The carbon cycle in the ecosystems of thermal springs in the Chukchi Peninsula as a natural model of warming

Comparative studies on the ecosystems in the vicinity of thermal springs an d in the typical tundra were performed in the southeastern Chukchi Peninsul a in July and August 1997. Biogenic carbon fluxes during the greater part o f the growing season were determined, the aboveground phytomass structure w as studied, and the carbon reserve in the soil was estimated. It was demons trated that the gross primary production and soil carbon in thermal ecosyst ems are greater than in similar permafrost ecosystems. The structural and e cophysiological changes leading to an increase in the gross production of p lant communities were analyzed.