Stressors

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Humans disturb the environment in various ways, notably from industrial development and other activities in formerly pristine areas. Components of the earth system affect one another in a web of feedbacks, including between ecosystems and climate. Conservation is the human attempt to avoid or minimize the impacts of human activity on species and habitats. This chapter examines all three topics. (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013.)

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Emerging issues and challenges ( 1 Document )

Since the publication of Arctic Flora and Fauna: Status and Conservation in 2001, many changes have occurred in the Arctic environment. Most notably, the significance of climate change as an impact factor has been greatly elevated, in the Arctic as well as at a global scale. A warming climate in the Arctic is projected to set off many environmental changes including melting sea ice, increased runoff, and an eventual rise in sea level with immense coastal implications. Some of these changes are already being felt. Increasing temperatures are already showing many effects on Arctic biodiversity including the northward movement of more southern species, shrubbing and greening of the land, changing plant communities and their associated fauna, increases in migrating invasive species displacing native Arctic inhabitants, and the emergence of new diseases. Additionally, changes in the timing of events (phenology) are an aspect of change which may lead to mismatches between related environmental factors. (Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010.)

Shipping ( 11 Documents )

Current vessel activities in the Arctic can be categorized into four main groups: community re-supply, cargo ships, fishing activity and tourism. The majority of vessel activity, and consequently ship accidents, takes place along the coast (Fig. 14.5). Therefore continental shelves, which are areas of high biodiversity and production and large aggregations of Arctic marine fauna, are most susceptible to impacts from ship traffic. (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013.)

Disturbance ( 4 Documents )

Cultural services, beyond those associated with provisioning services, reach people in the Arctic and around the world. Tourism is increasingly popular in the Arctic, especially on cruise ships. Tourism brings opportunities for income, as well as the potential for largely localized social and environmental disturbance. It can also create advocates for Arctic conservation among those who have experienced the region and its biodiversity first-hand. There are also many non-market values associated with the simple existence of the Arctic and its ecosystems, which many people appreciate from afar without any direct experience in the region. In a world with fewer undisturbed places, intact ecosystems such as those in the Arctic are likely to become increasingly scarce and thus increasing valuable. (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013.)

Development ( 6 Documents )

As human society has become more mobile, the transfer of species beyond their native ranges has similarly increased. Human-induced biological invasions now occur around the world and are a leading cause in the loss of biodiversity. While few invasions are currently known from the Arctic compared with lower latitudes, changes in climate and patterns of human use are likely to increase the susceptibility of Arctic ecosystems to invasion. Much of that increased risk of invasion may come from increased shipping, energy development, mineral exploration and associated shore-based developments such as ports, roads and pipelines. (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013.)

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Mean September sea ice thickness averaged over seven selected models at present and by the time the Arctic is nearly sea-ice-free

LifeLinkedtoIce Sea ice thickness

Note the scale differences between the two panels.

From Wang and Overland 2012 [17]

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

The data can be downloaded freely. Users are requested to reference the source.

Eamer, J., Donaldson, G.M., Gaston, A.J., Kosobokova, K.N., Lárusson, K.F., Melnikov, I.A., Reist, J.D., Richardson, E., Staples, L., von Quillfeldt, C.H. 2013. Life Linked to Ice: A guide to sea-ice-associated biodiversity in this time of rapid change. CAFF Assessment Series No. 10. Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, Iceland. ISBN: 978-9935-431-25-7.

The circumpolar distribution of the Inuit: Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland (Denmark) and Chukotka (Russia)

LifeLinkedtoIce Distribution of Inuit

From Ford 2009 [372], based on data from Makavik Cartographic Services

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

The data can be downloaded freely. Users are requested to reference the source.

Settlements dot Arctic coastlines even in sparsely populated areas such as Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

LifeLinkedtoIce Settlements

Adapted from Hovelsrud et al. 2011
[196]

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

The data can be downloaded freely. Users are requested to reference the source.

Pathways of impacts on Arctic humans resulting from changes in sea ice and associated changes in biodiversity

LifeLinkedtoIce Pathways

Figure 38. Pathways of impacts on Arctic humans resulting from changes in sea ice and associated changes in biodiversity

Joan Eamer

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

The data can be downloaded freely. Users are requested to reference the source.

Количество судов,

ABA 2013 14 06 ShipTransit Russian

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) 2013.

Количество судов, а) прошедших по Северо-Западному проходу (с пятилетним
интервалом с 1975 по 2009 гг.), и b) заходы в Гренландию (только круизные суда, с 2003
по 2008 гг. (AMSA 2009 и NORDREG 2009.)

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

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