Arctic Biodiversity Climate Environmental Change Impact on biodiversity Research focus Impediments Public engagement Dr. Mark Graham, Director, Research Services IYB

Impact on Biodiversity Wide range of uncertainty in the models about the extent of warming – half predict sea ice absence by 2080 Sea ice and multiyear ice extent is declining rapidly – has an impact on all aspects of biological diversity, including ice algae Disappearing ice impacts ice adapted whales (beluga, narwhal, bowhead) and allows others to move in Traditional knowledge leaders have seen new species and have had more accidents with thinning sea ice

Mercury is prevalent in the Arctic environment and in food species; more open water in the ocean and lakes increases tissue levels Marine biodiversity hotspots are emerging and being studied The Arctic is greening – e.g. tree-lines are marching north Permafrost melting and more precipitation cause water quality issues Impact on Biodiversity

Research Focus Maintain independent, ongoing research in the North Better understanding air circulation – transfer of heat and contaminants Refine climate models of large-scale physical elements – sea ice Inclusion of traditional knowledge in research Understand the effect of contaminants on country foods

Research Focus Finding conservation management actions that include the new invasive species Incorporate technological innovations into biodiversity research – DNA barcoding, remote sensing and biodiversity informatics Find effective mechanisms to share biodiversity data freely and broadly Collaborative scientific approaches considering ecozones Get young HQPs involved in Arctic research

Impediments Traditional knowledge leaders and western scientists need mechanisms to interact No organized system for data sharing Information is lacking yet essential for economic, social and environmental awareness and decision making – meteorological, biodiversity, contaminants, social

No program of full-scale, long - term discovery and monitoring of biodiversity Field stations and other infrastructure – access and on-going field-based research in the Arctic Funding is always an issue for nearly everything Impediments

Public Engagement The Arctic is important and is under global influences Climate change is the single biggest social issue ever There is a human component to climate change in the Arctic – air temperature and precipitation The Arctic is warming more than other parts of the northern hemisphere – amplification from open ocean

Public Engagement Traditional uses of Arctic biodiversity are ongoing and important – essential to healthy communities There is a Nunavut Biosciences Corporation – e.g. products from seaweed, shrimps and medicinal plants Arctic developments should be based on environmental, social, traditional, and economic knowledge – sustainability of biodiversity resources The Arctic marine food web is dependent upon a rich diversity of phytoplankton (microscopic plants) Traditional use of marine mammals is sustainable over long periods and commercial whaling is not The last bits of sea ice will occur in Canada as well as all ice-adapted marine mammals

Other Observations Increased awareness about the Arctic – important & timely There are tremendous intangible value in the Arctic from the landscape and biodiversity International cooperation is necessary to address climate change issues in the Arctic – the Arctic Council as a possible mechanism National parks and reserves are good – located in areas predicted for the most rapid environmental changes There aren’t enough parks to conserve biological resources in the Arctic, considering the changes that are indicated

Other Observations Intensity of competition for Arctic resources will increase – China has more capacity to work in the Arctic than any other nation Huge infrastructure investments needed in the north to be competitive and keep pace with global developments Climate warming is real, adaptation by humans in the Arctic will be important – food, buildings, roads. Adaptations and mitigations need to occur in response to climate changes with a mechanism that allows for balance sustainability.

Questions ? Dr. Mark Graham, Director, Research Services