IndiVOCtual - effects of within-species variation on biogenic volatile organic compound emissions from mountain birch

Plants release different mixtures of gases, called volatiles, into the atmosphere. Plant volatiles serve many functions in plants, including defending themselves against insect attacks. Furthermore, volatiles can affect the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere. 

In high latitudes, where climate change has caused significant changes to ecosystems and more rapid changes are predicted in the future, we might expect greater emissions of volatiles in these regions. One factor leading to higher volatile emissions is the abundance of insects and the intensity of their attack. Large outbreaks of insects are predicted to become more frequent and more severe in future.

IndiVOCtual will measure the factors that can help explain the differences within a species and its' influence on volatile emissions from widespread mountain birch forests in the Subarctic. Currently, these factors are unaccounted for in the models, and are necessary to improve our ability to predict volatile emissions from high-latitude ecosystems.