Subject: Ecology Conference and Workshop in February CIRCUMPOLAR ECOSYSTEMS 4, a Conference and Workshop at Churchill, MB, Canada 2nd Announcement and Call for Papers SUMMARY The Churchill Northern Studies Centre would like to invite you the 4th Circumpolar Ecosystems conference and workshop. These meetings will be held during 16-21 February, 2000. The goal is to bring together biologists, ecologists, atmospheric and earth scientists who study in regions that are predominately influenced by winter, and to introduce them to the peoples of the north. We would like to encourage academic papers that review the state of climate warming and its impacts on northern ecosystems. In the workshop, we will examine lifestyles of northern peoples, field research, and wildlife adaptations to low temperatures. Experience living in an iglu! RATIONALE Winter-dominated systems are covered with snow and ice during a significant part of each year. This type of cover reflects about 80% of the incoming radiation. Consequently, the timing and duration of snow cover is very important to the global energy balance. Furthermore, the distribution and re-distribution of snow has a large impact on the subsequent water balance of the terrain during the frost-free period. Winter processes then, are significant to the summer water balance which is important to ecosystem productivity and ultimately its biodiversity. Living organisms have developed unique adaptations to winter-dominated systems. These include adaptation to short life cycles, periods of dormancy, migration, and endurance of the cold conditions. Humans have also encountered unique problems and have adapted to the winter environment. All these biological components integrate into systems that are characteristically peat-forming. In fact, winter-dominated systems store a disproportionately large amount of the global carbon. In warm, wet periods, these systems may release carbon to the atmosphere and during other times, carbon is taken from the atmosphere and stored. Consequently, circumpolar ecosystems are important as a buffer for carbon which will stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One human adaptation to the winter period is to be indoors (e.g. teaching) or away from the circumpolar ecosystems. Consequently, these systems are poorly studied and poorly understood - particularly during the dominant period. WORKSHOP The workshop, held at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada during the mid-winter period, is designed to offer hands-on experience to the seasoned veteran as well as the uninitiated student, researcher, modeler, policy maker, or interested person. Past agendas have included the Arctic Feast, igloo building, and dogsleding. Expeditions have included examination of conditions on either side of the continental treeline during an arctic blizzard, a sea ice dive to examine the marine environment in winter, and a journey to Prince of Wales Fort to examine winter conditions experienced by early European settlers. The town of Churchill is a model community that has been designed for winter-dominated environments. Meeting the northern residents and discussing their lifestyles has also been part of the workshop. Other activities have included acquiring and preparing food and clothing in the north, as well as a fashion show of outdoor wear. CONFERENCE The symposium will include poster and oral presentations of 15 to 20 minutes of which, submitted papers will be considered for publication in a refereed journal of international stature. For this meeting we would welcome all aspects of winter-dominated systems such as, but not limited to, biological, geographical or anthropological research. Examples can be found in previous proceedings which were published in Arctic and Alpine Research 32 (1); Arctic 46(4); and Climate Research 5(1). The goal at this meeting will be examine and assess the state of climate process research in the northern North America, and how these climate processes are influencing the biodiversity and ultimately, global stability in a changing world. Recognizing, preserving and monitoring biodiversity in circumpolar ecosystems will be a major challenge over the next century. SCHEDULES and COSTS The workshop is planned for February 16-18, 2000. The symposium is planned for February 18-21, 2000. The cost for the symposium is $200 (Can). The cost for both, the symposium and workshop is $300 (Can). Fees include the registration package, ground transportation, food and accommodation. If you are interested in participating, please contact us and we will send you the conference registration package. Abstracts are due in early December. There is limited space available. Conference Chair: Dr. Peter Scott Email: pascott@interhop.net Telephone: 905-852-3149 World Wide Web Site: www.brandonu.ca/cnsc/ Executive Director: Harvey Lemelin Telephone: 204-675-2307 Fasimile: 204-675-2139 Email: cnsc@cancom.net Mail: P. O. Box 610, Churchill MB, R0B 0E0, Canada