Novel biodiversity baselines outpace models of fish distribution in Arctic waters

• Published in: The Science of Nature
• Main Authors: Christiansen, Jørgen Schou, Bonsdorff, Erik, Byrkjedal, Ingvar, Fevolden, Svein-Erik, Karamushko, Oleg V., Lynghammar, Arve, Mecklenburg, Catherine W., Møller, Peter Rask, Nielsen, Julius, Nordström, Marie C., Præbel, Kim, Wienerroither, Rupert M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Arctic; atlantic cod; Barents Sea; Climate change; East Greenland; Gadus morhua; Greenland; Sebastes mentella
• Online Access: https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/novel-biodiversity-baselines-outpace-models-of-fish-distribution-in-arctic-waters(50cecdd9-211f-490d-aaec-c61b89b359b0).html; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1332-9

During a recent marine biological expedition to the Northeast Greenland shelf break (latitudes 74–77 °N), we made the first discovery of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) and capelin (Mallotus villosus). Our novel observations shift the distribution range of Atlantic cod >1000 km further north in East Greenland waters. In light of climate change, we discuss physical forcing and putative connections between the faunas of the Northeast Greenland shelf and the Barents Sea. We emphasise the importance of using real data in spread scenarios for understudied Arctic seas.