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Life in the North Biology 312.3

Life in the North Biology 312.3. Framework to Study Northern Ecosystems. Three Central Themes:. How do environmental factors structure Northern ecosystems? What role do humans play in the conservation of ecosystems in the North?

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Life in the North Biology 312.3

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  1. Life in the NorthBiology 312.3 Framework to Study Northern Ecosystems

  2. Three Central Themes: • How do environmental factors structure Northern ecosystems? • What role do humans play in the conservation of ecosystems in the North? • How is human health and wellness linked to changes in the Arctic?

  3. Terminology Ecosystem A system of interdependent and interacting living organisms and their immediate physical, chemical, and biological environments

  4. Biome A major ecological community of organisms, usually characterized by dominant vegetation type or environmental feature (e.g. sea, barren-grounds)

  5. Food Web A complex system of interdependent food chains in a given ecosystem Note: Decomposers are often viewed as a distinct attribute of a food web

  6. Biodiversity The variety of life forms in a given biome. Includes considerations of species diversity, abundance, behaviors, genetics.

  7. Sustainability The ability of an ecosystem, or a population, to maintain its diversity, abundance, and integrity Sustainability Resilient to Changes

  8. Scale The spatial and temporal structure of an environment, or a behavior e.g. sea-ice structure; habitat selection of caribou;

  9. Autocorrelation of Temporal vs. Spatial Scale

  10. High Arctic Low Arctic Sub Arctic Boreal

  11. Sea Ice

  12. Biohazard A physical, chemical, or radioactive substance that may cause health issues due to exposure or bio-accumulation Note: Generally within a context of human health

  13. What is Unique About Northern Ecosystems? • Sea ice dynamics • Environmental extremes • Low precipitations (cold desert) • Short growing season • Unpredictable resource distribution, especially for marine environments

  14. Defining the Arctic The word Arctic comes from the Greek word for bear, arktos, after the constellations Ursa major and Ursa minor that are visible year round in the northern night sky.

  15. CAFF Boundary

  16. How is the Arctic environment studied? The application of evidence-based knowledge is essential to best manage and sustain Arctic environments. Best Practices: • Multi-discipline approach (e.g. Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean Sciences, Ecosystem Sciences, Toxicology, etc.) • Local knowledge & scientific knowledge • Consultation & collaboration

  17. Required Readings • Box 1: The mission of CAFF • Box 2: The Arctic Council

  18. Arctic: A Complex System Atmospheric Sciences Toxicology Ecosystem Sciences Ocean Sciences Earth Sciences Dimensions of Scale: Spatial, Temporal, and Organizational

  19. Atmospheric Sciences • Air currents • Contaminant transport • Climate changes • U.V. radiation Note: Connects Arctic with rest of the World

  20. cP: Continental Polar mP: Maritime Polar cA: Continental Arctic mT: Maritime Tropical cT: Continental Tropical

  21. Required Reading Box 5 pg. 25: The North Atlantic Oscillation & Reindeer Husbandry

  22. Ocean Science • Ocean currents • Sea ice dynamics • Air temperatures • Contaminant transport Note: Connects Arctic with rest of the World

  23. Earth Sciences • Snow • Permafrost • Glacier • Biogeochemical Processes (e.g. soil) • Natural Resources

  24. The Lena Delta Composite Satellite Image

  25. Ecosystem Sciences • Biodiversity • Sustainability (harvest, industries) • Nutrient reservoirs • Growing cycles • Wildlife population ecology

  26. Required Reading Box 12: The Arctic as a Theatre of Evolution Box 13: Microbes Everywhere

  27. Toxicology • Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) • Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) • Radioactive isotopes • Heavy metals • Local contaminants

  28. Humans in the Arctic

  29. First Peoples and the Environment • Human settlement in Arctic for thousands of years • e.g. Yukon inhabited ~15 000 years ago • Humans survived by making use of reoccurring patterns of particular species and habitats • Spring: Marine mammals hunted on sea ice • Summer: Fish camps • Fall: Followed herds of terrestrial mammals

  30. Introduction to Europeans • Early 16th Century: European fishermen reached Newfoundland • Followed by traders, missionaries, fur traders, whalers, etc. • Introduced European goods into Inuit society

  31. Who Lives in the Arctic Now? • Sedentary communities • Practice of traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering maintained • Families may move to fishing camps in summer • Hunters may provide for several families • Migration of non-indigenous people to the Arctic • Government, industrial jobs (e.g. mining, oil and gas production)

  32. Integrating cultural traditions and modern technology Dogsled Snow machine Bow and Arrow Rifle and Shotgun Kayak Outboard motor

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