Vulnerability of the North Water ecosystem to climate change
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Published:2021-07-22
Issue:1
Volume:12
Page:
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ISSN:2041-1723
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Container-title:Nature Communications
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Nat Commun
Author:
Ribeiro SofiaORCID, Limoges AudreyORCID, Massé Guillaume, Johansen Kasper L.ORCID, Colgan WilliamORCID, Weckström KaarinaORCID, Jackson RebeccaORCID, Georgiadis Eleanor, Mikkelsen Naja, Kuijpers AntoonORCID, Olsen JesperORCID, Olsen Steffen M.ORCID, Nissen Martin, Andersen Thorbjørn J.ORCID, Strunk AstridORCID, Wetterich SebastianORCID, Syväranta Jari, Henderson Andrew C. G.ORCID, Mackay Helen, Taipale SamiORCID, Jeppesen Erik, Larsen Nicolaj K., Crosta XavierORCID, Giraudeau Jacques, Wengrat Simone, Nuttall Mark, Grønnow Bjarne, Mosbech AndersORCID, Davidson Thomas A.ORCID
Abstract
AbstractHigh Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous livelihoods are tightly linked and exposed to climate change, yet assessing their sensitivity requires a long-term perspective. Here, we assess the vulnerability of the North Water polynya, a unique seaice ecosystem that sustains the world’s northernmost Inuit communities and several keystone Arctic species. We reconstruct mid-to-late Holocene changes in sea ice, marine primary production, and little auk colony dynamics through multi-proxy analysis of marine and lake sediment cores. Our results suggest a productive ecosystem by 4400–4200 cal yrs b2k coincident with the arrival of the first humans in Greenland. Climate forcing during the late Holocene, leading to periods of polynya instability and marine productivity decline, is strikingly coeval with the human abandonment of Greenland from c. 2200–1200 cal yrs b2k. Our long-term perspective highlights the future decline of the North Water ecosystem, due to climate warming and changing sea-ice conditions, as an important climate change risk.
Funder
Villum Fonden EC | EC Seventh Framework Programm | FP7 Environment (FP7-ENVIRONMENT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Environment Det Frie Forskningsråd Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Carlsbergfondet
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry
Reference73 articles.
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