A review of open top chamber (OTC) performance across the ITEX Network

Open top chambers (OTCs) were adopted as the recommended warming mechanism by International Tundra Experiment network in early 1990s. Since then, OTCs have been deployed across globe. Hundreds of papers reported impacts on abiotic environment and biota. Here, we review OTC physical environment, with comments appropriateness using to characterize response biota warming. The purpose this is guide readers previously published work provide recommendations for continued use understand implications low stature ecosystems. In short, a useful tool experimentally manipulate temperature; however, characteristics magnitude varies greatly different environments; therefore, it important document chamber performance maximize interpretation biotic response. When coupled long-term monitoring, experiments are valuable means climate change natural