Global Change and Arctic Ecosystems: Conclusions and Predictions from Experiments with Terrestrial Invertebrates on Spitsbergen

Hodkinson, I. D.; Webb, N. R.; Bale, J. S.; Block, William; Coulson, Stephen J.; Strathdee, A. T.

doi:10.2307/1551978

Cited by 121 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…This probably relates to the most abundant species achieving their Table 5 Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r S ) for density of Folsomia quadrioculata, Hypogastrura viatica and total collembolan density with distance from seabird colony (only data from the sampling plots from the two ornithogenically influenced transects included), and with each specific environmental factor examined (data from all sampling plots included) optimum occurrence at points below the maximum seabird influence (guano deposition), as suggested by Sømme and Birkemoe (1999). Our data are consistent with previous observations that springtail abundance is not directly dependent on a single factor but is likely related to a suite of complex environmental conditions, such as habitat moisture, temperature, acidity, organic matter content, vegetation cover, soil structure and composition (Hodkinson et al 1998;Herzberg et al 2000;Filser 2002;Cassagne et al 2003;Dollery et al 2006; Springtail distribution and density often reflect the patchy nature of their habitat, especially in earlier vegetation succession stages . Notwithstanding this influence of habitat, microarthropod distributions in polar soils and vegetation profiles are characteristically patchy or uneven, even in otherwise apparently uniform habitats (Usher andBooth 1984, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…In spite of widespread recognition of the important role of seabird colonies in enriching otherwise nutrient-poor polar terrestrial ecosystems (Smith 1979;Joly et al 1987;Ryan and Watkins 1989;Hodkinson et al 1994Hodkinson et al , 1998Byzova et al 1995;Uvarov and Byzova 1995;Sømme and Birkemoe 1999), qualitative and quantitative data documenting any consequential impacts on their soil invertebrate communities are still limited. The aims of this study were, therefore:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of allochtonous nutrients delivered by colonial seabirds on soil collembolan communities on Spitsbergen

et al. 2012

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Despite a widespread recognition of the role of seabird colonies in the fertilization of nutrient-poor polar terrestrial ecosystems, qualitative and quantitative data documenting any consequential influence on soil invertebrate communities are still lacking. Therefore, we studied community structure and abundance of springtails (Collembola) in ornithogenic tundra near two large seabird colonies in Hornsund, south-west Spitsbergen. We found considerably (5-209) higher densities and biomass of Collembola in the vicinities of both colonies (the effect extending up to ca. 50 m from the colony edge) than in comparable control areas of tundra not influenced by allochtonous nutrient input. The most common springtails observed in the seabird-influenced areas were Folsomia quadrioculata, Hypogastrura viatica and Megaphorura arctica. The latter species appeared the most resistant to ornithogenic nutrient input and was found commonly closest to the bird colonies. Collembolan abundance decreased with increasing distance from the seabird colonies. However, relationships between collembolan density and specific physicochemical soil parameters and vegetation characteristics were weak. The most important factors were the cover of the nitrophilous green alga Prasiola crispa, total plant biomass and soil solution conductivity, all of which were correlated with distance from the colony and estimated amount by guano deposition. Community composition and abundance of springtails showed no evidence of being influenced of seabird diet, with no differences apparent between communities found in ornithogenic tundra developing in the vicinity of planktivorous and piscivorous seabird colonies. The study provides confirmation of the influence of marine nutrient input by seabirds on soil microfaunal communities.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of allochtonous nutrients delivered by colonial seabirds on soil collembolan communities on Spitsbergen

et al. 2012

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“…Two main factors are the short growing season and the low temperatures, which are especially pertinent for relatively thermophilous species that may only be able to set viable seeds in infrequent years of high summer temperatures (Sørensen 1941;Wookey et al 1995;Alsos et al 2003). Low temperatures also reduce pollinator activity (Hodkinson et al 1998) and drive the reproduction mode towards asexuality (Peck et al 1998), which may influence successful reproduction and seed set. Although some species reproduce with asexual (apomictic) seeds, many essentially rely on runners or bulbils for dispersal (Wehrmeister and Bonde 1977;Murray 1987;Dormann et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germinating seeds or bulbils in 87 of 113 tested Arctic species indicate potential for ex situ seed bank storage

Alsos

Müller

Eidesen³

2013

Polar Biol

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Arctic plant species are expected to lose range due to climate change. One approach to preserve the genetic and species diversity for the future is to store propagules in seed vaults. However, germinability of seeds is assumed to be low for Arctic species. We evaluated ex situ storage potential of 113 of the 161 native angiosperms of Svalbard by studying seed ripening and germination. Seeds or bulbils were collected, and germinability was tested after one winter of storage in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Twenty-six of the species did not produce ripe propagules, 8 produced bulbils, and 79 produced seeds. Bulbils sprouted to high percentages. Seeds of 10 species did not germinate, 22 had low germination (\20 %), 34 had germination of 21-70 %, and 13 had high germination percentages ([70 %). More than 70 % of the species belonging to Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Juncaceae, Rosaceae, and Saxifragaceae germinated. Cold tolerant, common species had higher germination percentages than relatively thermophilous, rare species. Germination percentages were six times higher than observed in 1969 (n = 51) and 0.7 times that observed in 2008 (n = 22), indicating that recent climate warming improves germination in the Arctic. While in situ conservation is of vital importance, ex situ conservation in seed banks is a potential complementary conservation strategy for the majority of Arctic vascular plant species. For species that did not germinate, other methods for ex situ conservation should be sought, for example, growing in botanical gardens.

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“…These freeze-thaw cycles may reduce the winter survival of insects, either by ice-crust formation leading to anoxic conditions or by loss of cold-hardiness during an early melt period followed by further freezing (Hodkinson et al, 1998;Sinclair et al, 2003;Hodkinson, 2005;Turnock and Fields, 2005). With increasing summer temperatures, seasonal patterns of arthropod emergence may be altered or disrupted, especially in species with highly seasonal life cycles (Hodkinson et al, 1998). Changes in the phenology of summer emergence may affect the life cycles of the arthropods themselves (in either positive or negative ways), but they will also affect the seasonal pattern of food availability for birds (and other invertebrate predators), and possibly the optimal timing for breeding for these species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Has Prey Availability for Arctic Birds Advanced with Climate Change? Hindcasting the Abundance of Tundra Arthropods Using Weather and Seasonal Variations

Tulp¹,

Schekkerman²

2009

ARCTIC

149

181

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ABSTRACT. Of all climatic zones on earth, Arctic areas have experienced the greatest climate change in recent decades. Predicted changes, including a continuing rise in temperature and precipitation and a reduction in snow cover, are expected to have a large impact on Arctic life. Large numbers of birds breed on the Arctic tundra, and many of these, such as shorebirds and passerines, feed on arthropods. Their chicks depend on a short insect population outburst characteristic of Arctic areas. To predict the consequences of climate change for reproduction in these birds, insight into arthropod phenology is essential. We investigated weather-related and seasonal patterns in abundance of surface-active arthropods during four years in the tundra of NW Taimyr, Siberia. The resulting statistical models were used to hindcast arthropod abundance on the basis of a 33-year weather dataset collected in the same area. Daily insect abundance was correlated closely with date, temperature, and, in some years, with wind and precipitation. An additional correlation with the number of degree-days accumulated after 1 June suggests that the pool of potential arthropod recruits is depleted in the course of the summer. The amplitude of short-term, weather-induced variation was as large as that of the seasonal variation. The hindcasted dates of peak arthropod abundance advanced during the study period, occurring seven days earlier in 2003 than in 1973. The timing of the period during which birds have a reasonable probability of finding enough food to grow has changed as well, with the highest probabilities now occurring at earlier dates. At the same time, the overall length of the period with probabilities of finding enough food has remained unchanged. The result is an advancement of the optimal breeding date for breeding birds. To take advantage of the new optimal breeding time, Arctic shorebirds and passerines must advance the start of breeding, and this change could affect the entire migratory schedule. Because our analyses are based on a single site, we cannot conclude that this is a general pattern for the entire Arctic. To investigate the generality of this pattern, our approach should be applied at other sites too.Key words: climate change, arthropods, Siberia, timing of breeding, phenology, Arctic birds RÉSUMÉ. De toutes les zones climatiques de la Terre, ce sont les régions de l'Arctique qui ont enregistré le plus grand changement climatique au cours des dernières décennies. Les changements prévus, qui comprennent notamment l'augmentation continue des températures et des précipitations de même que la diminution de la couverture de neige, devraient avoir de grandes incidences sur la vie de l'Arctique. De grandes quantités d'oiseaux se reproduisent sur la toundra de l'Arctique, et beaucoup d'entre eux, tels que les oiseaux de rivage et les passériformes, se nourrissent d'arthropodes. Leurs oisillons dépendent d'une courte affluence de population d'insectes, ce qui est caractéristique des régions arctiques. Afin de prévoir les co...

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Global Change and Arctic Ecosystems: Conclusions and Predictions from Experiments with Terrestrial Invertebrates on Spitsbergen

Cited by 121 publications

References 44 publications

Influence of allochtonous nutrients delivered by colonial seabirds on soil collembolan communities on Spitsbergen

Influence of allochtonous nutrients delivered by colonial seabirds on soil collembolan communities on Spitsbergen

Germinating seeds or bulbils in 87 of 113 tested Arctic species indicate potential for ex situ seed bank storage

Has Prey Availability for Arctic Birds Advanced with Climate Change? Hindcasting the Abundance of Tundra Arthropods Using Weather and Seasonal Variations

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