Ecological dynamics across the Arctic associated with recent climate change.
At the close of the Fourth International Polar Year, we take stock of the ecological consequences of recent climate change in the Arctic, focusing on effects at population, community, and ecosystem scales. Despite the buffering effect of landscape heterogeneity, Arctic ecosystems and the trophic relationships that structure them have been severely perturbed. These rapid changes may be a bellwether of changes to come at lower latitudes and have the potential to affect ecosystem services related to natural resources, food production, climate regulation, and cultural integrity. We highlight areas of ecological research that deserve priority as the Arctic continues to warm.
Post
Eric
E
Department of Biology, Penn State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA 16802, USA. esp10@psu.edu
Forchhammer
Mads C
MC
Bret-Harte
M Syndonia
MS
Callaghan
Terry V
TV
Christensen
Torben R
TR
Elberling
Bo
B
Fox
Anthony D
AD
Gilg
Olivier
O
Hik
David S
DS
Høye
Toke T
TT
Ims
Rolf A
RA
Jeppesen
Erik
E
Klein
David R
DR
Madsen
Jesper
J
McGuire
A David
AD
Rysgaard
Søren
S
Schindler
Daniel E
DE
Stirling
Ian
I
Tamstorf
Mikkel P
MP
Tyler
Nicholas J C
NJ
van der Wal
Rene
R
Welker
Jeffrey
J
Wookey
Philip A
PA
Schmidt
Niels Martin
NM
Aastrup
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D055907:Climatic Processes; D003081:Cold Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D046448:Ice Cover; D063245:Plant Development; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research