2022 Participants
Lucy Friend, Emily Willans and Molly Aspinwall
Our Expedition’s aim was to investigate vegetation and invertebrate composition in the Italian Alps during July 2022 by studying two glaciers, the Glacier du Miage and the Lex Blanche Glacier located in the Valle d’Aosta. Lucy’s aim was to assess how soil conditions influence the composition of vegetation on the Glacier du Miage. Emily quantified vegetation patterns in the Lex Blanche forelands in relation to mapped fluvial activity. Molly aimed to investigate the composition and abundance of macro-invertebrates in the proglacial stream of the Lex Blanche Glacier. Currently, data analysis and laboratory work is still being carried out, with final undergraduate dissertation reports to be submitted in March 2023.
Funding source: RGS Expedition Grant, Newcastle University Sonia Stonehouse Grant and Expeditions Committee Funding Grant
Project supervisor: Dr Maarten van Haardenbroek van Ammerstol