Adaptation to environmental changes in the Arctic

Polar systems, and in particular the high Arctic have been identified as sensitive regions, in which the impacts of global climate change will primarily be manifested. Due to its location right at the interface of Arctic and Atlantic systems, the Kongsfjorden area is a crucial site of the detection of environmental changes, and its ecosystems are considered early warning indicators of upcoming change. Environmental alterations provoke species-specific responses, which may further result in new inter-specific relationships thus affect ecosystem function. An improved understanding of adaptive responses will reduce the level of uncertainty in our predictions on the consequences of climate change. The marine Kongsfjord Flagship program has identified "Adaptive responses of keystone components of Arctic marine ecosystems under global climate change" as a crucial research topic to be addressed at high priority. In Ny-Ålesund a high number of individual research activities are clustered around the central topic of adaptation to change, however, currently with a lack of interaction between groups. Ongoing research activities on adaptation patterns in organisms related to the marine environment include studies on all taxonomic and functional levels, from bacteria to vertebrates, from primary producers to top-predators, which are all studied under impacts of atlantification, pollution, UV-radiation, ocean acidification and with respect to the respective trophic interactions. The envisaged integration of data on a higher level may allow identifying common or contrasting principles of adaptation across phyla. The workshop will bring together international experts to discuss patterns and concepts of adaptive responses in marine ecosystems in order to act as a nucleus for the initiation of new interdisciplinary project initiatives. In this way the proposed meeting will contribute to improve scientific cooperation and foster cutting edge science.