Introduction
The Arctic has a unique climate within the earth’s ecosystem. Fearly little of low angle sunlight reaches the Arctic and more energy is radiated from the polar regions than is received. This makes the Arctic climate very harsh and difficult for growth and survival. Great variation in temperature and the contrast between the long and dark winter and the brief and light summer require extreme adaptability of plants and animals. The Arctic contains many species not found elsewhere, and many habitats and ecological processes and adaptations that are unique.
To survive the Arctic conditions, animals have developed many behavioral and morphological adaptations. They use snow as shelter throughout the winter, accumulate large fat deposits when food is available and change the color and texture of their fur or plumage in winter to insulate their bodies and retain their cryptic
coloration year round.
Several mammalian species spend the winter in torpor to escape the coldest period of the year and species such as bear and badger spend their winter sleeping under the snow.
One of the characteristics of almost all Arctic animals is their ability and willingness to migrate even very long distances in search for food and easier environment.
Some Arctic species
The Arctic Char
The Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) is the most northern distributed freshwater fish, and part of the small group of salmonid fishes (i.e., salmons, trouts, whitefishes). Chars are a significant component of aquatic and near shore marine ecosystems in the Arctic. Often the only freshwater fish available, they play a major role for the subsistence of local people who fish returning upstream migrants of sea-run char in late summer and early autumn. Arctic Chars are threatened by a wide range of impacts ranging from local exploitation and habitat fragmentation and degradation mostly through oil and gas development, to widespread and pervasive impacts such as climate change and atmospheric contaminant deposition. Moreover, pervasive threats such as climate change affect Arctic aquatic ecosystems in a dramatic way, clearly having a huge impact on its most sensitive ecosystem components. Yet, many aspects of ecological roles of chars are still unknown at present for most northern ecosystems. Clearly, the integrity and continued health and viability of northern aquatic ecosystems are intimately connected to the biodiversity of chars present in those systems.
Reindeer and Caribou
Reindeer and Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are distributed circumpolar in every Arctic country. Caribou represent the most dominant large mammal species in 
Arctic habitats and are an extremely valuable component of Arctic biodiversity and cultural identity of many northern peoples. Caribous are the only member of the deer family where both males and females grow antlers. Pregnant females will retain their antlers until after calving, allowing them to dominate the social hierarchy in late winter. During deep snow years, caribou will move in search of more favorable snow conditions, as more energy is expended digging to the lichens than is derived from feeding. Reindeer and Caribou are a vulnerable yet crucial source of income from Arctic terrestrial ecosystems for northern peoples. Close monitoring of these wild and domestic Rangifer populations is vital in assessing the impact of climate change.
Gray Wolf
Gray wolves (Canis lupus arctos) currently number about 150,000 worldwide. Some 80% live in the circumpolar countries, although the number actually living in the Arctic is unknown. Canada has the most wolves of any arctic country, with some 50,000 to 63,000 animals inhabiting about 86% of their historical range. About 16,000 of the wolves live north of 60°N. Most of these Arctic populations are considered stable and not at risk. While wolves are abundant in Alaska, northern Canada, and Russia, local overharvests may occur. Habitat loss continues to be a concern for wolf conservation, especially in areas with recovering wolf populations. Wolves are regarded by many as a nuisance species, hampering thus management and recovery plans. The challenge continues to be the development and public acceptance of a flexible conservation plan that accommodates wolves in wilderness, but allows for local conflict management.
Ivory Gull
The Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnean) is a high Arctic seabird breeding at high latitudes in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic and often associated with sea ice throughout the year. In
spite of an early discovery the Ivory Gull still remains one of the most poorly known seabird species in the world. There is growing concern in the circumpolar Arctic that the Ivory Gull may be in decline. The most recent information on population trend of Ivory Gulls exists for Canada, Svalbard and Russia. In Canada, the Ivory Gull has a highly restricted range, breeding exclusively in Nunavut Territory. Recent surveys in Svalbard suggest that only a few of the known colonies are still being used there and that the total population is smaller than previously estimated. Information obtained currently on Russian breeding grounds indicate stable populations breeding at some key colonies, although considerable annual fluctuations in numbers of breeding birds occurs. The Ivory Gull has been protected in West Greenland since 1977 under the Greenland Home Rule Order of 5 May 1988 concerning the protection of birds in Greenland. In Svalbard, it has been protected since 1978, under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. In Russia, it was listed in the Red Data Book of the USSR (1984) and now is registered as a Category 3 (Rare) species in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation.
Climate change
Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to the Arctic environment as it exists today. Observed changes in species abundance and distribution, and to permafrost and sea ice, are evidence that climate change is already having an impact. Although the predictions cannot tell what will happen, they do indicate the types of ecological impacts that may occur.
The impacts are likely to include melting of discontinuous permafrost, changes in distribution of moisture and the northward expansion of the forest. The climate change is further likely to affect the distribution of most plants and animals of the tundra and polar desert and affect the fish and shellfish distribution in the Arctic waters. Loss of permanent sea ice altogether would clearly have tremendous impacts on algae, plankton, fish, and marine mammals that use sea ice.
Monitoring to detect the impacts of climate change and ultraviolet radiation on Arctic ecosystems is vital, as is further research to understand the dynamics of the systems that will be affected.
Reference:
All the information presented above is gathered from the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group’s homepage
and from the Arctic Flora and Fauna: Status and Conservation report.
Currently there seems to be a consensus that all of these activities will increase further and that trans arctic shipping will become a reality, that it is just a matter of time. There are nonetheless significant challenges, and issues that need to be analyzed and dealt with to prevent environmental disasters and ensure the safety of seafarers. It is clear that the benefits of these activities can be significant, but the environmental hazards are numerous as well. Infrastructure and safety measures are lacking and need to be addressed. There is an ongoing debate if there is a need for mandatory regulations by the IMO. The jurisdiction over the waterway is also disputed most prominently between the U.S and Canada.
IA will be the first party to govern in Greenland under the newly expanded home-rule agreement, which was approved by popular vote in November 2008. The newly approved home-rule agreement will give the Greenlandic government increased control over their natural resources and allow it to take greater charge of justice and legal affairs and will make the political development of Greenland all the more interesting.
The University Centre acts as a contact between Westfjords residents and institutions of higher education. The most important aspect of this work is the University Centre’s function as the West Fjord’s distance-learning institute. Seven universities in Iceland offer distance learning courses and distance learning instruction takes place at the Centre, variously through the Internet or with the help of remote conference technology.
The University Centre of the Westfjords offers exciting continuing education opportunities in the field of environmental and resource management, in connection with its cross-disciplinary program in Coastal and Marine Management.
SOI was founded by adventurer, environmentalist and educator, Geoff Green – a veteran expedition leader of 74 Antarctic expeditions and 31 Arctic expeditions. In 2004, Outpost Magazine chose Geoff as one of the “Top 5 Explorers to Watch”. Over the past fifteen years, Geoff and SOI have worked directly with many IAATO Members, including Quark Expeditions, Polar Star Expeditions, Peregrine Expeditions, Hapag Lloyd, ResidenSea, and Antarpply Expeditions.
The aim of Students on Ice is not to simply provide students with a “trip” to a unique destination but rather to give students an opportunity to have an aesthetic experience in some of the most wild and awe-inspiring ecosystems in the world. The objective is not to let students to just pass through a place with camera in hand, but rather to listen to the land; to ‘feel’ these natural places and in turn, explore how humans feel when immersed in such places. The goal of SOI is that students experience a transformative connection with Nature – a connection that changes the way they understand and act in this world.
Students on Ice program, has received numerous awards and citations for its work with young people, education, the environment and polar conservation. Recently, it received the prestigious 2007 Citation of Merit Award from the Explorers Club in New York City. It has also received the Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion in Canada, as well as a special Citation of Merit from the United States Congress.
