Objectives

Synthesis of Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica: An NSF Sponsored Workshop
April 21-23, 2005 : Jekyll Island, GA

Objectives

The “Synthesis of Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica: An NSF Workshop” is the first workshop of scientists studying related issues of soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica. Research assessing the linkage of soil biodiversity to ecosystem functioning has accelerated globally in the past 15 years. Scientists from many nations have contributed to ecological topics such as the role of soil species in decomposition, in transfer of materials and nutrients, and whether aboveground diversity maps belowground diversity at local to global scales. Studies in Victoria Land have a unique contribution to these and other ‘hot topics’ in biology, ranging from evolutionary biology to disturbance, because this Antarctic system is a model outdoor laboratory. Here, and in no other ecosystem, scientists examine how physical and chemical properties structure communities, and see the effects of disturbances such as soil warming, on individual species and communities. Yet, despite the contributions that these Victoria Land studies could make to ecology, there has been no venue for these international scientists to meet and discuss their findings. The scientists participating in this workshop will: a) share and synthesize research findings, b) assess understanding of soil biodiversity at levels of molecular to ecosystem, c) determine effects of human impact, d) compare and contrast this knowledge with other ecosystems, and e) define future research needs and priorities.

The specific objectives of this workshop are to:

• Share and synthesize research findings
• Assess present state of knowledge and understanding of:
  • Soil biodiversity
    • Biogeographical distribution of soil biota (What are the factors limiting distribution? Can we construct species distribution maps or predict distributions based on environmental factors?)
    • Persistence of endemic species in relation to invasions and climate change (Have we established a ‘species’ and molecular list for all soil biota, so that we can detect change?)
    • Survival strategies (e.g. comparisons of strategies, biochemical pathways, survival genes, etc.)
  • Soil foodwebs and biogeochemistry
    • Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
    • Disturbance (climate change, land use, pollution)
  • Linkages to aquatic (freshwater, marine, glacier, atmosphere) components of ecosystems
    • Landscape distribution and functioning
  • Disturbance and change
    • Evidence for impact of disturbance (e.g. global change and other human induced changes)
• Comparisons and extensions of knowledge beyond Victoria Land:
  • To other Anarctic Regions
  • To other ecosystems (high diversity, low diversity, deserts, polar)
• Define future research needs and priorities