The Evolving Meta-Ecosystems (EVOME) team has begun the 2026 field season. Along with mountains of gear, team members transported almost 20 boxes (10 kg) of litter bags filled with Salix alaxensis leaves to Toolik. These will be installed in both aquatic and terrestrial systems to understand how quickly leaves decompose and contribute nutrients to streams and riparian locations. At the University of Alaska, the team has begun a common garden experiment with Arctic grayling to test ideas about thermal adaptation. Andie Norton, Harrison Dubois, Madeline Frey, and Calvin Frey are installing equipment and taking early season samples across our 400 km transect for this year’s field season.
Maddy Frey and Calvin Frey (left to right) taking early season samples at Galbraith Creek (GALB), standing atop the aufeis. Photo: Harrison DuBois.
Andie Norton and Calvin Frey (left to right) finish loading vehicles with nineteen boxes of S. alexensis leaves to transport from Fairbanks to Toolik Field Station. Photo: Madeline Frey.
Graduate students Roberto Ponze-Velez (center) and Matt Zimmerman (center right) work alongside undergraduate students with PI Erik Schoen (far right) to spawn Arctic grayling from a warm river system near Fairbanks for a common garden experiment. Photo: Peter Westley.
Stripping Arctic grayling eggs for the common garden experiment. Photo: Peter Westley.