Arctic Biodiversity Research Articles

Persistent and Emerging Threats to Arctic Biodiversity and Ways to Overcome Them: A Horizon Scan

Persistent and Emerging Threats to Arctic Biodiversity and Ways to Overcome Them: A Horizon Scan

International Legal Regulation of Biodiversity Conservation in Northern Latitudes (Part 2)

International scientific and technical cooperation is critically important for making effective decisions and measures to manage Arctic biodiversity. The 2017 Agreement on Strengthening International Arctic Scientific Cooperation creates a solid legal basis for intensifying current and designing new scientific research in order to obtain the best scientific data as a basis for conservation and resource management. The basis of the international legal regime for the conservation and management of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction in the Arctic is the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. International legal acts on fisheries regulation have been adopted for all four areas of the high seas in the Arctic. The study of the Agreement on the Prevention of Unregulated Fishing on the High Seas in the central part of the 2018 SLA revealed significant shortcomings: when determining the spatial scope of application, an ecosystem approach is not used; a precautionary approach to fishing is not taken into account; the basis for the creation of a regional fisheries management organization is not created; the issue of fishing by third States remains open. The Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 2023 develops a number of institutions, including IOE and EIA. An analysis of its provisions indicates the inexpediency of Russia’s participation in it, taking into account the existence of the 2017 Agreement and a significant system of organizations involved in the implementation of joint marine research projects. The 2023 Agreement is not capable of having a significant positive effect on international cooperation in the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, but on the contrary will create additional obstacles to scientific research and impose financial burdens.See the beginning: Lex russica. 2024;77(8):112-129. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17803/1729-5920.2024.213.8.112-129.

Арктическая повестка ПМЭФ-2023 — цифровые, экономические, экологические и социально-культурные аспекты

The article summarizes the results of the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2023), which took place in St. Petersburg from June 14 to 17, 2022. V. P. Zhuravel, Head of the Centre for Arctic Studies of the Institute of Europe RAS, is a permanent member of the Forum. In 2023, he attended the meetings of all 15 events of the “Arctic: Territory of Dialogue” program. The article deals with issues that were widely discussed at SPIEF-2023, related to the prospects and opportunities for international cooperation, social, economic and investment development of the Arctic regions, Arctic biodiversity, development of specially protected natural areas, northern cities, human resources, scientific and educa-tional potential of the Arctic, branding of the northern regions, digitalization of the northern territories. All these topics are widely covered by the CAS IE RAS scientific group on a regular basis. The author also analyses the development of the tourism, culture, and film industries in the Arctic with a focus on the promotion of Arctic topics in the media. Speakers of the thematic sections emphasized the increasing role of the Arctic in the social and economic development of the Russian Federation, noted the negative consequences of limiting the activities of the Arctic Council. The forum was held under the slogan “Sovereign development is the basis of a just world. Let's join forces for the sake of future generations”.

Whole-ocean network design and implementation pathway for Arctic marine conservation

Forestalling the decline of global biodiversity requires urgent and transformative action at all levels of government and society, particularly in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas where rapid changes are already underway. Amid growing scientific support and mounting pressure, the majority of nations have committed to the most ambitious conservation targets yet. However, without an approach that inclusively and equitably reconciles conservation and sustainable ocean use, these targets will likely go unmet. Here, we present ArcNet: a network design framework to help achieve ocean-scale, area-based marine conservation in the Arctic. The framework is centred around a suite of web-based tools and a ~ 5.9 million km2 network of 83 priority areas for conservation designed through expert-driven systematic conservation planning using conservation targets for over 800 features representing Arctic biodiversity. The ArcNet framework is intended to help adapt to new and emerging information, foster collaboration, and identify tailored conservation measures within a global context at different levels of planning and implementation.

Scientific contributions and lessons learned from 30 years of ecological monitoring of the Bylot Island tundra ecosystem

The Arctic tundra has a relatively low biodiversity but species living there have unique adaptations and are exposed to unprecedented rates of climate warming. Monitoring changes in Arctic biodiversity and identifying the driving forces is thus a pressing issue. Bylot Island in the Canadian Arctic has one of the longest and most comprehensive monitoring programs of the tundra food web, spanning four decades. We provide a historical overview of ecological studies on Bylot Island, summarize their key scientific contributions, show their impacts, and present the ingredients for the success of the program and the main challenges encountered. Some major contributions include demonstrating the key role of predation in structuring the tundra food web, the importance of exchanges between ecosystems for the persistence of top predators and their cascading effects on trophic interactions, the apparent resistance of the vertebrate biota to climate warming, the need to consider multiple hypotheses to explain northward range expansion of species and the benefits of integrating scientific data and local knowledge into ecological monitoring. The program has produced >250 journal articles and >80 graduate student theses, which generated >7,700 citations in the scientific literature. A high proportion (65%) of the articles had more citations than comparable publications in their field. The longevity and success of the program can be attributed to several factors, including a researcher-driven (i.e. bottom-up) approach to design the monitoring; long-term commitment of a small number of dedicated researchers and the strong participation of graduate students; the adoption of a food web rather than a single species perspective; extensive presence in the field; the combination of several methodological approaches; and the use of multiple spatial scales adapted to research questions of interest. Challenges encountered include funding issues, transfer of expertise over time, limited spatial replication, statistical design and maintaining partnerships. Robust monitoring is essential to provide sound baseline to detect future changes, and lessons learned from our program could improve future monitoring schemes in the Arctic. Paradoxically, we believe that ecological monitoring on Bylot Island has been successful in large part because it was not originally designed as a monitoring program per se.

Effect of Climate Change on Arctic Fox (Vulpes/Alopex Lagopus)

Under the context of climate change, global warming, arctic regions are undergoing a rapid pattern transformation. This paper investigates the link between global warming and arctic fox (Vulpes/Alopex lagopus). This paper focuses on changes in environment. This paper deals briefly on the consequences of climate change and its impacts on various ecosystems in arctic regions. By the in-depth study of the arctic fox traits and compare between regular patterns and features after climate change, it’s clearly to see how much extent the arctic fox is influenced by climate change. This research focus on different characteristics of arctic fox, which are habitat and distribution, coat color change, changes in diet and diseases related to arctic fox cause by climate change. Those are the direct factors that allow people to recognize how climate change is affecting the Arctic fox. This research not only study the direct climate change impacts, as well as the interaction between species. Climate changes in arctic ecosystems alter the ordinary interactions between species in a large extent. The changes in habitats competition and predatory relationships are caused by the species interaction straightforward by the influence of global warming. By analyzing the arctic fox in a broader aspect, people can have a better understanding the challenges that arctic species facing and how arctic fox adapt to new environment successfully. After people become more aware of the severe situation among arctic, they can gain more valuable insights of arctic species adaptations and make effective solution in conservation and protection. Knowing the adaptations of arctic fox is essential for conservation strategies, preservation of arctic biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem stability.

Long-term study of the tundra food web at a hotspot of Arctic biodiversity, the Bylot Island Field Station

We present the history of research activities at the Bylot Island Field Station of the Centre d’études nordiques, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Canadian Arctic. Intensive wildlife studies started at the station in the late 1980s, initially focussing on greater snow goose ecology and its impacts on the tundra vegetation. Since then, studies have expanded to encompass the whole vertebrate food web and have become one of the most comprehensive ecological monitoring programs in the Canadian Arctic. The main vertebrate species monitored include snow geese, lemmings, shorebirds, avian predators, buntings, and Arctic foxes. Over time, we recorded 66 bird and 10 mammal species, including 51 confirmed breeders. Contributions of the program to the field of ecology are numerous, but our demonstration of the dominant role played by predator–prey interactions in the Arctic food web is especially significant for the understanding of direct and indirect trophic interactions. Our studies provided essential information for management decisions taken to control the overabundant greater snow goose population and supported international efforts to assess the state of Arctic biodiversity. Future directions will reflect the need to deepen our understanding of trophic interactions and the effects of climate change using innovative advanced technologies.

Development of a multi-scale monitoring programme: approaches for the Arctic and lessons learned from the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme 2002-2022

The Arctic Council working group, the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) established the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP), an international network of scientists, governments, Indigenous organizations, and conservation groups working to harmonize and integrate efforts to extend and develop monitoring and assessment of the Arctic’s biodiversity. Its relevance stretches beyond the Arctic to a broad range of regional and global initiatives and agreements. This paper describes the process and approach taken in the last two decades to develop and implement the CBMP. It documents challenges encountered, lessons learnt, and solutions, and considers how it has been a model for national, regional, and global monitoring programmes; explores how it has impacted Arctic biodiversity monitoring, assessment, and policy and concludes with observations on key issues and next steps. The following are overarching prerequisites identified in the implementation of the CBMP: effective coordination, sufficient and sustained funding, improved standards and protocols, co-production of knowledge and equitable involvement of IK approaches, data management to facilitating regional analysis and comparisons, communication and outreach to raising awareness and engagement in the programme, ensuring resources to engage in international fora to ensuring programme implementation.

Species composition comparisons and relationships of Arctic marine ecoregions

In the context of rapid climate change, a better understanding of the Arctic Ocean (AO) biodiversity patterns is of paramount importance. Here, we integrated and quality controlled the distribution records of well-represented marine taxa from OBIS and GBIF, from shallow (0–200 m) to deeper environments (>200–500 and > 500 m), across fifteen Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW) of the AO. We qualitatively compared patterns of species richness and unique species along those ecoregions, and based on species compositions: (i) assessed ecoregions validity by statistically comparing composition differences; and (ii) determined the relationships between ecoregions. We found less significant differences between ecoregion species compositions at greater depths suggesting a highest homogeneity of deeper environments and that the MEOW system, originally defined for shallow water (0–200 m), does not represent well the organization of deep-sea Arctic biodiversity. However, at shallower depths, some regions such as the Canadian and Greenland ecoregions neither showed clear species composition differentiation. At all analyzed depths, Arctic ecoregions cluster in two groups differentiating Eurasian and American ecoregions, respectively. At shallower depths, however, Siberian ecoregions tended to group highlighting their specific environment and more isolated waters. Our results suggest that AO biodiversity patterns and distribution match the paths and influence of the main oceanic currents entering from the Atlantic and Pacific. We identified the Siberian Arctic and the Canadian Arctic to be data scarce highlighting the need for sampling in these regions and mobilization of data to public repositories. This study helps to better understand the organization of the AO biodiversity and to guide future biodiversity assessments and management activities.

From everywhere all at once: Several colonization routes available to Svalbard in the early Holocene.

For many arctic species, the spatial (re-)colonization patterns after the last Pleistocene glaciation have been described. However, the temporal aspects of their colonization are largely missing. Did one route prevail early, while another was more important later? The high Arctic archipelago Svalbard represents a good model system to address timeframe of postglacial plant colonization. Svalbard was almost fully glaciated during last glacial maximum and (re-)colonization of vascular plants began in early Holocene. Early Holocene climatic optimum (HCO) supported an expanded establishment of a partly thermophilic vegetation. Today, we find remnants of this vegetation in sheltered regions referred to as "Arctic biodiversity hotspots". The oldest record of postglacial plant colonization to Svalbard is found in Ringhorndalen-Flatøyrdalen. Even though thermophilic species could establish also later in Holocene, only HCO was favorable for vast colonization, and only hotspots offered stable conditions for thermophilic populations throughout Holocene. Thus, these relic populations may reflect colonization patterns of HCO. We investigate whether the colonization direction of thermophilic plants (Arnica angustifolia, Campanula uniflora, Pinguicula alpina, Tofieldia pusilla, and Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. microphyllum) in Ringhorndalen-Flatøyrdalen was uniform and different from later colonization events in other localities and non-thermophilic plants (Arenaria humifusa, Bistorta vivipara, Juncus biglumis, Oxyria digyna, and Silene acaulis). We analyzed plastid haplotypes of the 10 taxa from Ringhorndalen-Flatøyrdalen, from later-colonized localities in Svalbard, and from putative source regions outside Svalbard. Only rare and thermophilic taxa Campanula uniflora and Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. microphyllum provided results suggesting at least two colonization events from different source regions. Tofieldia pusilla and all the non-thermophilic plants showed no clear phylogeographically differentiation within Svalbard. Two of the thermophilic species showed no sequence variation. Based on the results, a uniform colonization direction to Svalbard in early Holocene is not probable; several source areas and dispersal directions were contemporarily involved.

Korea’s Strategy for Participating in Arctic Biodiversity International Cooperation Projects

Korea’s Strategy for Participating in Arctic Biodiversity International Cooperation Projects

Global governance in Arctic waters – new times. new stressors. catching up with pharmaceuticals

ABSTRACT Arctic ecosystems are increasingly under pressure, not only from climatic stressors, resource extraction, and long-range transport of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), but also from an increased use and subsequent release of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP). In Svalbard, an archipelago under Norwegian sovereignty in the High North, urbanisation and expanded tourism has exacerbated the issue of PPCPs accumulation in the region. The primary source of its release into aquatic ecosystems stems from untreated sewage and lack of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). This study applies the research surrounding sources of hazardous bioaccumulation and examines mitigation alternatives for PPCPs within a governance framework since today, few regulations regarding human waste disposal are enforced in the Arctic. We held in-depth interviews and a participatory stakeholder workshop in Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund in 2021 to learn from experts about their perceptions of challenges, opportunities and synergies in terms of PPCP governance in Svalbard. This study found that overall, governance is servery lacking at all levels of analysis, from local to global, to prevent the harmful release of PPCPs in the waters and environment surrounding Svalbard. An inclusive approach with co-production of policy options is necessary to find a suite of solutions that will ensure that this new emerging environmental threat is handled so that Arctic biodiversity is protected against it.

Monitoring litter and microplastics in Arctic mammals and birds

Plastic pollution has been reported to affect Arctic mammals and birds. There are strengths and limitations to monitoring litter and microplastics using Arctic mammals and birds. One strength is the direct use of these data to understand the potential impacts on Arctic biodiversity as well as effects on human health, if selected species are consumed. Monitoring programs must be practically designed with all purposes in mind, and a spectrum of approaches and species will be required. Spatial and temporal trends of plastic pollution can be built on the information obtained from studies on northern fulmars ( Fulmarus glacialis (Linnaeus, 1761)), a species that is an environmental indicator. To increase our understanding of the potential implications for human health, the species and locations chosen for monitoring should be selected based on the priorities of local communities. Monitoring programs under development should examine species for population level impacts in Arctic mammals and birds. Mammals and birds can be useful in source and surveillance monitoring via locally designed monitoring programs. We recommend future programs consider a range of monitoring objectives with mammals and birds as part of the suite of tools for monitoring litter and microplastics, plastic chemical additives, and effects, and for understanding sources.

Another mention of Meadow Vole (<i>Microtus pennsylvanicus</i>) found in pellets of Snowy Owl (<i>Bubo scandiacus</i>) in northern Ungava Peninsula, Canada

The examination of raptor pellets can be used to evaluate Arctic biodiversity. We found the remains of Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius) in pellets from Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) nesting in the northern part of the Ungava Peninsula. We differentiated the two species by visual identification and geometric morphometric analysis of molar shape. The results of our study combined with historical data suggest that most commonly used range maps of Meadow Vole should be revised.

Increasing Arctic Tundra Flooding Threatens Wildlife Habitat and Survival: Impacts on the Critically Endangered Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus)

Climate change is causing Arctic temperatures to increase at least twice as fast as the planet on average. Temperature and precipitation are predicted to continue increasing, such that flooding might become more prevalent in the new Arctic. Increased flooding frequency and extreme flooding events may pose new threats to Arctic biodiversity through habitat disturbance and decreased survival. We used the Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) as a model organism to investigate how flooding influences nesting habitat availability and juvenile counts. When spring flooding destroys eggs, adults either do not raise any chicks or have reduced time to prepare them for their long migration to China, thus years with extensive flooding could negatively impact future crane generations. We used nest site observation data from 14 surveys between 1995 and 2019, habitat mapping based on Landsat 8 imagery, and species distribution modeling to predict Siberian crane potential nesting habitat. Nesting habitat loss due to extreme flooding was calculated by overlaying this potential nesting habitat with Global Surface Water data. The percent of potential flooded nest sites varied between 6.7–55% across years, with a significant increase between 2001 and 2018. Extreme flood events, as experienced in 2017 and 2018, eliminated almost half of the potential nesting habitat. Importantly, we found that the percentage of flooded nest sites across years was negatively correlated with the number of observed juveniles. The Arctic lowlands are exposed to seasonal water level fluctuations that species have evolved with and adapted to. Siberian cranes and other species depending on Arctic ecosystems are expected to continue adapting to changing flood conditions, but extreme flood events further threaten the long-term survival of critically endangered species. It is imperative to assess how ecosystems and species respond to climatic extremes to support Arctic conservation strategies.

Coastal marine biodiversity in the western Canadian Arctic

Establishing a baseline of Arctic marine biodiversity is necessary for monitoring impacts of climate change in the vulnerable Canadian Arctic and protecting sensitive regions that are of significant importance to Inuit culture and socioeconomics. Under the goals of improving documentation of Arctic marine communities and creating a tool for assessing coastal Arctic biodiversity across different regions, relative abundance data of fishes, benthic invertebrates, and prey items found in fish stomach contents from coastal areas near Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories, and Kugluktuk, Nunavut were used to calculate Shannon–Wiener Biodiversity Indices. Biodiversity varied among and within regions and trophic groups; fish and stomach content biodiversity were highest in Kugluktuk, whereas benthic biodiversity was highest near Paulatuk. The methods presented here can be used as a tool for assessing low- to mid-trophic Canadian Arctic coastal biodiversity and would also facilitate spatial comparisons and long-term monitoring as climate warming impacts Arctic ecosystems.

What evidence exists for temporal variability in Arctic terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity throughout the Holocene? A systematic map protocol

BackgroundThe Arctic tundra is subject to the greatest climate change-induced temperature rises of any biome. Both terrestrial and freshwater biota are responding to recent climate warming through variability in their distribution, abundance, and richness. However, uncertainty arises within models of future change when considering processes that operate over centennial timescales. A systematic evidence synthesis of centennial-scale variability in biodiversity does not currently exist for the Arctic biome. Here, we sought to address the primary research question: what evidence exists for temporal variability in Arctic terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity throughout the Holocene (11,650 years before present (yBP)—0yBP)?MethodsConsultation with stakeholders informed key definitions, scoping and the appropriateness of the research question. The research question was structured using a PECO framework—Arctic biota (P), a timestamped year in the Holocene (E), another year in the Holocene (C), and the dimensions of biodiversity that have been measured (O)—to inform the search strategy. Search strings were benchmarked against a test list of 100 known sources to ensure a specific and comprehensive return of literature. Searches will occur across 13 bibliographic databases. The eligibility criteria specify that sources must: (a) use ‘proxy’ methods to measure biodiversity; (b) fall within the spatial extent of the contemporary Arctic tundra biome; and (c) consist of a time-series that overlaps with 11,650yBP to 0yBP (1950AD). Information coded from studies will include proxy-specific information to account for both temporal uncertainty (i.e., the characteristics of age-depth models and dating methods) and taxonomic uncertainty (i.e., the samples and processes used for taxonomic identification). We will assess temporal uncertainty within each source by determining the quality of dating methods and measures; this information will be used to harmonise dates onto the IntCal20 calibration curve and determine the available temporal resolution and extent of evidence through space. Key outputs of this systematic map will be: (1) a graph database containing the spatial–temporal properties of each study dataset with taxonomic harmonisation; and (2) a geographical map of the evidence base.

Paleolimnological perspectives on the shifting geographic template of permafrost landscapes and its implications for Arctic freshwater biodiversity

Geographic context matters when trying to understand how permafrost thaw impacts northern freshwater biodiversity in a warming climate. Most risk to fresh water from thawing permafrost is associated with abrupt thaw processes known as thermokarst. Lake sediments can provide a record of thermokarst landscape development and associated biogeochemical and biodiversity trends over long timescales, providing a tool to link thermokarst geomorphology with freshwater biodiversity. We describe how paleolimnology, with its inherent emphasis on long-term perspectives, can characterize the shifting geographic template of warming thermokarst landscapes and its implications for biodiversity. We suggest aligning thermokarst lake paleolimnological research with hypothesis-testing frameworks used by permafrost hydrologists and biogeochemists and by the Freshwater Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program and advocate for knowledge co-production with northern Indigenous communities. Lastly, we stress the importance of considering geographic context in the choice of study sites to ensure that diverse thermokarst landscapes are represented (especially those most vulnerable to warming) and that the fine-scale differences in limnological settings that influence ecosystem response to thermokarst stressors are accounted for.

Patterns and determinants of lichen abundance and diversity across a subarctic to arctic latitudinal gradient

AbstractAimLichens are a major component of Arctic biodiversity. However, they appear vulnerable to climate change, as they are exposed to warmer temperatures and increased competition with vascular plants. Our study aims to evaluate lichen cover, species richness, functional diversity and community composition among the dominant vegetation types along a 640‐km latitudinal gradient, and to identify environmental determinants related to patterns in lichen communities.LocationFrom subarctic (56°N) to arctic (62°N) Nunavik (Québec, Canada).TaxonLichens.MethodsWe characterized macrolichen communities at the species level in 42 sites across a latitudinal gradient, and identified latitudinal trends in lichen cover, species richness and functional diversity. Using linear models and distance‐based redundancy analysis, we investigated the effect of climate, vegetation, topography and soil characteristics on lichen communities.ResultsLichen cover and species richness were the lowest at high latitudes, while functional diversity increased with increasing latitude. Vegetation types and surficial deposits were strongly related to lichen cover and richness. However, these factors did not influence functional diversity, which was mainly driven by climatic conditions.Main conclusionOur results highlight the importance of vegetation structure in lichen communities and corroborate the negative relationship between vascular plant abundance and lichen abundance and species richness. While we found no influence of vegetation structure on lichen functional diversity, further studies using targeted functional traits are needed to accurately investigate the impact of ongoing changes in northern vegetation on ecosystem functioning.

Ecological Feedback Effects Affecting Arctic Biodiversity in Response to Glacial Melt

A changing Arctic The Arctic is a geographic region situated in the northernmost part of earth. It marks the latitude above which the sun does not set on the summer solstice and does not rise on the winter solstice. The Arctic is considered an area within the Arctic Circle that draws an imaginary line that …