Status and trends in Arctic biodiversity - Synthesis: implications for conservation

Authors: MELTOFTE, H - Aarhus University; BARRY, T - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO); BERTEAUZ, D - University Of Quebec; BELTMANN, H - University Of Munster; CHRISTIANSEN, J - The University Of Tromsø; COOK, J - University Of New Mexico; DAHLBERG, A - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences; EHRICH, D - The University Of Tromsø; FJELDSA, J - University Of Copenhagen; FRIDRIKSSON, F - University Of Akureyri; GANTER, B - Non ARS Employee; GASTON, A - Carleton University - Canada; GILLESPIE, L - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO); GRENOBLE, L - University Of Chicago; Hoberg, Eric; HODKINSON, I - John Moores University; HUNTINGTON, H - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO); IMS, R - The University Of Tromsø; JOSEFSON, A - Aarhus University; KUTZ, S - University Of Calgary; KUZMIN, S - Russian Academy Of Sciences; LAIDRE, K - Greenland Institute Of Natural Resources; LASSUY, D - Us Fish And Wildlife Service; LOVEJOY, C - University Of Laval; MICHEL, C - University Of Manitoba; MOKIEVSKY, V - Russian Academy Of Sciences; MUSTONEN, T - Snowchange Cooperative; PAYER, D - Us Fish And Wildlife Service; POULIN, M - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO); REID, D - Wildlife Conservation Society; REIST, J - University Of Manitoba; TESSLER, D - Alaska Department Of Fish And Game; WRONA, F - University Of Victoria

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2013
Publication Date: 1/8/2014
Citation: Meltofte, H., Barry, T., Berteauz, D., Beltmann, H., Christiansen, J., Cook, J., Dahlberg, A., Ehrich, D., Fjeldsa, J., Fridriksson, F., Ganter, B., Gaston, A., Gillespie, L., Grenoble, L., Hoberg, E.P., Hodkinson, I., Huntington, H., Ims, R., Josefson, A., Kutz, S., Kuzmin, S., Laidre, K., Lassuy, D., Lovejoy, C., Michel, C., Mokievsky, V., Mustonen, T., Payer, D., Poulin, M., Reid, D., Reist, J., Tessler, D., Wrona, F. 2014. Status and trends. In: Meltofte, H., editor. Arctic biodiversity - Synthesis: implications for conservation. Conservaton of Arctic Floral and Fauna, Arctic Council, Akureyi, Iceland. pp. 21-66.

Interpretive Summary: There is an enormous deficit in our knowledge of species richness in many groups of organisms, and monitoring in the Arctic is lagging far behind that in other regions of the world. Even for the better-studied Arctic species and ecosystems we have insufficient data on trends in distribution, abundance and phenology and too few natural history specimens for retrospective and baseline analyses. Also the functioning of Arctic ecosystems is insufficiently understood making it difficult to implement ecosystem-based monitoring and management. Hence, there is a critical lack of essential data and scientific understanding necessary to improve the planning and implementation of biodiversity conservation or monitoring strategies in the Arctic. The multitude of changes in Arctic biodiversity – driven by climate and other anthropogenic stressors – will have profound effects on the living conditions of peoples in the Arctic, including the diversity of indigenous languages, cultures and the range of services that humans derive from Arctic biodiversity. While the ecosystem changes may provide new opportunities, they will also require considerable adaptation and adjustment.

Technical Abstract: Arctic biodiversity – the multitude of species and ecosystems in the land north of the tree line together with the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas – is an irreplaceable cultural, aesthetic, scientific, ecological, economic and spiritual asset. For Arctic peoples, biodiversity has been the very basis for their ways of life through millennia, and is still a vital part of their material and spiritual existence. Arctic fisheries and tourism are also of particularly high value for the rest of the world, and so are the millions of Arctic birds and mammals migrating to virtually all parts of the globe during winter. The Arctic is home to more than 21,000 species of often highly cold-adapted mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, plants and fungi (including lichens) – together with large numbers of undescribed endoparasites and microbes. These include charismatic and iconic species such as polar bears Ursus maritimus, narwhals Monodon monoceros, walrus Odobenus rosmarus, caribou/reindeer Rangifer tarandus, muskoxen Ovibos moschatus, Arctic fox Alopex lagopus, ivory gull Pagophila eburnea and snowy owls Bubo scandiaca together with marine and terrestrial ecosystems such as vast areas of lowland tundra, wetlands, mountains, extensive shallow ocean shelves, millennia-old ice shelves and huge seabird cliffs. The functional significance of different groups of organisms in maintaining the integrity, structure, services and health of Arctic ecosystems, however, is generally greatest among those we understand least. Microorganisms are key elements of Arctic ecosystems, yet they have been little studied. Anthropogenically driven climate change is by far the most serious threat to biodiversity in the Arctic, and there is an immediate need to implement actions to reduce this stressor. Due to a range of feedback mechanisms, the 2°C upper limit of human-induced warming, chosen by world leaders, is projected to result in an air temperature increase of between 2.8 and 7.8°C in the Arctic, likely resulting in severe disruptions to Arctic biodiversity. Climate change is the most likely explanation for shifts already visible in several parts of the Arctic, as documented by both scientists and Arctic residents. These include northward range expansions of many species and changes in ecosystems likely resulting from habitat warming and/or drying of the substrate associated with warming and earlier snow melt, together with development of new oceanic current patterns. Future global warming will result in further northward shifts in the distribution of a great many species. This will include boreal species and ecosystems encroaching on areas currently characterized as the low Arctic, and low Arctic species and ecosystems encroaching on areas currently characterized as the high Arctic. Northward movement of boreal species may increase the number of species found in the Arctic, but this does not represent a net gain in global biodiversity. The additions will primarily be species that are already common in southern habitats, some of which may outcompete or displace unique assemblages of Arctic species with the risk of severe range reductions and possible extinctions. Terrestrial habitats in the Arctic are bounded to the north by marine ecosystems. Therefore, northward ecosystem shifts are expected to reduce the overall geographic extent of terrestrial Arctic habitats – in particular for high Arctic habitats. Arctic terrestrial ecosystems may disappear in many places, or only survive in alpine or island ‘refugia’. Arctic freshwater ecosystems are undergoing rapid change in response to the influence of both environmental and anthropogenic stressors. The distribution and number of lakes, ponds, wetlands and riverine networks are being altered with significant implications to the structure, function and diversity of associated biological communities. Also