Antarctic Ecosystem Responses to Climate Variability

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This Working Group is being organized jointly by the Palmer and McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER sites to discuss ecological responses to climate variability and climate change, but anyone is welcome to attend and contribute. Polar regions have been identified as particularly climate-sensitive, with conspicuous population- and ecosystem-level responses to interannual-decadal variations and longer directional changes in physical climate. Palmer (marine pelagic ) and MCM-Dry Valleys (cold desert, glacial, lakes) are polar opposites in habitat, physical climate and community composition, but they also present intriguing similarities in trophic dynamics, biogeochemistry and responses to climate forcing. A main objective of our WG session is to present examples from the two sites and foster further comparative analysis. We are currently working on four joint manuscripts for BioScience addressing comparisons of microbial communities, sea and lake ice, and responses to climate anomalies. This WG will provide our only opportunity to meet together and refine and coordinate the manuscripts prior to submission. We request 2 successive formal WG sessions. The first will consist of invited and contributed presentations (including any from other polar sites). The second session will be devoted to discussion and planning. 

This WG is another in a series devoted to polar climate change at the last two or three ASMs.