arctic biodiversity

What does biodiversity mean? 
 Biodiversity is declining 
 Humans leave their mark
Literature

What is biodiversity in the Arctic?
Bioclimatic subzones, boreal forests and forest tundra

Nature loss in the Arctic

Why is it important to preserve Arctic biodiversity?

Biodiversity is not evenly distributed on Earth. The number of species typically decreases as the latitude increases. There are more species in the tropics than in the northern coniferous forest zone, and there are even fewer species in the Arctic.

Biodiversity also varies within the Arctic. As a rule, nature is more manifold in the slightly warmer areas connected to the mainland than in colder northern latitudes or isolated islands such as Greenland or Svalbard. (CAFF 2019.)

There are more than 21,000 known species in the Arctic that have adapted to cold and harsh conditions. Biodiversity in the Arctic also includes a number of still poorly known species, which together form the basis for the region’s ecosystems and food chains. (Arctic Council.)

Arctic ecosystems are unique because they have to withstand cold, dry, and windy environments, as well as extreme seasonal variations in the amount of light. The Arctic region consists of the Arctic Ocean and large areas of land, one third of which are covered with ice and less than half covered by vegetation. (CAFF 2021)

Despite the harsh conditions, Arctic nature is very diverse. For example, hundreds of bird species are moving to the Arctic for summer to nest, attracted by light and abundant food sources (CAFF 2021). Birds also play an important cultural role for indigenous peoples; the arrival and departure of migratory birds indicate the changing seasons. They are also a part of their diets (CAFF 2013).

Arctic ecosystems and biota, and thus the biodiversity in the region, are vulnerable to disruption. In the case of isolated populations, such as Svalbard reindeer, the diversity is much lower than that of the mainland reindeer and caribou. However, the Arctic biota has evolved to cope with uncertain periods even when populations have collapsed as a result of bad years, and to recover once conditions are more favourable.

Species depend in many ways on each other and on their habitat. There are different types of ice algae inside the sea ice that connect and form the basis of the food chain. In the Arctic, the native mammals polar bears and walrus depend on sea ice and are facing a major change due as their habitat is melting away. At the top of the food chain, marine mammals play an important role in the preservation of the entire Arctic marine ecosystem and are of great value to local communities. (CAFF 2017).) Inland freshwaters and their diversity in the Arctic are also vital to the northern communities as they provide access to drinking water and fishing (CAFF 2019).

Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) in Kilpisjärvi. Photo: Anna-Liisa Ylisirniö

Photo in the top banner: Anna-Liisa Ylisirniö – Glacier Buttercup (Ranunculus glacialis).

Salmon (Salmo salar) jumping in the Neiden River. Photo: Eero Niemelä