Introduction and 

 Site Description 



John E. Hobbie 



THE TUNDRA BIOME PROJECT 



Biome Studies 



The International Biological Program (IBP) was organized with the 

 overall goal of discovering more about the biotic resources of the world 

 through studies of the ecology of natural communities and of man himself. 

 These studies took many forms in many countries but were generally small- 

 scale efforts. It was decided that a part of the U.S. effort should be a series 

 of large-scale, tightly coordinated studies of the ecology of a unit of the 

 earth's surface which would represent a major ecological classification 

 (e.g., desert, grasslands). These units, called biomes, should ideally 

 encompass a watershed or similar area where terrestrial and freshwater 

 ecosystems, and their interaction, could be investigated. The use of 

 mathematical models of whole systems was to be a major tool for the 

 investigations. 



Five biome studies were eventually established; one was the Tundra 

 Biome. The site for the study, the flat coastal tundra near Barrow, Alaska, 

 was suitable for terrestrial studies but was ideal for an aquatic study as 

 ponds and lakes were abundant. Also, the well-equipped Naval Arctic 

 Research Laboratory would provide logistic support and work space. The 

 numerous ecological studies of this area over the preceding 25 years 

 provided background information as well as a core of experienced 

 scientists. 



The goal of the Tundra Biome study was to obtain a detailed 

 understanding of the ecology of this site. The flows of carbon, nitrogen, 

 and phosphorus were to be quantified and a mathematical model was to be 

 constructed which would incorporate the data of these fluxes, their 

 controls, and the interactions with the physical and chemical environment. 

 It was hoped that the models could then be used in a predictive manner to 

 investigate possible changes in the environment due to man or to natural 

 alterations in the climate. 



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