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 Home Atmosphere Sea Ice Ocean Land Greenland Biology |
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Biology Michael Svoboda, Topic Editor Ecological Monitoring Program Coordinator, Environment Canada, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Summary Changes to Arctic wildlife populations and habitats, although mixed, present some cause for concern. Recent observations of key marine mammal populations indicate impacts to their populations and habitats may continue for some time. Reduced sea ice has already been implicated in lower body condition and reduced survival of polar bears in western Hudson Bay, and similar impacts are likely in some other sub-populations. With the record summer sea ice retreats of 2007 and 2008, walruses, in some regions of the Arctic, were forced to haul out along shores in unusually large numbers, triggering increases in trampling deaths in response to increased terrestrial disturbance. Long term impacts to this walrus re-distribution are also expected as habitats are unable to sustain the needs of concentrated walrus populations into the future. Recent estimates of wild caribou and reindeer indicate that these populations may be entering a period of declining numbers, with populations that have previously been increasing at a steady rate now showing signs of either peaking or beginning to decline. Most goose populations are experiencing increasing numbers. For some species found in the Barents Sea, near record warm water conditions are close to the limit of their adaptive capabilities. Given the threats (both observed and predicted) facing northern species and their habitats, there is justifiable cause for concern, particularly with regard to small or declining populations, as well as for those for which information is insufficient. For example, the lack of trend information for Arctic Char, which some northern communities greatly depend on, represents a significant knowledge gap. Another area of concern is the Barents and Bering Seas which are both experiencing ecosystem re-organizations which result in greater uncertainty for the future status of stocks. Consequently, there is a need to increase monitoring of these ecosystems for continuing change.Biology Essays:
October 14, 2008 Printable Handout :: Full Arctic Report Card (PDF) |
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DOC | NOAA | NOAA Arctic Research Program |
