In the SEL Lab, we use field observations and draw on Indigenous and local knowledges to understand the impact of climate change on arctic and mountain ecosystems. In practice, this means that projects are done in partnership with local communities to support stewardship initiatives and cultural practices.

Impact of climate change and recreational activities on mountain systems

Alpine research is conducted on the unceded traditional Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory and focuses on the effect of climate change on plant species. It is made possible through collaboration with Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, BC Parks, BC Ministry of Forests and the Squamish Nation.

At the start of the season, team members hike to Garibaldi Lake, canoe across and set up camp in Sphinx Bay in late June. Clear, hexagonal, plexiglass chambers are set up at the same coordinates each year to ensure accuracy. The internal temperature of these open-top chambers (OTCs) is raised by an average of 1.5º C, simulating climate change on a very small scale. Directly beside each OTC, a control plot is delineated with lawn staples and bright string. Between Sphinx and Sentinel Bay, a total of 12 OTCs and 12 control plots are monitored. A second trip occurs in early August to conduct vegetation surveys of all 24 plots. During this trip, the plant cover each OTC and control plot is measured using a 1×1 meter point frame. By doing this, we can begin to understand differences in species composition, abundance and height between the warming chambers and the control plots. In September, team members take down the OTCs so that they aren’t impacted by heavy snowfalls and spring flooding. In parallel, team members from UBC are studying the impact of trampling at Taylor Meadow.

This research has recently been expanded upon as part of a larger interdisciplinary initiative. In collaboration with partner organizations, the Alpine Horizons research initiative focuses on identifying vulnerable ecosystems and co-developing integrative assessment tools to inform management decisions in the southwest Coast Mountains.

Impact of climate change on berries in the North

Since 2008, efforts have been deployed across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit territories in Canada, and the Northwest Territories (NWT), including seven Indigenous territories, to evaluate the impact of climate change on berries through interviews with knowledgeable land users and Elders as well as long-term field monitoring. This work is made possible through partnerships with local communities, the Government of the NWT, Saint-Mary’s University (SMU) and l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

Current work in the NWT, is co-led by Claire Singer, Government of the NWT and Dr. Erin Cameron (SMU), guided by an Indigenous Advisory Committee. Interviews with local land users were conducted throughout the territory to assess the impact of climate change on important berry species. These findings will notably support assessment under the the NWT Species at Risk Act. Current research in the SEL Lab is notably using spatial data collected during the interview to assess the distribution and abundance of berries in the Gwich’in Settlement Area.

Berry productivity in Inuit Nunangat

Since 2008, Northern residents, students and researchers have been monitoring the abundance of berries in Inuit Nunangat, an area composed of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. More than 15 years ago, communities expressed interest in collaborating to understand how berry abundance and quality are changing as the Arctic warms. The species monitored include blueberries, cranberries, crowberries and cloudberries, all important for harvesting and food sovereignty across the North. The abundance of these berries throughout the last 15 years is visualized on the Dashboard, which also allows researchers and community members to add to the data at any time.

Plant-herbivore interactions in Iceland

Mountainous regions of Iceland are used as rangelands for domestic sheep during the summer. Current and historical grazing have shaped vegetation communities in these regions. Current research is conducted in partnerships with local governing agencies, the University of Iceland and the Agricultural University of Iceland.

Research in Iceland is investigating the relative impact of wild and domestic herbivore on vegetation using fecal pellet count and exclosure experiments while documenting sheep farmers’ knowledge of environmental changes.