Happy 2017! It has been some time since we've last reached out to you via this newsletter, which just goes to show how busy the CBMP has been over the past year!

 

We're very happy to report that since last year the CBMP Marine Steering Group and Expert Networks have been working very hard, aggregating and analyzing data for sea ice biota, plankton, benthos, fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals, and evaluating current monitoring. They have now compiled their efforts in a State of the Arctic Biodiversity Report to be released at the Arctic Council Ministerial in May later this year.

 

The CBMP Freshwater and Terrestrial Steering Groups are hot on their heels, and producing their own State of the Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Report and State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report, scheduled for release in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Work is underway to compile and report on the first efforts to pool circumpolar biodiversity data under these groups and publish datasets, where possible, alongside the report. The CBMP Freshwater Steering Group has also timed the release of their State of the Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Report with a special issue of Freshwater Biology for maximum exposure of their work. The Terrestrial Steering Group is considering this approach with a similarly appropriate journal.

 

Meanwhile, the CBMP Coastal group is making excellent progress and engaging a wide range of scientific and traditional knowledge experts as they develop their Arctic Coastal Biodiversity Monitoring Plan. Meetings in Canada and Denmark this year have helped them engage with Northern communities, organize their work across the concept of "coastscapes," and pull together a list of potential Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs) to include in the Plan. In addition to our Coastal Expert country and Permanent Participant representation, we appreciate the active participation from coastal communities, industry representatives and others, and anticipate the Plan to be released later this year.

We've also re-launched the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service website to better aid in the navigation of the data holdings on our GeoNetwork. CAFF now has interoperability with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the Polar Data Catalogue (PDC) and acts as the Arctic Node of the Ocean Biogeographic International System (OBIS), so our records are shared between systems.

As co-chairs, we are currently reviewing CBMP priorities and efforts to formulate 2018-2021 Strategic Plan for the program, learning from what has worked to-date and expanding efforts that deliver on our mandate to harmonize and integrate efforts to monitor the Arctic's living resources.

 

Keep reading the articles below for details on the activities and projects we mention, and more from our larger networks as well. Please be in touch with us if you have any questions on CBMP efforts. Enjoy the newsletter!

	CBMP Terrestrial Steering Group and Expert Network meeting attendees, Uppsala, Sweden, April 2017

The CBMP Terrestrial Steering Group and Expert Networks met in Uppsala, Sweden, April 5-7, 2017 to review the status of the work undertaken by the terrestrial group for the past year, and organise development of the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report (START). The meeting brought together 19 experts from across the Arctic including a Traditional Knowledge holder. The majority of the work conducted during the meeting was to further refine how the groups will report on the status and trends of their Focal Ecosystem Components which will form the basis for the reporting conducted in the START report. A series of presentations were provided focussing in recent developments in Arctic terrestrial monitoring, data issues, monitoring protocols and a wide variety of subjects.

Contact: Starri Heidmarsson (Icelandic Institute of Natural History)

Satellite data to support biodiversity assessments and monitoring

CAFF,  through the CBMP is working to produce a set of satellite-based remote sensing produ cts with a geographic focus on the pan-Arctic. Satellite products are being developed for use by different stakeholder groups and products will be organized by terrestrial, marine, coastal, and freshwater disciplines.

 

In October 2015 the  Land Cover Change report was released. This report summarizes the initial set of satellite data products included in the CAFF Land Cover Change (LCC) Initiative .

Cursory analyses have been conducted to display the potential of the MODIS suite of products in studying the pan-Arctic ecosystem. These include early warning indicators such as:

	Land surface temperature

 

The Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) is assisting CAFF on selecting and providing MODIS satellite products for this system. This is an ongoing effort that will continue to evolve and improve over time. In cooperation with the Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (ASDI) CAFF is also working to make this data available through the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS) and on the ASDI Geoportal . Work on phase II of the  Land Cover Change index has begun and will expand existing remote sensed products to include additional temporal/spatial scales and time-series analysis. Data acquisition will include targeted products for terrestrial, marine, coastal, and freshwater applications. Additional objectives include data acquisitions and analyses to support further understanding of the role of different spatial and temporal scales in remote sensing data products for biodiversity assessment and monitoring.

Contact: 

Liza Jenkins, 

Michigan Tech Research Institute

Life Linked to Ponds. Click to download.

The object of this thesis is Plantago maritima L. (family Plantaginaceae) what is the dominant species of coastal habitats in the intertidial zone on the Western coast of the White Sea near the village Kolezhma (North Karelia, Russian Federation). That coast has been chosen as a reference because it is characteristic for all coasts of the Holarctic Seas. 

This research has showed Plantago maritima L., that  originates from Central Asia, moved to the coast of the

White and Barents Seas only in late Cenozoic time and it is a well-adapted and widespread species in the new territories and new habitat condidtions. This study also supports the conclusion of M. G. Popov, that "adaptive evolution is primarily somatic, mainly affecting on the vegetative organs" (Popov, 1963, p. 13).  The high level of variation in biometric and population indices of the individuals of P. maritima suggests that this pool has the adaptive capacity of the species implemented  in the coastal zone  in a wide range of the tidal gradient.

Contact: Liudmila Sergienko (Petrozavodsk State University)

Swedish targeted monitoring of Arctic butterflies

The Swedish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme  coordinates targeted monitoring of butterflies and moths protected by the EU Habitats Directive since 2011. Two butterflies, the Glandon Blue,  Plebejus aquilo, and the Dusky-winged Fritillary,  Boloria improba, and the subspecies  catena of the Silver-spotted Skipper,  Hesperia comma, are monitored yearly at a number of sites in northernmost Sweden. In addition, the noctuid moth  Xestia borealis is monitored every six years. During 2016, 32  aquilo sites, 31  improba sites, 1  H. comma ssp.  catena site and 14  borealis sites have been visited. 

Amanda Karlsson counting butterflies at site 11/12 Crater Lake, Björkliden. Photo: Leif Björk

	Dusky-winged Fritillary, Boloria improba, near Jiebreneohkka, Torne Trask. Photo: Leif Björk

Contact: Lars Pettersson (Lund University)

Expedition O2A2-2016: Open Ocean: Arctic Archipelagos - 2016

Dr. Maria Gavrilo, scientific lead of the O2A2 Expedition, conducts shipboard surveys of marine birds and mammals. Photo: Liudmila Sergienko

During summer 20 16,  the scientific expedition Open Ocean: Arctic  Archipelagos - 2016 was performed on board MS Alter Ego in the northern Novaya Zemlya and Franz-Josef Land, the National Park Russian Arctic. 

The study priority was given to the Focal Ecosystem  Components (FECs) indicator species, following CAFF/CBMP framework documents and  the list of  marine arctic indicator species developed by Ministry of Natural  Resources of Russia.

The seabird colonies and walrus haul outs were monitored, the seabird and marine mammal watching as performed along the vessel route. Two new breeding colonies of ivory gull have been discovered. Very few bowhead whales have been observed on the way comparing to the previous five-year period.

	Miroslav Babushkin sampling biopsies  from  walrus on the coast of Franz-Josef Land. Photo: Liudmila Sergienko Alexey Krasheninnikov conducts freshwater research in the Russian Harbour (northern Novaya Zemlya). Photo: Liudmila Sergienko

Large part of the program was the studies of coastal, freshwater and terr estrial biodiversity, which are the least studied components of the entire Russian high-Arctic. The pilot survey performed within the expedition included quantitative sampling of the entomofauna and freshwater benthos, coastal vegetation, as well as complex descriptions of the fresh waterbodies and wetland habitats.

 

The expedition team will report to CAFF/ CBMP on the  status of studied FECs, will propose the sites for monitoring the freshwater, terrestrial and coastal biodiversity in the Russian sector of the Barents Sea. New species of invertebrates and plants will be proposed as additional indicators for the circumpolar high-Arctic areas.

The expedition was organized by the Association Marine Heritage: Explore and Sustain (Saint-Petersburg) and financed by the UNDP/GEF project " Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into Russia's energy sector policies and operation ".

Contact:  Maria Gavrilo (Russian Arctic National Park),  Liudmila Sergienko (Petrozavodsk State University),  Daria Martynova (Russian Academy of Science)

DNA barcoding Alaska's non-marine arthropods

	Staff at the University of Alaska Museum Insect Collection. Photo: UAM

We at the  University of Alaska Museum Insect Collection (UAM), with support of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's Alaska Region NWRS Inventory and Monitoring Initiative, are building a DNA barcode library to facilitate future monitoring of non-marine arthropods. 

Working with the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, we obtained DNA barcodes from recently collected and authoritatively identified Alaskan non-marine arthropod specimens. We obtained DNA barcodes for 1,662 species and 1,788 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), of primarily terrestrial, large-bodied arthropods. We estimate there are now over 4,000 Alaskan non-marine arthropod species represented by DNA barcodes, after including all records in BOLD of species that occur in Alaska. Thus, almost half of the 8,277 Alaskan, non-marine-arthropod named species have associated DNA barcodes. 

Photo: UAM

We believe we are the first to deliberately begin development of a DNA barcode library of the entire arthropod fauna for a North American state or province. Although far from complete, this library will become increasingly valuable as more species are added and costs to obtain DNA sequences fall. These data are available through the Barcode of Life Datasystems database, and through UAM's online database,  Arctos.

Contact: Derek S. Sikes (Curator of Insects, Associate Professor of Entomology, University of Alaska Museum (UAM))

East Bay Island migratory bird research 2016 field season report from Canada

	Jenna Cragg holding an eider duck

Our studies at East Bay have been ongoing for 20 years and were initiated in response to concerns that northern common eiders were being  overharvested on their wintering grounds in west Greenland. Since then, many new issues have emerged and our long-term dataset has allowed us to expand our research to respond to concerns raised by northern communities and environmental assessment initiatives. Current efforts focus on:

1. Investigating relationships between polar bear predation on eider nests and diminishing sea ice. 
2. Identifying key seabird marine habitats in an effort to mitigate potential issues related to northern industrial development, particularly year-round shipping. 
3. Understanding the physiological mechanisms linking climate variability, reproduction, and survival of Arctic breeding migratory birds. 
4. Investigating direct effects of changing sea-ice regimes on eider reproduction and population dynamics. 

Read the full 2016 field season report from our research team. 

Contact: Project leads: Grant Gilchrist 

(Environment and Climate Change Canada) and Oliver Love (University of Windsor)

Hudson Strait common eider and polar bear surveys 2016 field season report from Canada

	2016 field crew: Top row L to R Kov Ottokie, Samuel Richard, Charlie Qiatsuq, Luutaaq Qaumagiaq, Daniel Taukie, Cody Dey, Adamie Qaumagiaq, Megan McCloskey, and Sjoerd Duijns. Bottom row L to R David McGeachy, Numa Ottokie and Salamonie Aningmiuq.

This project in Hudson Strait aims to address information gaps in scientific data for credible habitat assessment of marine wildlife in the eastern Canadian Arctic using a variety of new techniques, an established multi-disciplinary research team, and a collaborative approach. We are working to quantify the distribution and abundance of marine birds in the Hudson Strait-Foxe Basin region throughout the year, as well as the biological and physical factors determining those patterns. Collectively, this information will be integrated into computer simulation models that will assess, as well as anticipate, the possible interactions between bird populations and proposed development activities such as year-round shipping. 

Read the full 2016 field season report from our research team including information on 1) eider population monitoring and response to polar bear activity, 2) polar bear behaviour and genetics, 3) disease monitoring, and more.

Contact: Primary investigators: Grant Gilchrist (Environment and Climate Change Canada), Christina Semeniuk (University of Windsor) and Evan Richardson (Environment and Climate Change Canada) and project coordinator Jake Russell-Mercier (Environment and Climate Change Canada)

Marine habitat use by thick-billed murres 2016 field season report from Canada

	Brian Malloure (L) Isabeau Pratte (R) attach a GPS tracker to a Thick Billed Murre at Cape Graham Moore.  Photo: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Recent increases in resource development activities are projected to increase shipping traffic in Canada's eastern arctic marine regions. However, there is not enough information to properly assess potential ecological impacts of year-round shipping lanes on marine wildlife. Our goal is to work in partnership with industry to determine the distribution and abundance patterns of thick-billed murres, in an effort to identify key marine habitats. 

At the Digges Island colony in Hudson Strait, we are investigating whether birds breeding at various locations within the colony itself use different marine habitat areas, and whether this changes between breeding stages (incubating eggs vs. feeding chicks). We are also examining how foraging behaviour influences the physiology and energy budgets of thick-billed murres. At the Cape Graham Moore colony on Bylot Island in the high Arctic, we are collecting data on foraging movement and physiology, which we will compare to our previous work at Digges Island to understand the differences between colonies. 

Our work will establish a baseline of marine habitat use which may be used for murre assessing the potential future impact of planned shipping lanes and marine protected areas in the region. These projects will also help to provide the information necessary to develop efficient monitoring protocols for Canada's northern thick-billed murre colonies. 

Read the full 2016 field summary here.

Contact: Project leads:  Grant Gilchrist (Environment and Climate Change Canada), Oliver Love (University of Windsor), and Dr. Kyle Elliot (McGill University) and project coordinator Mike Janssen (Environment and Climate Change Canada). 

AIP2 Coats Island infrastructure improvement 2016 update from Canada

Environment and Climate Change Canada has been working at the Coats Island seabird research station since Canadian Wildlife Serviec personnel began seabird research and monitoring there in the early 1980s. The research station was built in 1988, with additions added over time. Under the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (ARIF), administered through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC), the site received some non-structural upgrades in 2010 and 2011. Since then, the buildings have deteriorated significantly. In addition, the frequency of polar bear visits to the camp has increased, so measures were required to reduce interactions between bears and researchers at this site. Through Environment and Climate Change Canada Arctic infrastructure funding (AIP2), we were able to secure funding to build a new sleeping cabin and a new kitchen cabin near the original camp site, install an electric bear fence around the camp perimeter, as well as build a new cabin by the landing strip. 

Read the full 2016 field summary here.

Contact: Grant Gilchrist  

(Environment and Climate Change Canada)

The  Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS) is the data-management framework for information generated via CAFF and the   Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP). The ABDS is an online, interoperable data management system that serves as a focal point and common platform for all CAFF programs and projects and dynamic source for up-to-date circumpolar Arctic biodiversity information.

The datasets that has recently been published are:

• EBSA (Ecological and Biological Significance Areas) in the Arctic Marine Environment
• Arctic Species Trend Index
• Arctic Regional Climatology - Winter Surface Salinity
• Longhurst Marine Provinces
• Predictions of Deep-Sea Octocorals
• Seafloor Geomorphology - Guyots
• Drifter Climatology of Near-Surface Currents

 

Efforts continue to rescue and develop new datasets for inclusion within ABDS. Upcoming releases include the 2016 edition of the Arctic protected areas database and the first circumpolar database focused on Arctic geese breeding areas and migration routes.