Mapping Alpine vegetation trait change in the Canadian Rockies

This project investigates the vegetation of the Canadian Rockies, focusing on roots and other belowground characteristics which significantly influence ecosystem structure and function. The project will compare vegetation change over time and space using historical and recent photos from the Mountain Legacy Project. The findings will provide increased understanding of spatial and temporal variation of belowground traits at regional and global scales. This will also shed light on past and future responses to warming and other environmental change including fire. New analytical techniques we aim to develop during this project may be used to investigate environmental change using remote methods across Arctic and Alpine systems. These findings may contribute to our ability to predict future climate change scenarios in these ecosystems. Increased understanding of belowground ecosystem responses, and skills shared throughout the placement, will also contribute to future study in the Canadian Rockies at the University of Victoria.

Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Higgs

Student:

Partner:

University of Nottingham

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Victoria

Program: