Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xue Zhang, Xiaoteng Lu, Yong Chi, Yaohan Jiang, Chundi Wang, Saleh A. Al-Farraj, Adriana Vallesi, Feng Gao
Summary: This study investigates the conjugation process in Paramecium multimicronucleatum, revealing the key processes of cell division, macronuclear development, and genomic exclusion. These findings provide new insights into the diversity of sexual processes in ciliates and lay an important cytological foundation for future studies on mating systems.
MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Janne E. E. Soreide, Katarzyna Dmoch, Katarzyna Blachowiak-Samolyk, Emilia Trudnowska, Malin Daase
Summary: This study investigates the recurring patterns in the mesozooplankton community structure in Billefjorden, Svalbard. The results show that different strategies in seasonal variation, depth preference, and timing of reproduction reduce interspecies competition and result in a high and stable abundance of mesozooplankton year-round, despite the short primary production window at high latitudes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maja Hatlebakk, Ksenia Kosobokova, Malin Daase, Janne E. Soreide
Summary: The study examined the population structure, overwintering strategies, gonad maturation, and egg production of the calanoid copepod Calanus glacialis and its sibling Calanus finmarchicus in a high-Arctic fjord. C. glacialis dominated and showed early reproduction and flexibility in its life cycle, giving it an advantage over C. finmarchicus in unpredictable Arctic environments. Both species seem to benefit from warming as long as C. glacialis has access to colder refuge.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tesni Lloyd-Jones, Jonathan J. Dick, Timothy P. Lane, Eoghan M. Cunningham, Konstadinos Kiriakoulakis
Summary: Plastic pollution is a significant concern in marine environments globally, and this study found that microplastics are present on beaches in Svalbard. The abundance and type of microplastics varied greatly between sites and were linked to proximity to human activities.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
V. K. Saritha, K. P. Krishnan, Mahesh Mohan
Summary: This study aims to assess the concentration and distribution of PFOA in selected fjord systems of the Svalbard archipelago in the Norwegian Arctic. The results show that Hotmiltonbuktafjorden sediment exhibited a higher concentration of PFOA compared to other fjords. Further studies are required to understand the fate of PFOA in the sedimentary environment.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eswara Venkatesaperumal Ramasamy, Shini Sruthy, Ajay Kumar Harit, Mahesh Mohan, Mechirackal Balan Binish
Summary: This study found the presence of microplastics in the sediment of Kongsfjorden, an Arctic fjord, with high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polyamide as the main components. Further research is needed to understand the sources and mechanisms of microplastics transport to the sediment and their impact on Arctic fjords.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Konstantina Nakoudi, Christoph Ritter, Iwona S. Stachlewska
Summary: This study explores the long-term properties of cirrus clouds for the first time over an Arctic site, finding that cirrus clouds are generally associated with colder and calmer wind conditions, but their properties do not strongly depend on temperature and wind speed, with wintertime cirrus appearing thicker and with more spherical ice particles. The majority of cirrus at the Arctic site are associated with westerly flow and tend to be optically thicker and consist of more spherical ice particles compared to lower latitudes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dalia M. M. Yacout, Mats Tysklind, Venkata K. K. Upadhyayula
Summary: International shipping in the Arctic region plays a significant role in environmental changes, and forest-based biofuels are seen as an attractive alternative to conventional fuels. Life cycle assessment shows that forest-based bioethanol has lower impact on climate change potential, but higher impact on several other environmental aspects. Replacing heavy fuel oil with forest-based biodiesel can significantly reduce acidification potential and have overall lower impact on various environmental categories. Using blends of marine gas oil with forest-based bioethanol can help achieve reduced emissions and better environmental performance in Arctic shipping.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jozef M. Wiktor, Agnieszka Tatarek, Aleksandra Kruss, Rakesh Kumar Singh, Janne E. Soreide
Summary: A warmer Arctic with less sea ice is likely to result in improved growth conditions for macroalgae. However, the study found that the density and condition of macroalgae varied significantly between a warm, ice-free site influenced by the Atlantic and a cold, Arctic site with seasonal ice cover. The differences in macroalgal density and condition were only observed at depths down to 5 meters.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Julie Albaric, Daniela Kuhn, Matthias Ohrnberger, Nadege Langet, Dave Harris, Ulrich Polom, Isabelle Lecomte, Gregor Hillers
Summary: This study analyzes seismic experiment data in the Adventdalen valley of Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic to characterize the ambient wavefield and investigate permafrost dynamics. Results show changes in seismic noise with temperature, indicating potential cryogenic origins.
SEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shabnam Choudhary, Kannaiyan Neelavanan, Syed Mohammad Saalim
Summary: The abundance, source, and distribution of microplastics in the surface sediments of the Krossfjord-Kongsfjord system in the European Arctic have been assessed. The study found a high abundance of microplastics, particularly fibers, in the sediment samples, suggesting the influence of long-range transport and local inputs from anthropogenic activities as possible sources.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katja Laufer-Meiser, Alexander B. Michaud, Markus Maisch, James M. Byrne, Andreas Kappler, Molly O. Patterson, Hans Roy, Bo Barker Jorgensen
Summary: The Arctic has the highest warming rates on Earth, and the glacial fjord ecosystems are sensitive to this warming, impacting iron cycling and bioavailability. Glacial retreat may reduce the flux of iron to coastal marine ecosystems, affecting biogeochemical processes. Further research is needed to fully understand the impacts of a melting Arctic on marine ecosystems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dariusz Ignatiuk, Malgorzata Blaszczyk, Tomasz Budzik, Mariusz Grabiec, Jacek A. Jania, Marta Kondracka, Michal Laska, Lukasz Malarzewski, Lukasz Stachnik
Summary: The warming of the Arctic climate, known as Arctic amplification, is the focus of this study, which presents glaciological and meteorological data collected in southern Spitsbergen from 2009 to 2020. The data includes air temperature, humidity, wind speed, radiation, snow depth, snow density, and glacier mass balance measurements. The datasets serve as valuable resources for studying processes in the polar environment and can be used for hydrological and glaciological modeling and remote sensing product calibration.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nadin Jensen, Nancy Weiland-Braeuer, Shindhuja Joel, Cynthia Maria Chibani, Ruth Anne Schmitz
Summary: The native microbiome of Cnidarian Aurelia aurita is crucial for asexual reproduction by strobilation. The absence of the native microbiome results in a compromised strobilation process, which can be restored by recolonization with the native microbiota.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Geetha Priya Murugesan, Varshini Narayan, Suresh Devaraj
Summary: The melting of continental glaciers has a direct impact on the environment, particularly affecting sea-level rise and settlements along the coast. Researchers are increasingly focused on understanding the evolution and distribution of glaciers in the context of global warming and changing glacier mass, but difficulties persist in comprehending supra-glacial debris cover and its characteristics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Svetlana A. Murzina, Svetlana N. Pekkoeva, Ekaterina A. Kondakova, Zinaida A. Nefedova, Kseniia A. Filippova, Nina N. Nemova, Alexei M. Orlov, Jorgen Berge, Stig Falk-Petersen
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Floris M. van Beest, Henrik Nygard, Vivi Fleming, Jacob Carstensen
Summary: Ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing pressures from human activities, and Decision Support Tools (DSTs) can assist in evaluating ecosystem status and planning for alternative policies. It is crucial to quantify sources of uncertainty in DST outcomes and adhere to good modelling practise principles for future development.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
K. Dunlop, P. E. Renaud, J. Berge, D. O. B. Jones, R. P. Harbour, A. H. S. Tandberg, A. K. Sweetman
Summary: In high latitude coastal regions, benthic scavenger communities mainly consist of invertebrates, with warmer fjords influenced by Atlantic waters having higher species richness compared to cold fjords in Svalbard. This study demonstrates the potential ecosystem responses to warming in Arctic and Subarctic fjords, highlighting the dominance of certain scavenger species in different environmental conditions.
Article
Fisheries
Mikko Vihtakari, Robinson Hordoir, Margaret Treble, Meaghan D. Bryan, Bjarki Elvarsson, Adriana Nogueira, Elvar H. Hallfredsson, Jorgen Schou Christiansen, Ole Thomas Albert
Summary: The study uses a habitat model based on bottom depth, temperature, and salinity to estimate the potential distribution of Greenland halibut. The model fits observations well, but gaps in prediction exist due to limited survey activity in ice-covered seas around the Arctic Ocean. Model predictions suggest that ongoing sea-ice melt may lead to fisheries expansion into new areas.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Samuel M. Llobet, Heidi Ahonen, Christian Lydersen, Jorgen Berge, Rolf Ims, Kit M. Kovacs
Summary: Male bearded seals use vocal displays to attract females and compete with other males during the mating season. Passive acoustic monitoring can be used to monitor breeding populations of this species. The study analyzed year-round acoustic data records from different sites in Svalbard to investigate seasonal variation in the acoustic presence of male bearded seals and the phenology of different call types.
Review
Oceanography
Pierre Priou, Anna Nikolopoulos, Hauke Flores, Rolf Gradinger, Erin Kunisch, Christian Katlein, Giulia Castellani, Torsten Linders, Jorgen Berge, Jonathan A. D. Fisher, Maxime Geoffroy
Summary: This study reveals the under-ice distribution of epipelagic and mesopelagic organisms at the Arctic-Atlantic gateway in spring, during the midnight sun period. The epipelagic surface scattering layer is primarily composed of copepods in the top 60 meters, while the mesopelagic deep scattering layer consists mainly of fish and extends between 280 meters and 600 meters.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Estelle Coguiec, Elizaveta A. Ershova, Malin Daase, Tobias R. Vonnahme, Owen S. Wangensteen, Rolf Gradinger, Kim Praebel, Jorgen Berge
Summary: The study revealed significant seasonal changes in mesozooplankton community structure in a sub-Arctic fjord, dominated by small copepods with a diverse group of meroplankton, particularly within the phylum polychaeta. The seasons were characterized by distinct periods of low abundance and biomass, presence of specific species, and fluctuations in copepod diversity and abundance. Traditional community analysis and DNA metabarcoding showed complementary results in the seasonal dynamics of zooplankton communities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Piotr Balazy, Marti J. Anderson, Maciej Chelchowski, Maria Wlodarska-Kowalczuk, Piotr Kuklinski, Jorgen Berge
Summary: The study investigated scavenger activity during both Arctic polar night and day in a high Arctic fjord. The results showed significant differences in scavenger assemblages between winter and summer, as well as in response to different bait types. The consumption rates of bait were found to be slow in general, with only slight differences between the two seasons.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Magnus Drivdal, Erin H. Kunisch, Bodil A. Bluhm, Rolf Gradinger, Stig Falk-Petersen, Jorgen Berge
Summary: The study suggests that the Arctic amphipod Apherusa glacialis may maintain its population size in the Arctic Ocean through seasonal vertical migration rather than being entirely dependent on sea ice for its life cycle.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haakon Hop, Mikko Vihtakari, Bodil A. Bluhm, Malin Daase, Rolf Gradinger, Igor A. Melnikov
Summary: Recent research shows that the sea-ice macrofauna in the Arctic has changed over the past decades, with a decline in ice amphipods and benthic amphipods and variations in species composition among different locations. The disappearance of multiyear sea ice has led to a reduction in important species, while benthic amphipods have higher abundance near land.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura F. B. Marangoni, Thomas Davies, Tim Smyth, Airam Rodriguez, Mark Hamann, Cristian Duarte, Kellie Pendoley, Jorgen Berge, Elena Maggi, Oren Levy
Summary: The globally widespread adoption of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) has led to a renewed research focus on its impacts in the marine environment. This review presents the current understanding of ALAN impacts in diverse marine ecosystems and species, including seabirds, sea turtles, and corals. ALAN can mask navigation, change predation patterns, disrupt coral spawning synchronization, and inhibit zooplankton migration. While mitigation measures are recommended, barriers to implementation are poorly understood. Addressing knowledge gaps would aid in predicting and mitigating ALAN impacts in the marine realm.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Boris Espinasse, Malin Daase, Elisabeth Halvorsen, Marit Reigstad, Jorgen Berge, Sunnje L. Basedow
Summary: Recent observations in the Arctic have challenged the previous belief that marine ecosystems in polar areas are mostly inactive during the polar night. The presence of Calanus finmarchicus in the upper part of the water column in early January, contrary to its predicted behavior, has prompted further investigation into the underlying mechanisms and potential impacts. This study found a close relationship between the abundance of C. finmarchicus in surface waters and Polar Surface Water near the sea ice edge, suggesting the importance of lipid-rich copepods in driving the spatial distributions of top predators in the Arctic.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Mikko Vihtakari, Bjarki Por Elvarsson, Margaret Treble, Adriana Nogueira, Kevin Hedges, Nigel E. Hussey, Laura Wheeland, Denis Roy, Lise Helen Ofstad, Elvar H. Hallfredsson, Amanda Barkley, Daniel Estevez-Barcia, Rasmus Nygaard, Brian Healey, Petur Steingrund, Torild Johansen, Ole Thomas Albert, Jesper Boje
Summary: This study compiles mark-recapture data to reveal the spatial population structure of Greenland halibut, indicating complex migrations between management units in the North Atlantic and highlighting the implications for fisheries management.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
David Gislason, Daniel Estevez-Barcia, Saemundur Sveinsson, Agneta Hansen, Denis Roy, Margaret Treble, Jesper Boje, Mikko Vihtakari, Bjarki Thor Elvarsson, Kevin Hedges, Elvar H. Hallfredsson, Torild Johansen
Summary: Understanding the genetic differentiation among marine fish populations is challenging due to unknown spawning grounds and difficulties in collecting spawning fish. This study collected juvenile fish from nursery habitats associated with potential spawning grounds and used genotype by sequencing to discover genetic markers for assessing genetic differentiation. The results revealed major genetic differentiation between the northeast and northwest Atlantic, supporting the presence of two primary spawning clusters. Furthermore, genetic differentiation was found among the three northwest Atlantic samples, indicating the existence of more than one spawning area in the northwest.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Laura Hobbs, Neil S. Banas, Jonathan H. Cohen, Finlo R. Cottier, Jorgen Berge, Oystein Varpe
Summary: The predation risk in polar marine ecosystems is closely related to the ambient light environment, which affects the vertical distribution of zooplankton. Zooplankton may have already adapted a foraging strategy to maintain a constant visual predation risk under changing light conditions, but this strategy may come with energetic costs.
