The microphytobenthos (MPB), defined as the microscopic photosynthesizers inhabiting sediments in marine and estuarine environments, are a vital component to intertidal ecosystems. They contribute greatly to ecosystem services in many ways and are responsible for a high amount of primary productivity in their environments. Microphytobenthic abundance and community structure studies have been increasing ...

Species inhabiting cold-water environments exhibit typically slower growth and a longer lifespan than warm-water species, implying a slowed ability to recover from natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Longevity estimates for species inhabiting the Arctic region are sparse, despite the ongoing changes and disturbances in the region. Brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) often dominate Arctic shelf ...

The spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor, Olafsen 1772) has been considered as a highly attractive candidate for aquaculture since the 1990s. Low survival throughout the earliest life stages is, however, restraining the industry from reaching stable commercial levels. Broodstock diet is identified as a key factor for gamete quality. No species-specific broodstock diet has yet been developed for the ...

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a keystone species in coastal ecosystems that provides several crucial ecosystem services such as, habitat formation, carbon sequestration, and coastal protection. This thesis aims to map and assess the distribution of eelgrass and the performance parameters, eelgrass coverage, epiphyte coverage, and shoot height at two Ramsar sites: Sørkjosleira, and Kobbevågen in ...

Coastal benthic organisms play an essential role in many ecosystem functions, such as organic matter utilization and regeneration of nutrients. In northern Norway, coastal ecosystems experience snowmelt-induced increased river runoff in early summer, arrival of poleward migrating predators, and invasive pink salmon runs, potentially affecting macrobenthic communities and food-web structures. This ...

Sympatrically breeding species may face intense competition for resources, which can lead to various forms of segregation to mitigate competitive pressures. Segregation of space or habitats is one possible strategy, particularly when species share similar diets and foraging behaviors. This study examines the differences in space and habitat use between Antarctic and Snow Petrels (Thalassoica ...

The Arctic is rapidly warming and this increase in temperature has been found to drive range expansion of tall shrubs in the Arctic tundra ecosystems. Although the consequences of shrub expansion have been studied in the terrestrial tundra, effects on tundra stream ecosystems remain understudied. Riparian tall shrubs, such as willows, can provide stream ecosystems with leaf litter and shade, enhancing ...

Ringed seals (Pusa hispida) in Svalbard, Norway, are thought to be declining due to the impacts of climate change in the region, particularly due to a significant reduction in the extent of landfast sea ice that they rely on for breeding. The only available survey of ringed seals in Svalbard took place in 2002, so is now over twenty years old. Here, we address this data gap by conducting UAV aerial ...

Plastic pollution threatens many organisms around the world. In particular, the northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis, is known to ingest high quantities of plastics. Since data are sparse in the Eurasian Arctic, we investigated plastic burdens in the stomachs of fulmar fledglings from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Fifteen birds were collected and only particles larger than 1 mm were extracted, characterised ...

Our understanding of the environmental behavior, bioaccumulation and concentrations of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and Dechloranes (Dec) in the Arctic environment is still limited, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. In this descriptive study, short chain (SCCPs) and medium chain (MCCPs) CPs, Dechlorane Plus (DP) and analogues, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in sediments, ...