Arctic fjords are social-ecological systems
Glacier fronts and sea ice systems are hotspots of biodiversity. Their retreat will pose threats to Arctic coastal ecosystem function and eventually local livelihoods. The Arctic is a harbinger of the consequences of multiple global and regional environmental change on ecosystems and livelihoods: The overarching objective of FACE-IT is to enable adaptive co-management of social-ecological fjord systems in the Arctic in the face of rapid cryosphere and biodiversity changes.
Check out this video introduction to FACE-IT: The Changing Arctic Fjord Systems
14
International
institutions
7
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sample sites
8
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Latest Updates
Productivity of mixed kelp communities in an Arctic fjord exhibit tolerance to a future climate
April 23, 2024
Arctic fjords are considered to be one of the ecosystems changing most rapidly in response to climate change. In the Svalbard archipelago, fjords are experiencing a shift in environmental conditions due to the Atlantification of Arctic waters and the retreat of sea-terminating glaciers. These environmental changes are predicted to facilitate expansion of large, brown macroalgae, into new ice-free regions.
Arctic puzzle: Pioneering a northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) habitat model in Disko Bay, West Greenland
April 23, 2024
Recent advancements in spatial modelling leverage remote sensing data and statistical species-environment relationships to forecast the distribution of a specific species. Our study focuses on Disko Bay in West Greenland, recognized as a significant marine biodiversity hotspot in the region.
FACE-IT workshop on management options to mitigate climate change effects in Lakselv, Finnmark
April 17, 2024
On 08 April 2024, FACE-IT and the collaborating project "Future Arctic Lives" invited for a workshop on Lakselv, Porsanger, Finmark. This workshop explored the lokal management options for the mitigation of climate and environmental changes. 15 actors from local to national management and decision makers, local fishers, interest organizations and other relevant stakeholders have been present.
Arctic Biodiversity Session at the Arctic Circle Berlin Forum
April 12, 2024
Conference from 07 to 08 May 2024
EU Engagement in the Arctic: Challenges to Achieving Ambitions in an Area outside Its Jurisdiction
April 9, 2024
The European Union (EU) has underscored its will to heighten its engagement in the Arctic region. Beyond traditional areas of interest – such as tackling climate change, supporting research and developing cooperations – critical resources and security emerged as new topics in the EU’s most recent policy documents.
The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima II: Recent advances in farming and applications
March 20, 2024
The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima has received intense scientific attention over the last decades. In recent years, interest in cultivation of the species has strongly increased in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, driven by the great potential of S. latissima to be utilised for various industrial applications, including food, feed, and biomaterials.
Light-mediated temperature susceptibility of kelp species (Agarum clathratum, Saccharina latissima) in an Arctic summer heatwave scenario
March 13, 2024
Kelps (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) are ecosystem engineers along Arctic rocky shores. With ongoing climate change, the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves are increasing. Further, extensive meltwater plumes darken Arctic fjords. Assessing the effect of a sudden temperature increase at the cold-distribution limit of cold-temperate kelp species, we compared the responses of two kelp species (Agarum clathratum, Saccharina latissima) to realistic Arctic summer heatwave scenarios (4–10°C) under low- and high-light conditions (3; 120 μmol photons m-2 s-1) for 12 days.
Ice type matters: impacts of landfast and drift ice on body condition in a high Arctic seabird community
February 8, 2024
Sea ice, a central component of polar ecosystems, is undergoing profound changes due to climate change. In particular, the Arctic is experiencing unprecedented warming at quicker rates than other regions. This alarming trend of sea ice loss has dire consequences, with spill-over effects on the entire ecosystem, from phytoplankton to top predators.
Environmental drivers of Arctic communities based on metabarcoding of marine sediment eDNA
January 24, 2024
Our ability to assess biodiversity at relevant spatial and temporal scales for informing management is of increasing importance given this is foundational to identify and mitigate the impacts of global change. Collecting baseline information and tracking ecological changes are particularly important for areas experiencing rapid changes and representing data gaps such as Arctic marine ecosystems.