Plant functional traits across altitudinal and soil fertility gradients on Svalbard, RiS 10935

The aim of this project is to quantify and compare the relative importance of species turnover and intraspecific variation as drivers of plant community-level traits across both an altitudinal and soil fertility gradient. We will set out plots along transects varying in altitude or soil fertility in the Bjørndalen area. The field work entails the collection of plant abundance data and plant material for leaf trait analysis. The project is planned in the summer of 2018 and will be executed by the applicant and assistant (unnamed). The project is a cooperation between several institutions (NMBU, UiB, and UNIS). Results of the project will be presented at an international conference, used for the preparation of a journal publication and at least two other RiS-projects.