SCANNET

Contact Details

Kilpisjärvi Biological Station
FIN-99490 Kilpisjärvi
Finland
Tel: +358 16 537 712
Fax: +358 16 537 709
Director Antero Järvinen
Email:
Webpage: www.helsinki.fi/ml/kilpis

Location

Kilpisjärvi biological station is situated in the NW part of Finnish Lapland (69º03' N, 20º50' E) on the shore of Lake Kilpisjärvi at 475 m a.s.l. and at the crux of Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Climate

Mean temperature in January: -14.1º C
Mean temperature in June: 10.6º C
Snow cover starts late September- early October and melts in the birch forest in early June.

Biodiversity

Wide range of ecosystems from mountain birch forest at low altitude (480-600 m) to alpine tundra.

Human Dimension

Reindeer husbandry, tourism and research dominate.

Species Performance

Long-term data on patterns and performance of plants and animals exist.

General Research

Long term studies on small rodents have been carried out for more than 50 years. Population dynamics of passerine birds have been monitored since 1957. Long term research projects also include periodicity in the quality and quantity of vegetation in the mountain region. The specific long-term studies are backed by more extensive studies on climate, vegetation, soils, rodents, birds and predators etc. The Kilpisjärvi Biological Station is the Finnish representative in the international tundra experiment (ITEX).

Existing Data Bases

Bibliography of publications arising from research at the station, climate records, biological data on plants and animals.

An Example of Key Findings

The performance of passerine birds is mainly influenced by cold weather. Global warming affects positively many breeding parameters, e.g., egg size. Egg size of the Pied Flycatcher has increased which, in turn, has increased nesting success.

History and Facilities

The station was officially opened in 1964 and is owned by the University of Helsinki. Accommodation capacity is about 35 persons, besides the permanent staff of seven persons. The station has a separate log cabin, Kalela. This cabin consists of four rooms, a kitchen and a sauna. Meals are served daily at the station. Laboratories have supply of electricity, gas, compressed air and running water, and are equipped with refrigerator, ovens, spectrophotometer, micro- and macroscales, microscopes, centrifuge, pH- and conductivity meters, thermometers etc. The library contains zoological, botanical and geographical handbooks. Telephone, fax, copy machines and computers with access to email and internet are provided.

Transportation

The station is easily accessible by air or bus (via Rovaniemi). Within two hours car journey there are two airports, Enontekiö in Finland and Tromsö in Norway. Also Kiruna airport in Sweden lies relatively nearby.