Life in the NorthBiology 312.3

Framework to Study Northern Ecosystems

Three Central Themes:

• How do environmental factors structure Northern ecosystems?

• What role do humans play in the conservation of ecosystems in the North?

• How is human health and wellness linked to changes in the Arctic?

Terminology

Ecosystem

A system of interdependent and interacting living organisms and their immediate

physical, chemical, and biological environments

Biome

A major ecological community of organisms, usually characterized by dominant

vegetation type or environmental feature (e.g. sea, barren-grounds)

Food Web

A complex system of interdependent food chains in a given ecosystem

Note: Decomposers are often viewed as a distinct attribute of a food web

Biodiversity

The variety of life forms in a given biome.

Includes considerations of species diversity, abundance, behaviors, genetics.

Sustainability

The ability of an ecosystem, or a population, to maintain its diversity, abundance, and

integrity

Sustainability Resilient to Changes

Scale

The spatial and temporal structure of an environment, or a behavior

e.g. sea-ice structure; habitat selection of caribou;

Autocorrelation of Temporal vs. Spatial Scale

Low Arctic

High Arctic

Sub Arctic

Boreal

Sea Ice

Biohazard

A physical, chemical, or radioactive substance that may cause health issues

due to exposure or bio-accumulation

Note: Generally within a context of human health

What is Unique About Northern Ecosystems?

• Sea ice dynamics

• Environmental extremes

• Low precipitations (cold desert)

• Short growing season

• Unpredictable resource distribution, especially for marine environments

Defining the Arctic

The word Arctic comes from the Greek word for bear, arktos, after

the constellations Ursa major and Ursa minor that are visible

year round in the northern night sky.

CAFF Boundary

How is the Arctic environment studied?

The application of evidence-based knowledge is essential to best manage and sustain Arctic environments.

Best Practices:• Multi-discipline approach (e.g. Atmospheric

Sciences, Ocean Sciences, Ecosystem Sciences, Toxicology, etc.)

• Local knowledge & scientific knowledge• Consultation & collaboration

Required Readings

• Box 1: The mission of CAFF

• Box 2: The Arctic Council

Arctic: A Complex System

Atmospheric

Sciences

Earth

Sciences

Ocean

Sciences

Ecosystem

Sciences

Toxicology

Dimensions of Scale: Spatial, Temporal, and Organizational

Atmospheric Sciences

• Air currents

• Contaminant transport

• Climate changes

• U.V. radiation

Note: Connects Arctic with rest of the World

cP: Continental Polar

mP: Maritime Polar

cA: Continental Arctic

mT: Maritime Tropical

cT: Continental Tropical

Required Reading

Box 5 pg. 25: The North Atlantic Oscillation & Reindeer Husbandry

Ocean Science

• Ocean currents

• Sea ice dynamics

• Air temperatures

• Contaminant transport

Note: Connects Arctic with rest of the World

Earth Sciences

• Snow

• Permafrost

• Glacier

• Biogeochemical Processes (e.g. soil)

• Natural Resources

The Lena Delta

Composite Satellite Image

Ecosystem Sciences

• Biodiversity

• Sustainability (harvest, industries)

• Nutrient reservoirs

• Growing cycles

• Wildlife population ecology

Required Reading

Box 12:

The Arctic as a Theatre of Evolution

Box 13:

Microbes Everywhere

Toxicology

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

• Radioactive isotopes

• Heavy metals

• Local contaminants

Humans in the Arctic

First Peoples and the Environment

• Human settlement in Arctic for thousands of years – e.g. Yukon inhabited ~15 000 years ago

• Humans survived by making use of reoccurring patterns of particular species and habitats– Spring: Marine mammals hunted on sea ice– Summer: Fish camps– Fall: Followed herds of terrestrial mammals

Introduction to Europeans

• Early 16th Century: European fishermen reached Newfoundland– Followed by traders, missionaries, fur traders,

whalers, etc.– Introduced European goods into Inuit society

Who Lives in the Arctic Now?

• Sedentary communities– Practice of traditional hunting, fishing, and

gathering maintained• Families may move to fishing camps in summer• Hunters may provide for several families

• Migration of non-indigenous people to the Arctic– Government, industrial jobs (e.g. mining, oil

and gas production)

Integrating cultural traditions and modern technology

Dogsled Snow machine

Bow and Arrow Rifle and Shotgun

Kayak Outboard motor

The Modern Arctic

• Rich natural resources– Gold Rush Diamond Mines

• Political Change– Local involvement in management decisions– Land Claims

• Indigenous peoples maintain rights to hunt, fish, and trap

• Co-management of land• E.g. 15% of NWT and Nunavut could be owned by

indigenous peoples when claims settled

Co-Management

• Connection between humans and environment remains important

• Integration of modern practices and traditional ways

• Deep understanding of local environment by indigenous people remains