About this Research Topic
The Arctic Council Working Groups AMAP (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program) and CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna) have taken the initiative to jointly review and assess climate impacts on Arctic marine, coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, and ecosystem feedbacks to climate. As a component of this work, a series of review papers on the state of the art within a range of different research themes under a unifying topic is proposed for this Research Topic.
The overarching theme will synthesize existing literature on linkages between biodiversity issues and climate feedbacks in arctic marine (including coastal), terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems, and emphasize the interface between these ecosystems.
This Research Topic aims at exploring the science of how biodiversity and ecosystems in the Arctic interact with physical climate feedback mechanisms and vice versa. It is focusing on the biotic and physical aspects of such interactions. The goal is, hence, to form a bridge between biodiversity concerns and issues relating to ecosystem-atmosphere interactions.
The target audience is the scientific community: researchers, practitioners, and managers in the fields of biodiversity, ecology, climate, and interdisciplinary fields, focusing on the Arctic. Additional audiences include policy advisers and other staff in environmental-related ministries.
The themes below are for suggested experts and focal points to help define and lead specific articles under each theme.
1. Key interactions between Arctic ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity, and feedbacks – general studies
Suggested titles:
- Interactions between Arctic ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity and feedbacks – an introduction
- Changes in primary producer (including biodiversity) composition and its impact on climate feedbacks (marine, coastal, terrestrial, freshwater)
- Ecosystem consequences of climate-induced changes in the migration and phenology of Arctic animals
2. Catchment scale studies of whole ecosystem dynamics and their interactions with climate
Suggested titles:
- Case studies from around the Arctic with long time series on multiple biodiversity parameters, ecosystems (terrestrial, freshwater, coast), and relevant climate parameters
- The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) of comparable catchments along a gradient from the high arctic to the northern boreal zone
3. Trophic interactions and future climate feedbacks from the Arctic (terrestrial and marine)
Suggested titles:
- Trophic cascades and future climate feedbacks from the terrestrial Arctic
- Benthic-pelagic coupling in Arctic marine ecosystems
- Baleen whales, zooplankton & phytoplankton dynamics
4. Ecosystem disturbance, permafrost thaw, extreme climatic events and their impacts on terrestrial, freshwater and marine arctic biodiversity as well as climate
Suggested titles:
- Extreme climatic events and their impact on Arctic marine ecosystems
- Permafrost thaw impacts on ecosystem structure and function including contributions to GHG emissions
- Permafrost thaw as it affects microbial dynamics and trace gas exchanges
- Permafrost thaws and landscape greening effects on Arctic terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
- Biological responses to ocean acidification and potentially related feedbacks
- Wildfires in the Arctic, trends, and consequences for biodiversity and greenhouse gas budgets
5. Modeling ecosystem structure and function as it impacts ecosystem climate interactions
Suggested titles:
- Integrating Arctic biodiversity and ecosystem process models with climate models
6. Borealization of Arctic ecosystems
Suggested titles:
- How does climate change impact the Arctic (seasonal) habitats and the migration and phenology of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial animals
- The future of high-Arctic coastal (shelf) ecosystems under climate change
- Borealization of marine Arctic ecosystems
7. A summarizing title that will serve as a basis for an Executive summary for policymakers from AMAP and CAFF. Should include reflections on what we can expect in the future.
- Conclusion with key findings and advice drawn from each of the papers and concluding with reflections on policy implications.
Please note, that contributions to the collection are by invitation only for lead authors identified by AMAP and CAFF.
The overarching theme will synthesize existing literature on linkages between biodiversity issues and climate feedbacks in arctic marine (including coastal), terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems, and emphasize the interface between these ecosystems.
This Research Topic aims at exploring the science of how biodiversity and ecosystems in the Arctic interact with physical climate feedback mechanisms and vice versa. It is focusing on the biotic and physical aspects of such interactions. The goal is, hence, to form a bridge between biodiversity concerns and issues relating to ecosystem-atmosphere interactions.
The target audience is the scientific community: researchers, practitioners, and managers in the fields of biodiversity, ecology, climate, and interdisciplinary fields, focusing on the Arctic. Additional audiences include policy advisers and other staff in environmental-related ministries.
The themes below are for suggested experts and focal points to help define and lead specific articles under each theme.
1. Key interactions between Arctic ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity, and feedbacks – general studies
Suggested titles:
- Interactions between Arctic ecosystems, climate change, biodiversity and feedbacks – an introduction
- Changes in primary producer (including biodiversity) composition and its impact on climate feedbacks (marine, coastal, terrestrial, freshwater)
- Ecosystem consequences of climate-induced changes in the migration and phenology of Arctic animals
2. Catchment scale studies of whole ecosystem dynamics and their interactions with climate
Suggested titles:
- Case studies from around the Arctic with long time series on multiple biodiversity parameters, ecosystems (terrestrial, freshwater, coast), and relevant climate parameters
- The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) of comparable catchments along a gradient from the high arctic to the northern boreal zone
3. Trophic interactions and future climate feedbacks from the Arctic (terrestrial and marine)
Suggested titles:
- Trophic cascades and future climate feedbacks from the terrestrial Arctic
- Benthic-pelagic coupling in Arctic marine ecosystems
- Baleen whales, zooplankton & phytoplankton dynamics
4. Ecosystem disturbance, permafrost thaw, extreme climatic events and their impacts on terrestrial, freshwater and marine arctic biodiversity as well as climate
Suggested titles:
- Extreme climatic events and their impact on Arctic marine ecosystems
- Permafrost thaw impacts on ecosystem structure and function including contributions to GHG emissions
- Permafrost thaw as it affects microbial dynamics and trace gas exchanges
- Permafrost thaws and landscape greening effects on Arctic terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
- Biological responses to ocean acidification and potentially related feedbacks
- Wildfires in the Arctic, trends, and consequences for biodiversity and greenhouse gas budgets
5. Modeling ecosystem structure and function as it impacts ecosystem climate interactions
Suggested titles:
- Integrating Arctic biodiversity and ecosystem process models with climate models
6. Borealization of Arctic ecosystems
Suggested titles:
- How does climate change impact the Arctic (seasonal) habitats and the migration and phenology of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial animals
- The future of high-Arctic coastal (shelf) ecosystems under climate change
- Borealization of marine Arctic ecosystems
7. A summarizing title that will serve as a basis for an Executive summary for policymakers from AMAP and CAFF. Should include reflections on what we can expect in the future.
- Conclusion with key findings and advice drawn from each of the papers and concluding with reflections on policy implications.
Please note, that contributions to the collection are by invitation only for lead authors identified by AMAP and CAFF.
Keywords: biodiversity, climate feedbacks, carbon cycling, arctic ecosystem interactions
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
