Global change in Europe's cold regions
A report detailing the proceedings of two workshops held within the framework of the Arctic-Alpine Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Initiative (ARTERI), a concerted action funded under the EU's Environment and Climate research programme, has recently been published. ARTERI is a component of the Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Initiative (TERI), which is designed to improve the ability to predict the consequences of the interactive effects of changes in land-use, climate and atmospheric composition on terrestrial ecosystems. The objectives of ARTERI are to provide a forum for the exchange of information and development of collaboration in European Arctic and Alpine terrestrial research, to develop a theoretical and practical framework for integration of the research effort, and to identify priorities and proposals for further research, integration and interpretation. The workshops, which addressed the topics relating to Arctic-Alpine ecosystem response to global change and the impacts of global change on tundra soil biology, form an important part of the implementation of the action. The publication summarises the output of the workshops held, and details particular responses of organisms and processes to individual climatic and anthropogenic variables. A number of further workshops are planned to consider landscape and herbivore responses. The workshops use a number of impact scenarios which build on a wide range of current knowledge. As more evidence accumulates these impact scenarios will be refined and eventually combined into final scenarios. This will help quantify the spatial dimensions and improve the understanding of the complex interactions and feedback effects.