness of organism interactions.  
• The novel iCHIP technology that allows cultivating micro-organisms in their natural environment UNIVIE 
• The global biogeochemical C cycle and its importance in the climate challenge

The role of Arctic ecosystems in the C-cycle and gas-exchange 

Learning outcomes:

After the course students should be able to: 

1. Have attained a deeper knowledge on the functioning of sub-Arctic grassland ecosystems and how they are responding to climate change. 
2. Know all the key PIs and PhD students who are actively working in the FutureArctic and ForHot research projects in Iceland and the research they are doing. 
3. Have an in-depth overview and some hands-on experience with the latest technologies in ecosystem ecology field research. 
4. Have attained better skills in scientific communication and international research collaboration.