Arctic Ecosystems and Adaptation of Species to Arctic EnvironmentLaajuus (5 cr)

Course unit code: ASPB1102

General information

Credits: 5 cr

Teaching language: English

Objective

The course aims to give an overview of the main characteristics of the Arctic ecosystems and their global relevance.

After completion of the course, the student is be able to
- identify the main features and functions of circumpolar tundra, boreal forest and marine ecosystems
- recognize interactions and relationships between the Arctic ecosystems and other parts of the globe
- examine the evolution and adaptation mechanisms of plants and animals in the Arctic environment
- describe changing properties of snow in the Arctic due to changing climate.

Content

The course contains the following themes:
- The evolution and distribution of tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, emphasizing vegetation, plant-animal interactions and natural and anthropogenic disturbance patterns and processes
- Processes and global interactions that affect marine productivity and biodiversity, interactions between marine and terrestrial ecosystems and threats to Arctic marine life
- Morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations of plants and/or animals to the northern environment with basic information on evolution, natural selection and challenges of climate change
- Characteristics and evolution of seasonal snow cover.

Qualifications

Course ASPB1101 Introduction to the Arctic (5 ECTS cr.) has to be passed before attending this course.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Materials

Literature (suggested):

ACIA (2005). Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Scientific report. Available http://www.acia.uaf.edu/pages/scientific.html (Chapters 7 & 14).

Arctic Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Plan (2011), pp. 108–125. Available at www.caff.is.

Barboza, P. S., Parker, K. L. & Hume, I. D. (2010). Integrative Wildlife Nutrition. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.

Bardgett, R. (2005). The Biology of Soil: A community and ecosystem approach. Oxford: University Press. Chapter 5: Above-ground trophic interactions and soil biological communities (pp. 119–139).

Bigras F. J. & Colombo S. J. (2001). Conifer Cold Hardiness. Dordrecht Boston London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Blix, A. S. (2005). Arctic Animals and Their Adaptations to Life on the Edge. Trondheim: Tapir Academic Press.

Blix, A. S. (2016). Adaptations to polar life in mammals and birds. J. Exp. Biol. 219:1093–1105. doi: 10.1242/jeb.120477.

CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna) (2001). Arctic Flora and Fauna: Status and Conservation. Edita.

CAFF Assessment Series No. 10. Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna, Iceland. Available at: http://www.caff.is/sea-ice-associated-biodiversity/sea-ice-publications.

Cockburn, A. (1991). An Introduction to Evolutionary Ecology. Oxford: Blackwell.

Crawford, R. M. M. (1989). Studies in Plant Survival. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Crawford, R. M. M. (2008). Plants at the Margin: Ecological Limits and Climate Change. Cambridge: University Press.

Crawford, R. M. M. (2014). Tundra-taiga biology: Human, Plant and Animal Survival in the Arctic. Oxford: University Press.

Davenport, J. (1992). Animal life at low temperature. London: Chapman & Hall.

Eamer, J. et al. (2013). Life linked to Ice: A guide to sea-ice associated biodiversity in this time of rapid change. CAFF.

Glossary of terms for thermal physiology (2001). Third edition. The Japanese Journal of Physiology. 51:2. Available at: http://www.or.org/pdf/ThermalPhysiologyGlossary.pdf.

IPCC (2014). Polar Regions. Observed changes, Terrestrial ecosystems, Chapter 28. Arctic 28.2.3.1 (pp. 1577–1581), Projected Impacts, Terrestrial ecosystems, Arctic 28.3.3.1 (pp. 1589–1590).

Marchand, P. J. (1991). Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology. Hanover and London: University Press of New England.

Pond, C. (1998). Fats of life. Cambridge: University Press.

Sakai, A. & Larcher W. (1987). Frost Survival of Plants: Responses and Adaptation to freezing stress. Ecological Studies 62. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Skelton, P. (ed.) (1992). Evolution: A biological and palaeontological approach (Book 1). The Open University.

Further information

Principle tutor:
University Researcher Sari Stark, PhD, Arctic Centre.

Lecturers:
University Researcher Osmo Rätti, PhD; University Researcher Päivi Soppela, PhD; University Researcher Minna Turunen, PhD; University Researcher Sari Stark, PhD; Senior Researcher Mari Kuoppamaa, PhD; Senior Researcher Leena Leppänen, PhD; University Researcher Sirpa Rasmus, PhD.