This research is funded by the following NSF grant:

Welker, J. M., Sveinbjornsson, B., Sullivan, P. 2006. Mechanisms and feedback consequences of shrub expansion following long-term increases in winter snow depth in northern Alaska: a legacy for IPY.  Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation.

Postdoctoral scientist, Dr. Lina Taneva is addressing the how, the why and the consequences of shrub increases in northern Alaska.

Chapin, F.S., Strum, M., Serreze, M., McFadden, J., Key, J., Lloyd, A., McGuire, D, Rupp T., Lynch, A., Schimel, J., Beringer, J., Epstein, H., Hinzman, L., Jia, G., Ping, C-L., Tape, K., Chapman, W., Euskirchen, E., Thompson, C., Welker, J. M., Walker, D. 2005. Amplification of  Arctic summer warming by terrestrial ecosystem changes. Science  310: 657-660.

Sturm, M., Schimel, J., Michaelson, G., Welker, J. M., Oberbauer, S. F., Liston, G., Fahnestock, J. T., and Romanovsky, V. E. 2005. Winter biological processes could help convert arctic tundra to shrubland. Bioscience 55, 17-26.

Schimel, J. S., Bilbrough, C. B. and Welker, J. M. 2004. The effect of changing snow cover on year-round soil nitrogen dynamics in Arctic tundra ecosystems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36: 217-227.

Bilbrough, C., J., Welker, J. M. and Bowman, W. D 2000. Early-spring N uptake by snow covered plants: A comparison of arctic and alpine plant function under snowpack. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 32: 404-411.