Freshwater habitats are comprised of pools, ponds, lakes and streams. These may on occasion be connected to the sea enabling some populations of the arctic charr to be migratory. This species is observed in many lakes in Svalbard, both those that are landlocked and with a connection to the marine environment. Arctic charr is regarded […]
The freshwater invertebrates of Svalbard Read More »
The group invertebrate contains a great diversity of taxa and groups; from hard-bodied insects to soft bodied organisms such as worms. Given this diversity it should not come as a surprise that they have a great diversity of ecosystem functions as well. To attempt to describe these functions in a manageable system to be employed
Ecosystem functions of invertebrates Read More »
Cold tolerance For the invertebrates on Svalbard winter lasts for almost 10 months of the year (Convey et al. 2018). In the majority of winters the ground begins to freeze in September and does not thaw until June the following year. During this time the invertebrates are at environmental temperatures either under rocks and stones,
Adaptations for Arctic conditions Read More »
Invertebrates in Svalbard can be found just about anywhere, flying, under rocks, in the soil, crawling on the vegetation, in the streams and ponds, even on the surface of glaciers. However, they are more common where there is some soil and vegetation and on the warmer west coast. As they are generally small, they are
Invertebrate habitats in Svalbard Read More »
When thinking of animals on Svalbard you first perhaps think of the big cuddly ones, the reindeer, fox or the marine animals including polar bears, walrus, seals or perhaps the highly visible (and often noisy) seabirds. But, whereas there are only three species of terrestrial mammal on Svalbard and only c. 30 species of birds
The invertebrate fauna of Svalbard Read More »
