Ice melting can increase productivity in the northeastern part of the Greenland marine environment

New research shows that the amount of marine life from Northeast Greenland could expand more than a quarter.

However, a study from Strathclyde University shows that polar bears suffer from a two-thirds of decline as sea ice hunting grounds decrease dramatically.

This study models the impact of climate change on the Northeast continental shelf over 50 years up to the 2050s. The results show that when the area becomes seasonally ice-free, more sunlight penetrates the water, causing a “nutrition cascade.”

This increases the total living mass of over 25%, supported by the growth of food sources such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, with disproportionate benefits for fish, seabirds and potentials.

Transition speed

The speed of transition reflects the fact that climate change is progressing at the polar and faster than anywhere else on the planet.

This study highlights future opportunities for managing Greenland’s ecosystems and environment amidst climate change and the need for policies to achieve them. Featured in the Journal Global Change Biology.

“There is relatively little research into this field in Greenland,” said Dr. Jack Laverick, principal investigator at Strathclyde’s Mathematics and Statistics.

“Our modelling suggests that transitions in Greenland’s waters are similar to the increase in ice-free regions of the Barents Sea, indicating that it is not a climate change or a change in flow, but an indirect effect of melting sea ice on climate change that contributes to this promotion of productivity.”

“In the future, polar bears may need to meet requirements from sea ice hunting grounds where conservation efforts can focus on securing food sources.

“Melted sea ice also makes the Arctic Ocean more accessible and fisheries will want to misuse this new resource. Our research will help inform production limits and the potential for these to evolve over time.