Effects of changing permafrost and snow conditions on tundra wildlife: critical places and times

Arctic Science

article

Dominique Berteaux¹  Gilles Gauthier²  Florent Domine³  Rolf A. Ims⁵  Scott F. Lamoureux⁶  Esther Lévesque⁷  Nigel Yoccoz⁵ 

[1] Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity and Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski;Department of Biology and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval;Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada);Department of Chemistry and Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université Laval;Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway;Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University;Département des Sciences de l’environnement et Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université du Québec à TroisRivières

关键词: ice;    permafrost;    snow;    tundra;    wildlife.;   

DOI  :  10.1139/as-2016-0023

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: NRC Research Press

【 摘 要 】

The change of water phase around 0 °C has considerable impacts on wildlife ecology because liquid and solid water strongly differ in their insulating capability, mechanical resistance, and light reflectance. Freeze and melt events thus have strong ecological relevance, particularly in the Arctic where snow and ice are omnipresent and their conditions are changing due to climate warming. We first review the mechanisms linking water phase transitions to wildlife ecology, with emphasis on seven key processes. These processes are illustrated with examples or detailed case studies, such as snowmelt and icing events affecting herbivore populations, thaw-induced collapse of structures used by wildlife for reproduction, and thermal erosion of ice wedges reducing waterfowl habitat. We infer that water phase transitions generate some critical places and critical times that play a disproportionate role in the ecology of tundra wildlife. We map these critical places and times to help structure future research on the effects of climate change on tundra wildlife in a context where changing permafrost and snow conditions might trigger abrupt ecological responses in the Arctic tundra.

【 授权许可】

CC BY