An expedition of Czech scientists left for the Svalbard archipelago to examine the local fish and vegetation and install two meteorologist stations, the Czech news agency CTK reported on Friday.
The botanists, including specialists in mosses, lichens and algae, will gather material for the completion of a vegetation map of the locality, while the zoologists will focus on mapping fish and their parasites.
"Our research will focus on the creation of a vegetation map," Josef Elster from South Bohemian University's Faculty of Natural Sciences said.
The research is part of a large international project focusing on biologic and climatic diversity of the Arctic.
It has been coordinated by the Norwegian Polar Institute and it will take place all over the Artic area spreading from Alaska to Siberia.
The four-year project is to bring about a database of data on climate and biological diversity and variety of the Arctic.
The Svalbard is an archipelago situated northwards of the Polar Circle. There are some 140 vascular plant species and an unknown number of lower plant species such as mosses and lichens.
The Central Svalbard, where the Czech experts are to operate, is an area dividing two different climatic regions. The archipelago's western part has oceanic climate and is only scarcely covered with ice, unlike the eastern part.
It will take 15 to 20 years to find out how the vegetation changes in the area, Elster said.
In the Svalbard, the climatic conditions are similar to those which reigned in the Czech lands 10,000 years ago. There are many plant species that are common in Krkonose (Giant Mountains in east Bohemia), according to Elster.
The expedition will complete its work on Aug. 15.
Source: Xinhua
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