Climate Change Influences on Species Interrelationships and Distributions in High-Arctic Greenland

• Main Authors: D. R., Klein, Bruun, H. H., Lundgren, R., Philipp, Marianne
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Arctic; Greenland; Arctic bell-heather; Cassiope tetragona; Climate change; Dryas octopetala; Mountain avens; North Greenland; Sea ice; Zackenberg
• Online Access: https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/climate-change-influences-on-species-interrelationships-and-distributions-in-higharctic-greenland(055cfdf0-de60-11dd-b5fc-000ea68e967b).html; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2504(07)00004-9

Biotic communities in Northeast Greenland have an insular character as a consequence of the complex geomorphological nature of the ice-free land and its interdigitation with glacial ice and the sea. Post Pleistocene movements of most plants and animals into the region have generally followed East and North Greenland coastal routes, and the majority of the plants have North American affinities. Climatic change, bringing about reduction in the extent sea ice adjacent to the coast and changes in seasonality and associated precipitation and air movements, influences patterns of activity, growth, reproduction, and dispersal of all life forms present. Climate-associated changes in the biotic communities of the region are altering inter-species interactions, notably pollination, seed dispersal and plant-herbivore relations. Sexual reproduction and dispersal of propagules, primarily seeds, are essential processes underlying maintenance of genetic diversity in plant communities in Northeast Greenland. Wind and water transport of seeds are primary methods by which plants disperse and become established in the High Arctic, particularly at shorter distances. Birds and mammals are also involved and may be of particular significance to long-distance seed dispersal. In Northeast Greenland, dispersal of viable seeds may frequently occur by passage through the guts of geese and musk oxen. Research at Zackenberg on the role of insects in pollination of flowering plants has shown that Diptera species, primarily flies, dominate among the insect species visiting flowers each summer. Diptera, Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (bumble bees and small wasps), and one Hemiptera (true bugs) species have constituted the primary pollinators at Zackenberg. Arctic willow Salix arctica, white arctic bell heather Cassiope tetragona, and mountain avens Dryas octopetala are the primary species represented in the pollen present on pollinating insects at Zackenberg. The effects of climate warming that may enhance environmental ...