Arctic Ecology Facts Animal life is concen-trated in food-rich areas. Migration is a key stra-tegy for Arctic animals. Environmental fluctu-ations are the norm. Slow growth gives long life. Arctic organisms have an unusual tendency to pro-duce and accumulate fat. Unique adaptations are required for survival in the harsh Arctic climate. Did you know? The relatively young age of Arctic ecosystems together with low overall productivity accounts for the low diversity of species typical of the Arctic. In the past, over-harvesting and habitat destruction have reduced populations of many large Arctic mammals. In several high-Arctic lakes, midge larvae are the only food source for Arctic char. Insect-eating birds provide a link between the aquatic and terrestrial food webs of the Arctic. The Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (ARC LTER) site in northern Alaska was established by the National Science Foun-dation to conduct long-term monitoring and surveying of Arctic ecosystem charac-teristics.

Arctic Ecology

The ecology of the Arctic region is shaped by a number of oceanographic, climatic, geophysical, biochemical, economic, and cultural forces. The complexity of Arctic ecosystem research requires scientists to engage in multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches. Even though Arctic ecosystems are young and lack the diversity of more tropical regions, their importance to the global environment cannot be overstated.

Much current ecological research in the Arctic has focused on the environmental processes and factors that control marine system productivity, in particular that of commercial fisheries in the Bering and Barents Seas. Terrestrial ecology includes: the dynamics of tundra plant communities, population stabilities, wetland chemistry, soil respiration, nutrient cycles, physiological adaptations, predator/prey relationships and the effects of subsistence hunting and fishing. Many of these studies have helped establish links between environmental change and patterns of human activity. The use of satellite technology has aided Arctic researchers a great deal; for instance, in monitoring caribou migration patterns. Also, ecosystem modeling have become an effective tool for analyzing the complex interactions of water, carbon, and nutrients within the Arctic environment.

Some of the most interesting current research involves the experimental manipulation of ecosystems over time. Examples include: tundra warming, shading, and fertilizing, grazer exclusions, fertilization of lakes and streams, and the addition and subtraction of predator species. By changing individual variables within an Arctic ecosystem, scientists can better predict the future impacts of ecological change, particularly with regard to climate.

Another factor affecting Arctic ecosystems is the long history of natural resource exploitation which has, in fact, worsened during the last few decades. Evidence for the increasing transport and concentration of pollutants to Arctic oceanic, atmospheric, and terrestrial environments are of particular concern. The harsh living conditions of the Arctic have led to many unique adaptations, some of which make plants and animals especially vulnerable to contaminants in their environment. Threats to key species can also endanger the ecosystem as a whole. Continued modeling of marine and terrestrial ecosystems can help predict future impacts.