Ecological dynamics across the Arctic associated with recent climate change.

Eric Post (1, 2) , Mads C. Forchhammer (2) , M. Syndonia Bret-Harte (3) , Terry V. Callaghan (4, 5) , Torben R. Christensen (6) , Bo Elberling (7, 8) , Anthony D. Fox (9) , Olivier Gilg (10) , David S. Hik (11) , Toke T. Høye (9) , Rolf A. Ims (12) , Erik Jeppesen (13) , David R. Klein (3) , Jesper Madsen (2) , A. David Mcguire (14) , Søren Rysgaard (15) , Daniel E. Schindler (16) , Ian Stirling (17) , Mikkel P. Tamstorf (2) , Nicholas J.C. Tyler (18) , Rene van Der Wal (19) , Jeffrey Welker (20) , Philip A. Wookey (21) , Niels Martin Schmidt (2) , Peter Aastrup (2)

1 Department of Biology
2 Department of Arctic Environment [Rockilde]
3 Institute of Arctic Biology
4 Abisko Scientific Research Station
5 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences [Sheffield]
6 GeoBiosphere Science Centre
7 IGN - Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management [Copenhagen]
8 UNIS - The University Centre in Svalbard
9 NERI - Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity
10 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
11 Department of Biological Sciences [Edmonton]
12 Department of Arctic and Marine Biology
13 NERI - Department of Freshwater Ecology
14 Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
15 GINR - Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
16 School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
17 Canadian Wildlife Service
18 Centre for Saami Studies
19 School of Biological Sciences
20 Environment and Natural Resources Institute
21 School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

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.

Domaines: Ecologie, Environnement; Biodiversité et Ecologie; Milieux et Changements globaux

Eric Post, Mads C. Forchhammer, M. Syndonia Bret-Harte, Terry V. Callaghan, Torben R. Christensen, et al.. Ecological dynamics across the Arctic associated with recent climate change.. Science, 2009, 325 (5946), pp.1355-1358. ⟨10.1126/science.1173113⟩. ⟨hal-00496209⟩