Arctic Biodiversity
The biodiversity in the Arctic is limited; therefore the food webs tend to be very direct and fragile (Fig. 1). If one species was removed, this would affect the population of other organisms and disrupt the Arctic Ecological Balance.
Factors affecting Arctic Biodiversity
1. Global Warming
Global warming is a concern of scientists. The thickness of the ice indicates the health of the habitat; the thinner the ice, the more delicate it is. Long ago, the Arctic could survive at least one summer without melting. Now, seasonal ice (ice that melts and refreezes annually) surrounds the area. In 1980, 50% of the landscape was seasonal ice, but in 2009, the figures raised to 70%.
Global Warming has caused a loss of 26% of Arctic plants in 1400 square km. The Greenland caribou population is declining since they can no longer synchronize with the changes (Fig. 2). The difference in climate has altered the growing seasons of various plants. The period when female caribou require more food no longer match with the sprouting of plants needed for their livelihood. Polar bears use ice bergs as a resting place during their swims. The decline in ice has caused many polar bears to drown (Fig. 3).
The United Nations is establishing agreements to reduce the world’s pollutions such as the Climate Conference in Copenhagen
2. Natural Resources
Experts have discovered six major oil and gas reserves and two oil and gas field with an estimated value of 51 billion tonnes and 87 trillion cubic metre of natural gas in the Arctic. It also has the world’s third largest hydrocarbon reserves and large deposits of diamonds, gold, etc.
Nations, including Canada, are making claims on the land. The government must find a sustainable method of extracting the natural resources to protect the environment.
Shell, a petroleum company, has signed a long-term partnership agreement with the International Union of Conservation of Nature in 2007. Shell agrees to work with experts to rescue the environment and support conservation.
3. Tourism
The number of cruises visiting the Arctic has risen from 50 (in 2004) to 250 (in 2007). Every cruise ship carries 200-800 passenger, each carrying 91 cubic metres of solid waste, 72 kilo of hazardous waste, and oil bilge water. Ships release or take in ballast water to stabilize the ships. If the water is collected in one place, and discharged somewhere else, there is a chance a foreign invasive creature such as zebra mussels will inhabit and destroy ecosystems (Fig. 4).
Cruising companies, such as Royal Caribbean International, have placed an environmental officer on each boat, has established an environmental management program (Save The Waves) and an ocean fund to protect marine species and their habitat (Fig. 5). Click here to view the Waste Stream Operational Controls Chart.
Guidelines for tourism in the Arctic provides principles to enjoy Arctic Tourism and to protect the habitat, and biodiversity.
Figures
References
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| Figure 1: An example of Arctic Food Web |
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| Figure 2: The Greenland Caribou |
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| Figure 3: Polar Bear struggling to balance on what remians of an ice berg. |
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| Figure 4: A cluster of zebra mussels. |
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| Figure 5: Sign for Save the Waves Program from Royal Caribbean Cruises International |
References
"Arctic Economics: Cruise Ship Pollution in the Arctic." Ben Muse. 03 Aug. 2008. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://benmuse.typepad.com/arctic_economics/2008/08/cruise-ship-pollution-in-the-arctic.html#more>.
B, Charlie. "YouTube - 2010 Arctic Ice Update." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 25 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z79kWWnbOM>.
Bell, Debra. "Caribou and Reindeer: 10 Animals Threatened by Global Warming - US News & World Report." Breaking National and World News - US News. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. <http://politics.usnews.com/news/energy/slideshows/10-animals-threatened-by-global-warming>.
"BERNAMA - Oil, Gas Reserves In Arctic Comparable To Gulf, Western Siberia - Scientist." Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA. 25 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=530250>.
Beruang. "Global Warming: The Arctic Ecosystem Is Changing." Beruang Rebus Aka The Steamed Bear XD. 08 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://beruangrebus.com/nature/global-warming-the-arctic-ecosystem-is-changing>.
International Union of Conservation of Nature. "IUCN - Marine Programme." IUCN - Home. 21 Sept. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://iucn.org/about/work/programmes/marine/?6072/Protecting-vulnerable-ecosystems-in-the-melting-Arctic>.
Royal Caribbean International. "Royal Caribbean and the Environment - Royal Caribbean International." Royal Caribbean International: Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals & Cruise Vacations - Royal Caribbean International. 2009. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ourCompany/environment/rcAndEnvironment.do>.
Schaeffer, Jason. "“green” | Jason Schaeffer." Jason Schaeffer | A Few Thoughts, Likes, Dislikes, Tastes and Opinions…. 20 May 2008. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://jasonschaeffer.wordpress.com/category/green/>.
"Zebra Mussel Cluster – Small | The Intersection | Discover Magazine." Discover Blogs | Discover Magazine. 12 Feb. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2010/02/12/marine-invaders/zebra-mussel-cluster-small/.
Comments on other Blogs
http://kicksurface.blogspot.com/2010/09/wings-of-liberty-bully-bullies.html#comments
4 comments:
I think that the one of the bigger problems affecting the Arctic's biodiversity is the fact that governments feel that they need the Arctic's natural resources.
They could just leave the Arctic completely untouched, but nooooo, they need their fossil fuels, and their gold, and rare metals.
(Then again, if one government/company refuses to claim the Arctic's natural resources, then there are more resources for the other governments/companies.)
Though there may be resource extraction methods that do less damage to the environment, I think it would be best to just leave the Arctic alone completely and reduce resource consumption at the consumer level.
Also, the exploitation of arctic natural resources is linked to global warming in a way, since carbon emissions from burning hydrocarbons and refining rare metals are quite substantial, to use an understatement.
Still, until greater action is taken to decrease natural resource consumption and carbon emissions, the Arctic ecosystem will unfortunately be at risk.
Tourism does help by speading the word; but does it negatively affect the arctic habitat as well? I'm not sure which side I'm on for this particular idea. Hopefully, more companies go on board with saving the arctic biodiversity.
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