scholarly journals Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conor D. Mallory ◽  
Mark S. Boyce
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
The Many ◽  
Rapid Environmental Change ◽  
Full Consideration ◽  
Strong Concern

The ability of many species to adapt to the shifting environmental conditions associated with climate change will be a key determinant of their persistence in the coming decades. This is a challenge already faced by species in the Arctic, where rapid environmental change is well underway. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) play a key role in Arctic ecosystems and provide irreplaceable socioeconomic value to many northern peoples. Recent decades have seen declines in many Rangifer populations, and there is strong concern that climate change is threatening the viability of this iconic Arctic species. We examine the literature to provide a thorough and full consideration of the many environmental factors that limit caribou and reindeer populations, and how these might be affected by a warming climate. Our review suggests that the response of Rangifer populations to climate change is, and will continue to be, varied in large part to their broad circumpolar distribution. While caribou and reindeer could have some resilience to climate change, current global trends in abundance undermine all but the most precautionary outlooks. Ultimately, the conservation of Rangifer populations will require careful management that considers the local and regional manifestations of climate change.

Climate Change and the Ecophysiological Response of Arctic Lichens

1995 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 559-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Nash ◽  
Astrid G. Olafsen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Ecophysiological Response ◽  
Subarctic Ecosystems ◽  
The Many ◽  
Peltigera Canina

AbstractUnder field conditions of optimal water hydration, lichen photosynthesis is primarily light-limited and nitrogen fixation is temperature-limited in both Peltigera canina and Stereocaulon tomentosum at Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. Thus, where duration of optimal hydration conditions remains unchanged from the present-day climate, the anticipated temperature increases in the Arctic may enhance nitrogen fixation in these lichens more than carbon gain. Because nitrogen frequently limits productivity in Arctic ecosystems, the results are potentially important to the many Arctic and subarctic ecosystems in which such lichens are abundant.

scholarly journals Societal implications of a changing Arctic Ocean

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry P. Huntington ◽  
Andrey Zagorsky ◽  
Bjørn P. Kaltenborn ◽  
Hyoung Chul Shin ◽  
Jackie Dawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Arctic Ocean ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Cultural Continuity ◽  
Societal Implications ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
The Many

AbstractThe Arctic Ocean is undergoing rapid change: sea ice is being lost, waters are warming, coastlines are eroding, species are moving into new areas, and more. This paper explores the many ways that a changing Arctic Ocean affects societies in the Arctic and around the world. In the Arctic, Indigenous Peoples are again seeing their food security threatened and cultural continuity in danger of disruption. Resource development is increasing as is interest in tourism and possibilities for trans-Arctic maritime trade, creating new opportunities and also new stresses. Beyond the Arctic, changes in sea ice affect mid-latitude weather, and Arctic economic opportunities may re-shape commodities and transportation markets. Rising interest in the Arctic is also raising geopolitical tensions about the region. What happens next depends in large part on the choices made within and beyond the Arctic concerning global climate change and industrial policies and Arctic ecosystems and cultures.

Obligate larval inhibition of Ostertagia gruehneri in Rangifer tarandus? Causes and consequences in an Arctic system

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (10) ◽  
pp. 1339-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRYANNE M. HOAR ◽  
ALEXANDER G. EBERHARDT ◽  
SUSAN J. KUTZ
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Post Infection ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Summer Solstice ◽  
Arctic Canada ◽  
Arctic Environment ◽  
Experimental Infections ◽  
Common Strategy

SUMMARYLarval inhibition is a common strategy of Trichostrongylidae nematodes that may increase survival of larvae during unfavourable periods and concentrate egg production when conditions are favourable for development and transmission. We investigated the propensity for larval inhibition in a population of Ostertagia gruehneri, the most common gastrointestinal Trichostrongylidae nematode of Rangifer tarandus. Initial experimental infections of 4 reindeer with O. gruehneri sourced from the Bathurst caribou herd in Arctic Canada suggested that the propensity for larval inhibition was 100%. In the summer of 2009 we infected 12 additional reindeer with the F1 and F2 generations of O. gruehneri sourced from the previously infected reindeer to further investigate the propensity of larval inhibition. The reindeer were divided into 2 groups and half were infected before the summer solstice (17 June) and half were infected after the solstice (16 July). Reindeer did not shed eggs until March 2010, i.e. 8 and 9 months post-infection. These results suggest obligate larval inhibition for at least 1 population of O. gruehneri, a phenomenon that has not been conclusively shown for any other trichostrongylid species. Obligate inhibition is likely to be an adaptation to both the Arctic environment and to a migratory host and may influence the ability of O. gruehneri to adapt to climate change.

Caribou and reindeer migrations in the changing Arctic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-167
Author(s):  
Kyle Joly ◽  
Anne Gunn ◽  
Steeve D. Côté ◽  
Manuela Panzacchi ◽  
Jan Adamczewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Terrestrial Species ◽  
The Future ◽  
Migratory Routes

Abstract Caribou and reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, are the most numerous and socio-ecologically important terrestrial species in the Arctic. Their migrations are directly and indirectly affected by the seasonal nature of the northernmost regions, human development and population size; all of which are impacted by climate change. We review the most critical drivers of Rangifer migration and how a rapidly changing Arctic may affect them. In order to conserve large Rangifer populations, they must be allowed free passage along their migratory routes to reach seasonal ranges. We also provide some pragmatic ideas to help conserve Rangifer migrations into the future.

Development and availability of the free-living stages of Ostertagia gruehneri, an abomasal parasite of barrenground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), on the Canadian tundra

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
pp. 1093-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRYANNE M. HOAR ◽  
KATHREEN RUCKSTUHL ◽  
SUSAN KUTZ
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Temperature Threshold ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Overwinter Survival ◽  
Maximum Temperatures ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYClimate change in the Arctic is anticipated to alter the ecology of northern ecosystems, including the transmission dynamics of many parasite species. One parasite of concern is Ostertagia gruehneri, an abomasal nematode of Rangifer ssp. that causes reduced food intake, weight loss, and decreased pregnancy rates in reindeer. We investigated the development, availability, and overwinter survival of the free-living stages of O. gruehneri on the tundra. Fecal plots containing O. gruehneri eggs were established in the Northwest Territories, Canada under natural and artificially warmed conditions and sampled throughout the growing season of 2008 and the spring of 2009. Infective L3 were present 3–4 weeks post-establishment from all trials under both treatments, except for the trial established 4 July 2008 under warmed conditions wherein the first L3 was recovered 7 weeks post-establishment. These plots were exposed to significantly more time above 30°C than the natural plots established on the same date, suggesting a maximum temperature threshold for development. There was high overwinter survival of L2 and L3 across treatments and overwintering L2 appeared to develop to L3 the following spring. The impact of climate change on O. gruehneri is expected to be dynamic throughout the year with extreme maximum temperatures negatively impacting development rates.

scholarly journals Understanding High-Latitude Methane in a Warming Climate

Eos ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scot Miller ◽  
Meghan Taylor ◽  
Jennifer Watts
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Gas Release ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
Existing Data

Climate change could spur greenhouse gas release from the Arctic. A new project will synthesize existing data to improve uncertain predictions.

scholarly journals Future narratives for key sectors of the economy of the Murmansk region in the context of global changes in the Arctic

2017 ◽  
pp. 19-31
Author(s):  
E.M. Klyuchnikova ◽  
◽  
L.G. Isaeva ◽  
A.V. Masloboev ◽  
T.E. Alieva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Murmansk Region ◽  
Key Sectors ◽  
The Future

This article presents forecast of the future development of the key industries of the Murmansk region under the climate change conditions, and developments that can be used as the background for discussing measures for adaptation to climate changes and producing long-term documents. We have revealed a wide range of scenarios to identify the uncertainties that the region will inevitably face and that should be taken into account when making decisions already now. We have used the forecasting method taking into account the two critical parameters: the climate change on the regional level and the global trends in the socio-economic development. The narratives from the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) have been used as boundary conditions for creating scenarios of Murmansk region development. The local experts - representatives of industries, regional and local authorities, non-governmental and scientific organizations were involved in the forecasting process. The foresight research methodology was chosen because it is more than a long-term and strategic planning and forecasting corresponds to the social progress, in particular, the society democratization in its main areas: engaging citizens to managing the state affairs and creating conditions for manifestation of their initiatives. As a result, the issues of forecasting the future trends and challenges in the key sectors of the economy of the Arctic under the changing climate, depending on the forecast global development trends were considered. The necessity of using a structured, coherent to the global trends approach to working out regional and corporate development strategies is substantiated. On the example of the Murmansk region, the possible scenarios of development of the mining industry, and energy and human potentials depending on the global changes, including the climate change are considered.

scholarly journals What do caribou eat? A review of the literature on caribou diet

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinn M.R. Webber ◽  
Kristy Ferraro ◽  
Jack Hendrix ◽  
Eric Vander Wal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Dietary Variation ◽  
Conservation And Management ◽  
Food Consumed

Historically the study of diet caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus (Gmelin, 1788)) has been specific to herds and few comprehensive circumpolar analyses of Rangifer diet exist. As a result, the importance of certain diet items may play an outsized role in the caribou diet zeitgeist, e.g., lichen. It is incumbent to challenge this notion and test the relevant importance of various diet items within the context of prevailing hypotheses. We provide a systematic overview of 30 caribou studies reporting caribou diet and test biologically relevant hypotheses about spatial and temporal dietary variation. Our results indicate that in the winter caribou primarily consume lichen, but in warmer seasons, and primary productivity is lower, caribou primarily consume graminoids and other vascular plants. In more productive environments, where caribou have more competitors and predators, consumption of lichen increased. Overall, our description of caribou diet reveals that caribou diet is highly variable, but in circumstances where they can consume vascular plants, they will. As climate change affects Boreal and Arctic ecosystems, the type and volume of food consumed by caribou has become an increasingly important focus for conservation and management of caribou.

scholarly journals Snow mediates climatic impacts on Arctic herbivore populations

Polar Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Duncan ◽  
Margaret E. Andrew ◽  
Mads C. Forchhammer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Population Management ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Data Series ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Ovibos Moschatus ◽  
North East ◽  
Musk Ox

AbstractArctic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change; however, the complex relationships between climate and ecosystems make incorporating effects of climate change into population management difficult. This study used structural equation modelling (SEM) and a 24-year multifaceted monitoring data series collected at Zackenberg, North-East Greenland, to untangle the network of climatic and local abiotic and biotic drivers, determining their direct and indirect effects on two herbivores: musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) and collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). Snow conditions were determined to be the central driver within the system, mediating the effects of climate on herbivore abundance. Under current climate change projections, snow is expected to decrease in the region. Snow had an indirect negative effect on musk ox, as decreased snow depth led to an earlier start to the Arctic willow growing season, shown to increase fecundity and decrease mortality. Musk ox are therefore expected to be more successful under future conditions, within a certain threshold. Snow had both positive and negative effects on lemming, with lemming expected to ultimately be less successful under climate change, as reduction in snow increases their vulnerability to predation. Through their capacity to determine effects of climatic and local drivers within a hierarchy, and the relative strength and direction of these effects, SEMs were demonstrated to have the potential to be valuable in guiding population management.

scholarly journals Arctic Air Pollution: New Insights from POLARCAT-IPY

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 1873-1895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine S. Law ◽  
Andreas Stohl ◽  
Patricia K. Quinn ◽  
Charles A. Brock ◽  
John F. Burkhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
International Polar Year ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Arctic Pollution ◽  
The Many

Given the rapid nature of climate change occurring in the Arctic and the difficulty climate models have in quantitatively reproducing observed changes such as sea ice loss, it is important to improve understanding of the processes leading to climate change in this region, including the role of short-lived climate pollutants such as aerosols and ozone. It has long been known that pollution produced from emissions at midlatitudes can be transported to the Arctic, resulting in a winter/spring aerosol maximum known as Arctic haze. However, many uncertainties remain about the composition and origin of Arctic pollution throughout the troposphere; for example, many climate–chemistry models fail to reproduce the strong seasonality of aerosol abundance observed at Arctic surface sites, the origin and deposition mechanisms of black carbon (soot) particles that darken the snow and ice surface in the Arctic is poorly understood, and chemical processes controlling the abundance of tropospheric ozone are not well quantified. The International Polar Year (IPY) Polar Study using Aircraft, Remote Sensing, Surface Measurements and Models, Climate, Chemistry, Aerosols and Transport (POLARCAT) core project had the goal to improve understanding about the origins of pollutants transported to the Arctic; to detail the chemical composition, optical properties, and climate forcing potential of Arctic aerosols; to evaluate the processes governing tropospheric ozone; and to quantify the role of boreal forest fires. This article provides a review of the many results now available based on analysis of data collected during the POLARCAT aircraft-, ship-, and ground-based field campaigns in spring and summer 2008. Major findings are highlighted and areas requiring further investigation are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document