Transitions of social-ecological subsistence systems in the Arctic

Transitions of social-ecological systems (SES) expose governance systems to new challenges. This is particularly so in the Arctic where resource systems are increasingly subjected to global warming, industrial development and globalization which subsequently alter the local SES dynamics. Based on common-pool resource theory, we developed a dynamic conceptual model explaining how exogenous drivers might alter a traditional subsistence system from a provisioning to an appropriation actions situation. In a provisioning action situation the resource users do not control the resource level but adapt to the fluctuating availability of resources, and the collective challenge revolve around securing the subsistence in the community. An increased harvest pressure enabled by exogenous drivers could transform the SES to an appropriation action situation where the collective challenge has changed to avoid overuse of a common-pool resource. The model was used as a focal lens to investigate the premises for broad-scale transitions of subsistence-oriented SESs in Arctic Alaska, Canada and Greenland. We synthesized data from documents, official statistics and grey and scientific literature to explore the different components of our model. Our synthesis suggests that the traditional Arctic subsistence SESs mostly comply with a provisioning action situation. Despite population growth and available technology; urbanization, increased wage labor and importation of food have reduced the resource demand, and we find no evidence for a broad-scale transition to an appropriation action situation throughout the Western Arctic. However, appropriation challenges have emerged in some cases either as a consequence of commercialization of the resource or by severely reduced resource stocks due to various exogenous drivers. Future transitions of SESs could be triggered by the emergence of commercial local food markets and Arctic warming. In particular, Arctic warming is an intensifying exogenous driver that is threatening many important Arctic wildlife resources inflicting increased appropriation challenges to the governance of local harvest.Ye

Oceans and the Sustainable Development Goals: Co-Benefits, Climate Change & Social Equity

Achieving ocean sustainability is paramount for coastal communities and marine industries, yet is also inextricably linked to much broader global sustainable development—including increased resilience to climate change and improved social equity—as envisioned by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This report highlights the co-benefits from achieving each SDG 14 target: progress towards each of the other 161 SDG targets when ocean targets are met, given ten-year lag times between ocean targets and other SDG targets. The identification of co-benefits is based on input from more than 30 scientific experts in the Nereus Program. Below we highlight notable co-benefits of achieving each target within SDG 14

Insects and Related Terrestrial Invertebrates of Ellef Ringnes Island

Reports results of collecting and observing arthropod fauna over a 25-day period in July-Aug. 1960 at the Polar Continental Shelf Project base at Isachsen, where the summers are unusually cold. Some 75 species are believed present in an environment closely approaching the limits of biotic tolerance, and detailed descriptions are given of most of these (Latin names), with their characteristic habitats and global distributions. They include spiders, mites, springtails and insects, particularly midges. The view is elaborated that only those species able to withstand frequent interruptions of development in various stages and a life cycle extending over several years are able to survive. Specimens at all stages of development were found simultaneously. Other adaptations to extremely severe environmental conditions were mentioned. The role occupied by the lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus is described, as the habits of a third of the arthropod species are linked with it. The very low flying habits of some species are noted. The age of the entire island biota is placed within the last 200 years, and the source area considered to be the islands to the east, principally Axel Heiberg, the means of dispersal being wind, ice rafts, mammals and birds

The Emperor Goose: An Annotated Bibliography

This bibliography contains more than 500 published and unpublished references relevant to the emperor goose (Chen canagica). The referenced works date from the early exploration of Beringia and Alaska through the formal description of the species in 1802 to 1993

IPCC reasons for concern regarding climate change risks

The reasons for concern framework communicates scientific understanding about risks in relation to varying levels of climate change. The framework, now a cornerstone of the IPCC assessments, aggregates global risks into five categories as a function of global mean temperature change. We review the framework's conceptual basis and the risk judgments made in the most recent IPCC report, confirming those judgments in most cases in the light of more recent literature and identifying their limitations. We point to extensions of the framework that offer complementary climate change metrics to global mean temperature change and better account for possible changes in social and ecological system vulnerability. Further research should systematically evaluate risks under alternative scenarios of future climatic and societal conditions

Oceanus.

v. 26, no. 1 (1983

Prevalence of blood parasites in seabirds - a review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>While blood parasites are common in many birds in the wild, some groups seem to be much less affected. Seabirds, in particular, have often been reported free from blood parasites, even in the presence of potential vectors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From a literature review of hemosporidian prevalence in seabirds, we collated a dataset of 60 species, in which at least 15 individuals had been examined. These data were included in phylogenetically controlled statistical analyses of hemosporidian prevalence in relation to ecological and life-history parameters. <it>Haemoproteus </it>parasites were common in frigatebirds and gulls, while <it>Hepatozoon </it>occurred in albatrosses and storm petrels, and <it>Plasmodium </it>mainly in penguins. The prevalence of <it>Haemoproteus </it>showed a geographical signal, being lower in species with distribution towards polar environments. Interspecific differences in <it>Plasmodium </it>prevalence were explained by variables that relate to the exposure to parasites, suggesting that prevalence is higher in burrow nesters with long fledgling periods. Measures of <it>Plasmodium</it>, but not <it>Haemoproteus </it>prevalences were influenced by the method, with PCR-based data resulting in higher prevalence estimates.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our analyses suggest that, as in other avian taxa, phylogenetic, ecological and life-history parameters determine the prevalence of hemosporidian parasites in seabirds. We discuss how these relationships should be further explored in future studies.</p