• Learning Arctic Biology • Search Search The Arctic terrestrial system Introduction to the Arctic Definition of the Arctic and main study system Focus Area: Svalbard Global context The origin and development of the Arctic biome Arctic – a young biome with a dramatic history Ancestors of Arctic flora and fauna Ancient DNA reveal history Diversification of Arctic flora and fauna during the Pleistocene LGM and postglacial migration Biogeography of invertebrates Biogeography of bryophytes Environmental factors, habitats and communities Climate, topography and spatial heterogeneity Bedrock, soil development and soil disturbance Nutrient input Succession gradients Current status of freshwater systems in Svalbard Arctic Freshwater Habitats Species and Adaptations Microbes Microbiology in the Arctic Viruses Bacteria Archaea Microbial eukaryotes What enviroment do microbes encounter in the Arctic? Fungi What is a fungus? Systematics of fungi Fungi in the Arctic Environment Saprotrophic fungi Parasitic fungi Mutualistic fungi Fungi in Svalbard Bryophytes What are bryophytes? Life cycle of bryophytes Diversity of bryophytes Bryophyte habitats Bryophyte adaptations and constraints Ecosystem role of bryophytes Bryophytes as environmental indicators Vascular plants Diversity and characteristics Arctic plant habitats Adaptations for Arctic conditions Reproductive adaptations to seasonality Dispersal and establishment Invertebrates The Invertebrate fauna of Svalbard Invertebrate habitats Invertebrate adaptations Ecosystem functions – Invertebrates Freshwater invertebrates Climate change and invertebrates Birds and mammals The Svalbard reindeer The Svalbard rock ptarmigan Arctic geese Energy flow, nutrient flow and trophic interactions Plant-invertebrate interactions Pollinators and their importance in the Arctic environment Plant-invertebrate interactions Soil-invertebrate decomposers The Arctic terrestrial system Introduction to the Arctic Definition of the Arctic and main study system Focus Area: Svalbard Global context The origin and development of the Arctic biome Arctic – a young biome with a dramatic history Ancestors of Arctic flora and fauna Ancient DNA reveal history Diversification of Arctic flora and fauna during the Pleistocene LGM and postglacial migration Biogeography of invertebrates Biogeography of bryophytes Environmental factors, habitats and communities Climate, topography and spatial heterogeneity Bedrock, soil development and soil disturbance Nutrient input Succession gradients Current status of freshwater systems in Svalbard Arctic Freshwater Habitats Species and Adaptations Microbes Microbiology in the Arctic Viruses Bacteria Archaea Microbial eukaryotes What enviroment do microbes encounter in the Arctic? Fungi What is a fungus? Systematics of fungi Fungi in the Arctic Environment Saprotrophic fungi Parasitic fungi Mutualistic fungi Fungi in Svalbard Bryophytes What are bryophytes? Life cycle of bryophytes Diversity of bryophytes Bryophyte habitats Bryophyte adaptations and constraints Ecosystem role of bryophytes Bryophytes as environmental indicators Vascular plants Diversity and characteristics Arctic plant habitats Adaptations for Arctic conditions Reproductive adaptations to seasonality Dispersal and establishment Invertebrates The Invertebrate fauna of Svalbard Invertebrate habitats Invertebrate adaptations Ecosystem functions – Invertebrates Freshwater invertebrates Climate change and invertebrates Birds and mammals The Svalbard reindeer The Svalbard rock ptarmigan Arctic geese Energy flow, nutrient flow and trophic interactions Plant-invertebrate interactions Pollinators and their importance in the Arctic environment Plant-invertebrate interactions Soil-invertebrate decomposers Glossary Learning Arctic Biology / Glossary AcrocarpAnoxicBiodiversityBiotaCryoconite holeCryosphereCryptic speciesDessication toleranceEndemicExtremophileFounder effectGemmaGene flowGenetic driftGenetic recombinationHoloceneHydric soilIn situLGMMesicMethanogeneMethanotrophMutationMycobiontNatural selectionNunatakOligotrophicOrnitogenic tundraOxygenic photosynthesisPeriglacialPhylogeographicPhylogeographyPlanktivorePlanktivorousPleistocenePleurocarpPoikilohydricPopulation bottlenecksPostglacialProtonemaPsychrophilePsychrotrophsQuaternaryRefugiaRefugiumSoil chemistryVicarianceXericYBP