Arctic Insects as Indicators of Environmental Change

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The great diversity of terrestrial arthropods in the Arctic suggests that these organisms are especially useful to monitor environmental change there, where warming as a result of climatic change is expected to be especially pronounced and where current conditions are limiting for many organisms. Based on existing information about arctic faunas and how they differ from temperate ones, this paper suggests several elements, including ratios and other quantitative indexes, that can be used for long-term evaluations of change. These elements include composition indexes, range limits, marker species, interspecific ratios, relationship shifts, phenological and physiological indicators, and key sites. Using such elements in a planned way would exploit the diversity of arctic insects and emphasize their importance in arctic systems. Key words: arctic arthropods, arctic insects, arctic fauna, climatic change, environmental change, monitoring, indicator species, long-term research RÉSUMÉ. La grande diversité d'arthropodes terrestres dans l'Arctique suggkre que ces organismes se prêtent particulièrement bien à la surveillance des changements qui prennent place dans cet environnement, où l'on s'attend à un réchauffement assez prononcé suite aux changements climatiques et où les conditions actuelles sont défavorables à beaucoup d'organismes. En s'appuyant sur l'information actuelle concernant les espèces arctiques et la façon dont elles diffèrent des espèces tempérées, cet article propose divers Cléments, y compris des rapports et d'autres index quantitatifs, à utiliser pour effectuer une évaluation à long terme des changements. Ces Cléments comprennent les index de composition, les limites de territoire, les espkces repères, les rapports interspécifiques, les modifications des liens, les indicateurs phénologiques et physiologiques ainsi que les sites clés. L'utilisation planifiée de ces éléments permettrait d'exploiter la diversité des insectes arctiques et de souligner leur importance dans les systèmes arctiques.

Phylogenetic diversity of regional beetle faunas at high latitudes: patterns, drivers and chance along ecological gradients

“…Given that phylogenetic diversity was strongly related to climatic variability or temperature extremes, current trend of increasing temperatures and extreme climatic events are likely to modify the insect faunas at high latitudes (Danks 1992;Hickling et al 2006;Betzholtz et al 2012;Devictor et al 2012). Our ''space as proxy for temporal trends'' modelling approach strongly suggests that, along with changes in species richness, phylogenetic diversity is also likely to change in the face of climate change.…”

Development of the muskox lungworm, Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis (Protostrongylidae), in gastropods in the Arctic

“…Arctic ecosystems are especially constrained by climatic conditions (Danks 1992), and several northern studies demonstrate or predict links between a warmer climate and changes in the geographic distribution of pathogens and disease occurrence (Halvorsen 1986;Handeland and Slettbakk 1994;Lindgren et al 2000;Randolph and Rogers 2000;Hoberg et al 2001;Kutz et al 2001a). In Canada, the Mackenzie District and the Arctic Tundra are undergoing a period of accelerated warming, 2.0 and 1.1°C, respectively (Environment Canada at http://www.mscsmc.ec.gc.ca/ccrm/bulletin/annual01/ttabsumm_e.html (accessed on 10 Dec. 2002)).…”

Insect Biodiversity in the Nearctic Region

“…The first seeks more systematic knowledge. For example, additional collecting is required, especially in relatively unexplored areas and in regions of particular interest, such as the arctic (Danks 1992), and areas with unusually high biodiversity (Masner 1990). Refinement of collecting techniques for this purpose overcomes the complexities of habitat and insect behavior.…”