Project name: In situ nocturnal warming: filling the gaps to unravel plant responses to regional warming of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Principal Investigator: León A. Bravo (UFRO-Chile)

Co-investigators: Patricia Sáez (UDEC-Chile); Krzysztof Herman (UbioBio-Chile); Carolina Sanhueza (UDEC-Chile); Jeroni Galmés (UIB-Spain).

Duration: 2020-2022

Funded by: INACH

Objectives:

To study the effects and determine the relative importance of nocturnal warming on morpho-physiological traits of Antarctic vascular plants in laboratory and in situ.

In the laboratory, plants will be exposed to asymmetric nocturnal warming in a culture chamber. In parallel, a nocturnal warming and phenological monitoring system will be developed in the field (Andes of southern Chile).

This project will produce valuable information to complete our understanding of Antarctic plant responses to warming, which will also allow the training of students and a strong national and international collaboration.