This project will produce substantial new information on the role of climate in shaping arctic biodiversity and how it will respond to climate change. Specifically, we will collect and identify arthropods using standardized protocols along local and regional climatic gradients, stratified according to vegetation types in Greenland. We have already completed similar campaigns at Godthåbsfjorden (2013) and Young Sound (2014) and South Greenland (2014-2015). With this campaign, we wish to extend the latitudinal gradient to the far north in Greenland and will carry out field work in the vicinity of Villum Research Station during August 2016.

The main objectives are:

1) To map the distribution of terrestrial arthropod species along multiple climatic gradients (slope/aspect,

altitude, and continentality) in relation to vegetation community types from a climatically extreme

environment.

2) To collect live specimens of the seed bug Nysius groenlandicus and the wolf spider Pardosa glacialis to supplement lab populations for climate experiments.

Field Site: Villum Reseach Station (VRS), Station Nord, Greenland

PI: Toke T. Høye

Link to Isaaffik website