The project will re-visit freshwater sites that were last studied in connection with the Kvanefjeld mining and waterpower projects back in 1970s. The project will evaluate whether lakes and streams in the region have changed due to climate effects. The project is financed by the Calrsberg Foundation

The backbone of the project has two main purposes. The first is to revisit freshwater locations around Narsaq in South Greenland to investigate the current conditions of the ecosystems and to evaluate possible changes since the first studies took place almost 50 years ago due to the activities at Kvanefjeld. Secondly, the project aims to make the new as well as the historical data available for the local community and research institutions in Greenland.

The project takes advantage of previous high quality but almost forgotten studies of lakes and rivers in a low Arctic environment. The historical data will be analysed and combined with data from a new survey, using up to date techniques that can add to our understanding of how freshwater ecosystems react to climatic changes.

Project leader Kirsten S. Christoffersen explains: “This project has great potential scientifically. I hope we can unite historical and present knowledge to the benefit of the local community and fellow scientists”.

Research Focus:

The old data will be digitalized and supplemented with climatic data. A new survey of same locations by means of modern methods (e.g., high-resolution measurement and eDNA) will take place over several years. The entire data set will provide a unique option to understand how ecosystems change over time and will form a baseline for future research and monitoring.

Sub Projects

• Field survey of a number of lakes and rivers around Narsaq in South Greenland to examine the present physical, chemical and biological conditions and to evaluate possible changes since they were first studied 45 years ago.

• Digitalize the old data from the 70’s and 80’s and establish a database that combines old and new data.

• Establish a research infrastructure in two lakes based on automatic data loggers and freely available remote sensing products to enable monitoring and research activities for others to use.

• Create a Citizen Science component that can foster close corporation between the local community and researchers and can facilitate mutual exchange of knowledge

Contact: Professor Kirsten S. Christoffersen, University of Copenhagen

Phone +4523420422

Email kchristoffersen@bio.ku.dk

Twitter @KirstenSeestern