title: Larval outbreaks in West Greenland: Instant and subsequent effects on tundra ecosystem productivity and CO2exchange.
abstract: Insect outbreaks can have important consequences for tundra ecosystems. In this study, we synthesise available information on outbreaks of larvae of the noctuid moth Eurois occulta in Greenland. Based on an extensive dataset from a monitoring programme in Kobbefjord, West Greenland, we demonstrate effects of a larval outbreak in 2011 on vegetation productivity and CO2exchange. We estimate a decreased carbon (C) sink strength in the order of 118-143 g C m-2, corresponding to 1210-1470 tonnes C at the Kobbefjord catchment scale. The decreased C sink was, however, counteracted the following years by increased primary production, probably facilitated by the larval outbreak increasing nutrient turnover rates. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time in tundra ecosystems, the potential for using remote sensing to detect and map insect outbreak events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark. ml@bios.au.dk.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.affiliation: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Katrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raundrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Center for Permafrost (CENPERM), University of Copenhagen, Oestervoldgade 10, 1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westergaard-Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Efrén
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López-Blanco
authors.affiliation: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, P.O. Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nymand
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aastrup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002980:Climate; D064308:Ecological Parameter Monitoring; D006116:Greenland; D060434:Herbivory; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D065929:Tundra
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: Arctic; Carbon; Disturbance; Ecosystem productivity; Eurois occulta; Insect outbreak