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Trammell EJ, Carlson ML, Reynolds JH, Taylor JJ, Schmidt NM. Ecological integrity and conservation challenges in a rapidly changing Arctic: A call for new approaches in large intact landscapes. AMBIO 2022; 51:2524-2531. [PMID: 35779211 PMCID: PMC9584027 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01756-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intactness is a commonly used measure of ecological integrity, especially when evaluating conservation status at the landscape scale. We argue that in the large and relatively unfragmented landscapes of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, intactness provides only partial insight for managers charged with maintaining ecological integrity. A recent landscape assessment suggests that 95% of Alaska shows no measured direct or indirect impacts of human development on the landscape. However, the current exceptionally high levels of intactness in Alaska, and throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic, do not adequately reflect impacts to the region's ecological integrity caused by indirect stressors, such as a rapidly changing climate and the subsequent loss of the cryosphere. Thus, it can be difficult to measure, and manage, some of the conservation challenges presented by the ecological context of these systems. The dominant drivers of change, and their associated ecological and socioeconomic impacts, vary as systems decline in ecological integrity from very high to high, and to intermediate levels, but this is not well understood in the literature. Arctic and sub-Arctic systems, as well as other large intact areas, provide unique opportunities for conservation planning, but require tools and approaches appropriate to unfragmented landscapes undergoing rapid climate-driven ecological transformation. We conclude with possible directions for developing more appropriate metrics for measuring ecological integrity in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Jamie Trammell
- Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
- Environmental Science, Policy, & Sustainability, Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520 USA
| | - Matthew L. Carlson
- Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Joel H. Reynolds
- Climate Change Response Program, U.S. National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr. Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80525 USA
| | - Jason J. Taylor
- Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 790 E. Beckwith Ave, Missoula, MT 59801 USA
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Pálsson S, Wasowicz P, Heiðmarsson S, Magnússon KP. Population structure and genetic variation of fragmented mountain birch forests in Iceland. J Hered 2022; 114:165-174. [PMID: 36331896 PMCID: PMC10078168 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Betula pubescens Ehrh. (mountain birch) is the only forest-forming tree in Iceland. Since human settlement (874 AD), the continuous 25,000-30,000 km 2 forest has shrunk to 1.200 km 2 of fragmented patches, making it a good object to study population genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation and disturbance. Further, genetic studies have also shown that hybridization between the tetraploid (2n=56) B. pubescens and the diploid (2n=28) Betula nana L. (dwarf birch) occurs among Iceland's natural populations. This study assessed the genetic variation within and among eleven birch forests remaining across Iceland. Genotype-by-sequencing methodology (GBS) provided a total of 24,585 SNPs, with a minor allele frequency > 5% for genetic analyses. The analysis showed similar diversity within forests, suggesting that fragmentation and hybridization have had a limited effect on the genetic variation within sites. A clear genetic divergence is found among forests from the different regions of Iceland that may reflect historical isolation; the differentiation between forests increased with geographic distances reflecting isolation by distance. Information on the distribution of genetic variation of birch in Iceland is essential for its conservation and to establish genotype-phenotype associations to predict responses to new environmental conditions imposed by climate change and novel biotic/abiotic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snæbjörn Pálsson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja - Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Pawel Wasowicz
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Borgir v. Norðurslóð, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Starri Heiðmarsson
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Borgir v. Norðurslóð, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Kristinn Pétur Magnússon
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Borgir v. Norðurslóð, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
- Faculty of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Akureyri, Borgir v. Norðurslóð, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
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Variation in abundance and life-history traits of two congeneric Arctic wolf spider species, Pardosa hyperborea and Pardosa furcifera, along local environmental gradients. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03041-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Karnaeva A, Kulikova O, Mazlova E, Buryak A. Aged diesel and heavy metal pollution in the Arctic tundra (Yamal Peninsula, Russia). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 792:148471. [PMID: 34157523 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring pollution in Arctic regions is a challenging and important task, regardless of the way these lands are used. The summer 2019 expedition to the Yamal Peninsula revealed historic petroleum pollution of the tundra area adjacent to "Yamalsky" natural reserve. Soil, surface water and bottom sediments from a downhill lake, and herbaceous plant Eriophorum scheuchzeri samples were collected to address the origin and the level of the aged pollution, and to investigate, if E. scheuchzeri species could be a potential phytoremediation agent. Compositional GC-MS analysis of the soil organic matter showed that diesel fuel spillage affected the study area and the territories nearby. Weathered diesel compounds penetrated the soil and reached the permafrost layer at 85 cm depth. Petroleum hydrocarbon level peaked at 11% (wt) in the topsoil at the polluted site and 3% (wt) in the bottom sediments of the downhill lake, demonstrating chronic ecosystem exposure. The following ICP-MS analysis showed presence of trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Ba, Pb, Bi, U) in the soil, water, and E. scheuchzeri samples. Observed concentrations of V, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn in the soil samples exceeded the background values by 3.6, 2.3, 9.7, 2.9, and 3.0 times, respectively. V (0.4 mg/L) and Cr (0.12 mg/L) levels in the lake water exceeded the established national limits by 40 and 2.4 times, respectively, which demonstrated the possibility of pollution migration with groundwater or surface water. The plant E. scheuchzeri tolerated diesel pollution and stimulated natural attenuation, bioaccumulating Mo, Cd, Ba, and Bi in its tissue from the soil. E. scheuchzeri is proposed for phytoremediation of Arctic soils polluted with petroleum and metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Karnaeva
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS, Leninsky Prospect, 31-4, GSP-1, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Olga Kulikova
- Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Leninsky Prospect, 65, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Mazlova
- Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Leninsky Prospect, 65, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksey Buryak
- Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS, Leninsky Prospect, 31-4, GSP-1, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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Beest FM, Beumer LT, Andersen AS, Hansson SV, Schmidt NM. Rapid shifts in Arctic tundra species' distributions and inter‐specific range overlap under future climate change. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Floris M. Beest
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Roskilde Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Larissa T. Beumer
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Roskilde Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
| | | | - Sophia V. Hansson
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR‐5245) CNRS, Université de Toulouse Castanet Tolosan France
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Roskilde Denmark
- Arctic Research Centre Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark
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Wulff A. At the frontier of climate change: Red alert from the European Alps, the Arctic and coral reefs : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Climate change impacts. AMBIO 2021; 50:1123-1129. [PMID: 33650068 PMCID: PMC8068753 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01514-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Wulff
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, Box 461, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Bjorkman AD, Wulff A. A reflection on four impactful Ambio papers: The biotic perspective : This article belongs to Ambio's 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Climate change impacts. AMBIO 2021; 50:1145-1149. [PMID: 33650069 PMCID: PMC8068746 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change represents one of the most pressing societal and scientific challenges of our time. While much of the current research on climate change focuses on future prediction, some of the strongest signals of warming can already be seen in Arctic and alpine areas, where temperatures are rising faster than the global average, and in the oceans, where the combination of rising temperatures and acidification due to increased CO2 concentrations has had catastrophic consequences for sensitive marine organisms inhabiting coral reefs. The scientific papers highlighted as part of this anniversary issue represent some of the most impactful advances in our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Here, we reflect on the legacy of these papers from the biotic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne D. Bjorkman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Angela Wulff
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Solan M, Archambault P, Renaud PE, März C. The changing Arctic Ocean: consequences for biological communities, biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20200266. [PMID: 32862816 PMCID: PMC7481657 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
- e-mail:
| | - Philippe Archambault
- ArcticNet, Québec Océan, Takuvik, Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Paul E. Renaud
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Center for Climate and the Environment, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
- University Centre in Svalbard, Arctic Biology, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Christian März
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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How Does the Arctic Council Support Conservation of Arctic Biodiversity? SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12125042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among Arctic states, indigenous communities, and peoples on issues of common importance. The rising geo-political importance of the Arctic and the onset of climate change has resulted in the Council becoming a focus of increasing interest from both inside and beyond the Arctic. This has resulted in new demands placed on the Council, attracting an increasing number of participants, and instigating a period of transformation as Arctic states work to find a way to balance conflicting demands to improve the Council’s effectiveness and take care of national interests. This paper considers whether, during this time of change, the Council is having an impact on the issues it was formed to address, i.e., environmental protection and sustainable development. To provide answers, it looks at how the Council reports on and evaluates progress towards the implementation of recommendations it makes regarding biodiversity, how it identifies where activities have had impacts and uncovers the mechanisms through which they were successful, to provide an insight into how the Arctic Council can be an agent of change.
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