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- Program 2018
Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2018 Preliminary Program
Plenary program subject to change. Rooms have yet to be assigned.
Six main themes guide the flow and organization of the Congress. These overarching themes will run concurrently throughout the Congress and will form the backbone for the Congress. These themes were identified in the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment recommendations for policy.
KNO5: Intraspecific diversity in Arctic freshwater systems and its relevance in biodiversity and conservation: from pattern to process
Date: Thursday October 11, 2018
Location: Kero, Lappia Hall
Time: 13:30-15:00
The session is composed of presentations from diverse speakers that demonstrate intraspecific diversity in aquatic systems in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, its rapid evolution in the face of climate change, and discussion on how to implement knowledge of species adaptation and resilience into practices for conservation. The session focuses on the ecology-evolution-development framework, illustrating studies on aquatic species in the Arctic and subarctic areas, and how pattern and descriptive oriented views can lead to detrimental conservation strategies. It will conclude with discussions on how to preserve biodiversity by integrating knowledge of key processes in the development and evolution of species into management and conservation plans.
Chairs: Camille Leblanc, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College; Skúli Skúlason, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College
Format: Series of presentations followed by discussion
Presentations:
- Eco-evo-devo framework for the understanding of biodiversity: moving on from a pattern to process oriented view: Skúli Skúlason, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College
- How do ecological factors shape intraspecific biodiversity in Arctic fishes: Bjarni Kristjánsson, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College
- How intraspecific biodiversity affects ecosystem properties and functioning: Kimmo Kahilainen, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- How failing to recognise phenotypic and genetic structure that lies beneath the species can lead to conservation dead-end: Colin W. Bean, Scottish Natural Heritage
- Developmental approaches toward the preservation of biodiversity through an understanding of its origins: Kevin Parsons, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow
- The significance of intraspecific diversity and its conservation: Colin Adams, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow
Abstracts:
Eco-evo-devo framework for the understanding of biodiversity: moving on from a pattern to process oriented view
Skúli Skúlason, Bjarni K. Kristjánsson, and Camille Leblanc, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College
It is increasingly recognized that to consider the value of biological diversity in conservation and management programs it is necessary to understand the processes as well as the patterns of biodiversity. This approach calls for the recognition of phenotypic diversity within and among populations and species, how it is shaped by ecological factors and how it can in turn influence ecosystems. Here, an integrated process orientated framework of eco-evo-devo will be used to demonstrate this and explain how such approach can help to conserve biological diversity. We believe that this is particularly important for freshwater systems in subarctic and Arctic regions where patterns and processes of biodiversity are highly dynamic within and among species
How do ecological factors shape intraspecific biodiversity in Arctic fishes
Bjarni Kristjánsson, Skúli Skúlason and Camille Leblanc, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University College
Northern freshwater fishes show an unusual intraspecific phenotypic diversity, with two or more sympatric morphs or even species, within the same area. This polymorphism is commonly seen in structures and/or behaviour for exploiting resources (i.e.resource polymorphism) and can give rise to discrete morphs or even new species. Studies have clearly indicated the importance of ecological characters for the formation of this diversity. Across populations similar phenotypes can be seen in similar ecological surroundings. The clearest examples of such relationships can be seen along the benthic pelagic axis in lakes. Such parallel patterns are the results of parallel phenotypic responses under similar selection factors. Such responses can be seen in adaptive evolution, through natural selection. Furthermore, adaptive plastic responses, both within and across generations (maternal effects) can fine tune the relationship betwen phenotypic and ecological diversity. In this talk we will introduce how ecological factors can promote and shape phenotypic diversity within and among populations, through the above mentioned ways, using Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) as a model species.
How intraspecific biodiversity affects ecosystem properties and functioning
Kimmo Kahilainen, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
The role of intraspecific diversity of fish on trophic interactions and ecosystem processes is increasingly recognized. Salmonid fish in subarctic and Arctic regions are especially prone to divergence into incipient species or morphs that are often key components in food webs. In this talk, I will assess the role of European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) in overall biodiversity and food web processes in subarctic lakes. Similarly to species biodiversity, the intraspecific diversity is driven by increasing lake size and depth as well as a slight increase in productivity. Whitefish is often the dominant species in Fennoscandian subarctic lakes and in case of polymorphic populations their abundance is much higher than other species. The key role of polymorphic whitefish has significant effects shaping their zooplankton prey populations towards smaller species and lower abundance. Furthermore, whitefish are key forage species to many piscivorous fish and polymorphic populations increase the niche size and trophic position of their main predator. Whitefish divergence also promotes change of food web energy flows towards more pelagic derived direction. The overall impact of whitefish divergence on ecological interactions and ecosystem processes is so evident that in the future the monitoring of subarctic lakes should indeed include intraspecific biodiversity aspects too.
How failing to recognise phenotypic and genetic structure that lies beneath the species can lead to conservation dead-end
Colin W. Bean, Scottish Natural Heritage; Colin Adams, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow
In this talk we will examine how conservation legislation and wildlife management practices deal with phenotypic and genotypic variation within a single species. We will address a number of questions in this talk: How does the taxonomic status of a diverging group affect its level of protection? Is the recognition of full species status important for conservation? What conservation instruments are available to protect diverging groups? Do we need to think differently about diversity to recognise and protect it adequately?
Developmental approaches toward the preservation of biodiversity through an understanding of its origins
Kevin Parsons, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow; Calum Campbell, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow; Colin Bean, Scottish Natural Heritage; Colin Adams, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow
Biodiversity is the outcome of an evolutionary process. However, at a proximate level biodiversity can be generated through changes in development that are responsive to environmental perturbation. While changes in demography are often the focus of conservation monitoring programs it is likely the case that such developmental changes will occur, and be detectable, before population shifts occur. Therefore, a consideration of developmental changes could provide an important tool for conservationists and serve as an ‘early warning’ system for detrimental environmental changes. Through case studies we demonstrate how ‘developmental thinking’ can inform conservation. Specifically, we will focus on how a species vulnerable to climate change, the arctic charr, will respond developmentally to a climate change scenario. This research demonstrates how biodiversity could be altered prior to any change in demographic parameters, and how new approaches and thinking can enhance current conservation practises.
The significance of intraspecific diversity and its conservation
Colin Adams, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow
In this talk we will bring together a number of strands of argument presented by others to consider what kinds of patterns of intraspecific divergences in genotype and phenotype that we see in nature. We will evaluate its importance in terms of its contribution to biodiversity and the likely need for its protection and the routes through which that protection might be effectively delivered.
KNO4: Enhanced assessment of marine biodiversity and anthropogenic stressors through integration of research and monitoring under CAFF-CBMP and AMAP
Date: Thursday October 11, 2018
Location: Valtuustosali, City Hall
Time: 10:30-12:00
Arctic marine biodiversity faces increasing threats from a variety of anthropogenic stressors including, chemical pollutants, climate change, and ocean acidification. The primary objective of CBMP is to provide early detection of changes in biodiversity and ecosystems and monitor and measure trends that can be used to inform the development of international policies to mitigate further degradation of Arctic biodiversity. With the publication of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR) in 2017, CBMP Marine has demonstrated how cooperative efforts to monitor and report on biodiversity can both help identify status and trends, as well as identify vital gaps in monitoring. As CBMP is an ecosystem based biodiversity monitoring programme, environmental parameters needs to be taken into account as part of the ecosystem drivers, to help explain causalities in the ecosystem. The CBMP-Marine, however, does not have the mandate and capacity to assess the drivers of changes in biodiversity. The assessment of anthropogenic drivers and impacts on the Arctic environment falls under the mandate of the Arctic Monitoring Assessment Programme (AMAP), whose recent activities have included assessments of chemical pollutants, climate change impacts on the cryosphere, and ocean acidification.
Chairs: Jason Stow, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Tom Christensen, Aarhus University; Alain Dupuis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Format: Series of presentations followed by discussion
Presentations:
- State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Assessment: CBMP Marine as an adaptive monitoring programme, key findings and advice for future work: Tom Christensen, Aarhus University
- Pan Arctic standardization for identifying biodiversity, drivers and stressors in a changing Arctic benthic ecosystem: Lis Lindal Jørgensen, Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
- Key findings from the SWIPA assessment related to marine biodiversity: Sebastian Gerland, Norwegian Polar Institute
- Key findings on Arctic Ocean Acidification and the need for information on the sensitivity of ecological components: Richard Bellerby, East China Normal University and Norwegian Institute for Water Research
- Key findings from Biological Effects of Pollutants on species/ecosystem risks and advice for future monitoring and research: Rune Dietz, Aarhus University and/or Rob Letcher, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Roundtable discussion on how CBMP and AMAP can work together on integrated ecosystem monitoring
Abstracts:
State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Assessment: CBMP Marine as an adaptive monitoring programme, key findings and advice for future work
Tom Christensen, Aarhus University; Jason Stow, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; Bronwyn Keatley, Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Sara Longan, North Slope Science Initiative
CAFF's Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme, CBMP, is an adaptive and question driven ecosystem based monitoring programme. This ecosystem-based approach integrates information across ecosystems, species, and their interactions, and lends itself to monitoring central biotic aspects of Arctic ecosystems called Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs). Changes in FECs status likely indicate changes in the overall marine environment and which therefore CBMP monitors and tracks. The State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR) is a synthesis of the state of knowledge about biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems, detectable changes, and important gaps in our ability to assess state and trends in biodiversity across six themes: marine mammals, seabirds, marine fishes, benthos, plankton, and sea ice biota. The report include pieces of advice for future monitoring, including how environmental parameters needs to be taken into account as part of the ecosystem drivers, to help explain causalities in the ecosystem. With the SAMBR and also the newly published CBMP strategic plan, that contains several activities relates to increased cooperation between CBMP and other Arctic Council Workinggruops, there is a potential for increased cooperation with AMAP.
Pan Arctic standardization for identifying biodiversity, drivers and stressors in a changing Arctic benthic ecosystem
Jørgensen Lis L1, Logerwell Libby2, Blicher Martin3, Christiansen Jørgen S4, Hammeken Nanette3, Ólafsdóttir Steinunn H5, Roy Virginie6, Strelkova Natalia7, Sørensen Jan8, Bluhm Bodil4, Rosalyn Fredriksen4, Thangstad, Trude H1, Kimberly Rand2.
1: Institute of Marine Research, Norway (IMR)
2: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, USA
3: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Greenland
4: University of Tromsø, Norway
5: Marine Research Institute, Iceland
6: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
7: Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Russia
8: Faroese Museum of Natural History, Faroe Islands
In recent years, there has been an increasing concern for the potential impact of commercial fisheries on the marine ecosystem, including non-target species and habitats (Christiansen 2017). Besides regular stock assessments of target species, there are both commercial and scientific interests in a more holistic approach to manage our marine resources. Documentation of the potential consequences of bottom trawling on species and bottom habitats is essential to mitigate human impacts. To observe whether species and habitats within the ecosystem remain healthy, relevant time series and long term monitoring data are needed. The international long-term monitoring program (LTM-Benthos, Nordic Council), including Atlantic- and Pacific-Arctic regions recognizes this need (Norway, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Canada and USA). Here, we use the national scientific stock assessment surveys as a time and cost efficient data source for analyzing benthic communities and habitats over the past 15 years. One major benefit of LTM-Benthos is that it complies with international standards and thus adds information and value to national fish and shellfish assessment programs (Jørgensen et al. 2015). To illustrate the potential of our approach, we present here the first preliminary Pan-Arctic maps of benthic species richness, abundance and biomass together with estimates of main faunal community compositions and distribution of vulnerable habitats in the Barents Sea and in other seas of the Atlantic- and Pacific-Arctic regions. LTM-Benthos addresses the ABA recommendations under the category “Mainstreaming biodiversity” and “Identifying and safeguarding important areas for biodiversity”. Hence, the LTM-Benthos results identify important benthic communities and habitats, thus increasing our perception and understanding of benthic ecosystems across the Arctic seas. Christiansen JS (2017) No future for Euro-Arctic ocean fishes? Mar Ecol Prog Ser 575:217–227 Jørgensen L.L, Planque B, Thangstad TH, Certain G (2015). Vulnerability of megabenthic species to trawling in the Barents Sea. ICES Journal of Marine Science. DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsv107.
Key findings from the SWIPA assessment related to marine biodiversity
Sebastian Gerland, Norwegian Polar Institute
Recent changes in Arctic sea ice extent, thickness, thermodynamics, age and dynamic processes, and ecosystem are summarized in a chapter of the second “Snow, Water, Ice, Permafrost in the Arctic” (SWIPA) report, published by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) in 2017. Here we present the main key findings from this chapter. The second SWIPA report is an update of a first report published in 2011. The new report deals especially with new observations and findings made after the first SWIPA report came out. SWIPA is sponsored by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), which is an Arctic Council project. Key elements of the sea ice chapter address the negative trends of Arctic sea ice extent and thickness, the change of Arctic sea ice towards younger and rather seasonal than multiyear sea ice, as for example also reported in the NOAA Arctic report cards of the recent years, and changes in the different components of the sea ice system linked to thermodynamic and dynamic processes. The roles of snow and surface features such as melt ponds for sea ice thermodynamic processes are discussed in detail, as well as changes of the sea-ice related ecosystem in the Arctic. Remaining gaps of knowledge and uncertainties are discussed, too. The information given in the sea ice chapter was collated and summarized by an international group of scientific authors from Asia, Europe and North America, with specialists in different topics relevant here.
KNO2: Traditional Knowledge and science under a co-production of knowledge
Date: Wednesday October 10, 2018
Location: Tieva, Lappia Hall
Time: 8:30-10:00
The co-production of knowledge is a process where multiple actors come together on equal footing to combine epistemologies and methodologies to develop a collective way of knowing. Both Traditional Knowledge and scientific knowledge have unique ways of conceptualizing and understanding the environment and Arctic biodiversity. In this session speakers explore these ways of knowing and their own experiences of co-production of knowledge, providing lessons learned for wider application.
Chairs: Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council; Victoria Buschman, University of Washington
Format: Series of presentations followed by discussion
Presentations:
- How Indigenous Knowledge and science partner to build evidence-based information for use in adaptive decision making and conservation planning: Victoria Buschman, University of Washington
- Traditional knowledge and so called western science, does that fit (work) together for securing biodiversity? Jürgen Weissenberger, Equinor
- Understanding the Arctic through a co-production of knowledge: Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council
- Wildlife co-management processes under Canadian Land Claims Agreements: Drivers for the co-production of knowledge: Gregor Gilbert, Makivik Corporation
- The Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP) and how Traditional Knowledge is incorporated as a line of evidence: Alexandra Hood, De Beers Canada Inc.
Abstracts:
How Indigenous Knowledge and science partner to build evidence-based information for use in adaptive decision making and conservation planning
Victoria Buschman, University of Washington; Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska, USA
In a win for conservation, Arctic communities are more frequently being called upon to partner with scientists, managers, and planners to build evidence-based information for use in decision making and policy. Both Indigenous knowledge and conventional science bring unique information to the table - information that is greatly needed in the crisis discipline that is conservation. As many Indigenous Peoples have occupied the same landscape for time immemorial, they have incredible reservoirs of place-based natural history knowledge that has immense conservation value for managing harvests, conducting biodiversity assessments, and establishing community-based monitoring. A lack of understanding of the systems and processes that support Indigenous knowledge has called into question how such information should be included in research findings and policy briefs across disciplines. While conventional science relies on a standardized scientific process and peer review, Indigenous knowledge relies on cultural practice, Indigenous knowledge, and intergenerational exchange. Collectively, this convergence of information is considered a co-production of knowledge. From baseline construction, to data collection, to ecosystem monitoring, to analysis, each way of knowing supplies methodologies and tools that provides an understanding that could not be gained through science alone. We will explore what this information partnership looks like, how we reconcile inconsistencies in findings, potential ethical concerns, and how a standardized process for blending the information discounts science and its potential in conservation efforts.
Traditional knowledge and so called western science, does that fit (work) together for securing biodiversity?
Jürgen Weissenberger, Statoil ASA
The Arctic has been inhabited by people for a long time, some settlements have been on the same location for at least the last 10 000 years. Surviving in what are often harsh and remote conditions requires a high level of knowledge and understanding about the environment, its dynamics and its processes. Native people have accumulated that knowledge over generations and constantly add new knowledge by on site observations. Industry representatives undertaking activities in the Arctic and elsewhere have often been asked by local stakeholders, (native people and other local people) if this wealth of knowledge is used when exploring and exploiting and area and within risk assessment. We see that many scientists are sceptical to use that knowledge, since it has been created with methods that differ from those taught in western science education. The TEKAD project run by Statoil in Alaska tried to bridge this gap. The basis for the work was our belief that a good scientist is a person with good skills to observe and analyse, irrespective of formal education and background. We wanted to combine both sources of knowledge, increase mutual understanding and deliver examples of concrete results from this effort. We show how such a study has been planned, how it was conducted and how results were obtained and communicated. It is a comparable small and focused study on the impact of noise on marine mammals, but we think this was one of the reasons that it was a success.
Understanding the Arctic through a co-production of knowledge
Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council; Raychelle Daniel The Pew Charitable Trusts, Julie Raymond-Yakoubian, Kawerak, Inc
The Arctic is changing at an accelerated rate due to climate change and increased anthropogenic activity. Given the rate of change, never has it been more important to work toward a holistic understanding of the Arctic’s interconnecting systems. A co-production of knowledge framework will provide the holistic view and comprehension needed to inform effective and adaptive policies and practices. Co-production of knowledge is increasingly being recognized by the scientific community at-large. However, in many instances the concept is being incorrectly applied. In this workshop we will differentiate co-production of knowledge from a multi-disciplinary approach or multi-evidence based decision-making. We underscore the role and value of different knowledge systems with different methodologies and the need for collaborative approaches in identifying research questions. We hope that participants come away from this workshop with an understanding of some of the most important components that form a co-production of knowledge framework. We anticipate an open and respectful dialogue that builds on our collective experience in working with Indigenous communities and scientists in the Arctic.
Wildlife co-management processes under Canadian Land Claims Agreements: Drivers for the co-production of knowledge
Gregor Gilbert, Makivik Corporation
In Canada’s Arctic, most terrestrial and marine wildlife is managed by wildlife co-management boards, who derive their authority from constitutionally-protected Land Claims Agreements. Under this co-management model, one of the legal requirements placed upon the wildlife co-management boards is the inclusion of Traditional Knowledge in their decision-making processes. In many cases, however, Traditional Knowledge has not been gathered in a systematic manner that allows for its meaningful inclusion in decision-making. Furthermore, documentation is often lacking, making Traditional Knowledge inaccessible to most policy makers. Equally, for the majority of Arctic species, long-term scientific data does not exist. Faced with having to make management decisions despite numerous data gaps and uncertainty, co-management boards are increasingly collecting their own data; commissioning Traditional Knowledge studies and investing in community-based monitoring and targeted scientific studies to inform sound decision-making. This presentation will examine the legal context under which Canadian wildlife co-management boards operate, and provide several examples where co-management boards have undertaken or supported Traditional Knowledge studies and the collection of scientific data. For instance, the Joint Secretariat under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement undertook an Inuit Knowledge Study of polar bears. This was valuable not only for the information that it compiled and synthesized, but also for making Inuit Knowledge as accessible as scientific knowledge for co-management decision-making. Another example is a pilot program established by The Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Board studying beluga whales. Through this program local hunters and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada are working cooperatively to test theories on stock composition and the timing of migration. Further, the example of this pilot project relates to the final section of the presentation which will examine how the co-production of knowledge has been leveraged by the boards in their decision-making processes and the outcomes of these decisions.
The Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP) and how Traditional Knowledge is incorporated as a line of evidence
Alexandra Hood, De Beers Canada Inc.
Throughout 2017, De Beers continued to seek input from Aboriginal people regarding practices at site, and the current state of the environment from their perspective. Engagement activities of this type in 2017 included many community workshops and site visits, as well as a mine rock amendment workshop and a technical workshop relating to closure criteria, which are part of the Interim Closure and Reclamation Plan. De Beers invited six Aboriginal parties to visit the Mine site during the summer of 2017 to view Mine activities for themselves and to provide insights and feedback. All six parties were able to attend these site visits: the TG, the NWTMN, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN), the NSMA, the DKFN, and the LKDFN. Summer site visits included a site tour as well as discussions on the additional mine rock and environmental monitoring and performance. De Beers hosted the Mine’s second annual fish tasting program in September 2017. The purpose of the fish tasting event was to allow local elders to provide their observations on fish health and edibility (i.e., aesthetics, flavour, and texture) in the Kennady Lake watershed compared to what they are accustomed to from the regional area. The fish tasting event also served as a gathering where local elders and De Beers employees could qualitatively evaluate the condition of large-bodied fish (Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush) in the core lakes, and provide observations on their suitability for human and animal consumption. De Beers completes an extensive assessment of fish health in the annual Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP). However, the monitoring methods within the AEMP are rooted in quantitative measurements, and are not the only manner in which to evaluate fish health. Fish tasting provides an additional layer of valuable qualitative data collection to ensure the Mine is not adversely impacting the environment. Hosting the fish tasting event was also a means of sharing TK about fish in the North and incorporating it into the Mine’s approach to environmental management. In maintaining this objective, De Beers included employees in the fish tasting to give them the opportunity to learn from the elders. Elders from several communities within the NWT, including the DKFN, LKDFN, NSMA, NWTMN, and TG, attended the second annual fish tasting event. A total of 11 elders and 5 De Beers staff participated in the 2017 fish tasting.
KNO3: Make Arctic data accessible and reusable – roadmap to open and cost effective data management policy
Date: Wednesday October 10, 2018
Location: Kero, Lappia Hall
Time: 10:30-12:00
Understanding and responding to Arctic changes and challenges requires accessible and reliable data to facilitate monitoring, research, management and decision making. Large amounts of important data is being processed into Arctic Council reports and for other purposes, but afterwards this data is often very difficult and costly to find and access in order for it to be reused. Existing data infrastructures are inefficient and, if modernized, could promote data sharing and be more cost effective.
Chairs: Peter Pouplier, Arctic SDI; Tom Barry, CAFF Secretariat
Format: Series of presentations followed by discussion
Presentations:
- Introduction to the reasons behind information management best practices, based on open international standards, to build communities of practice to share existing and new data: Peter Pouplier, Arctic SDI / Danish Agency of Data Supply and Efficiency and Fredrik Persäter/ Swedish Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registration Authority
- Data presentation and sharing in practice – the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS): Kári Fannar Lárusson, CAFF Secretariat
- Sharing Arctic species occurrence data through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for use in research and policy: Tim Hirsch, Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Readily available Arctic data, tools and services for data sharing supporting the Arctic Scientific community and the work of Arctic Council– the Arctic SDI Basemap, services and tools in the Arctic: Jani Kylmääho, Arctic SDI / National Land Survey of Finland
- User needs assessment – Arctic Marine data as an example: Gerhard Heggebø, Arctic SDI / Norwegian Mapping Authority
- How to build an information management policy promoting open data policies for sharing data: Peter Pouplier, Arctic SDI / Danish Agency of Data Supply and Efficiency and Fredrik Persäter/ Swedish Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registration Authority
Abstracts:
Introduction to the reasons behind information management best practices, based on open international standards, to build communities of practice to share existing and new data
Peter Pouplier, Arctic SDI / Danish Agency of Data Supply and Efficiency and Fredrik Persäter/ Swedish Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registration Authority
The presentation gives an introduction to information management best practices and how data sharing is supported by the development of an Arctic spatial data infrastructure based on international standards
Data presentation and sharing in practice – the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS)
Kári Fannar Lárusson, CAFF Secretariat; Jani Kylmääho, National Land Survey of Finland; Tom Barry, CAFF Secretariat
Presentation of data sharing examples developed in cooperation between CAFF and Arctic SDI.
Readily available Arctic data, tools and services for data sharing supporting the Arctic Scientific community and the work of Arctic Council– the Arctic SDI Basemap, services and tools in the Arctic
Jani Kylmääho, Arctic SDI / National Land Survey of Finland; Fredrik Persäter, Swedish Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registration Authority
Presentation of readily available data, tools and services for data sharing supporting the Arctic scientific community and the work of Arctic Council– the Arctic SDI Basemap, services and tools in the Arctic SDI Geoportal provided by the National Mapping Agencies of the eight Arctic Countries.
User needs assessment – Arctic Marine data as an example
Gerhard Heggebø, Arctic SDI / Norwegian Mapping Authority; Peter Pouplier, Danish Agency of Datasupply and Efficiency
Financed by the Norwegian program Arctic 2030 the Norwegian Mapping Authority have conducted a user needs assessment on Arctic marine data. The results and the cooperation between Arctic SDI and the Arctic Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure Working Group (ARMSDIWG) will be presented.
How to build an information management policy promoting open data policies for sharing data
Peter Pouplier, Arctic SDI / Danish Agency of Data Supply and Efficiency and Fredrik Persäter/ Swedish Mapping, Cadastre and Land Registration Authority
Presentation of recommendations, processes and elements on how to build an Arctic information management policy that supports data sharing and reuse.
KNO1: Arctic biodiversity education and outreach
Date: Tuesday October 9, 2018
Location: Saivo, Lappia Hall
Time: 17:00-18:30
The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment has called for the development of communication and outreach tools and methodologies to better convey the importance and value of Arctic biodiversity and the changes it is undergoing. This interactive session explores case studies on Arctic biodiversity communication, including presentations on interactive exhibitions, youth programs, narrative forms, fiction and poetry, musical performance, and artistic collections.
Chair: Shailyn Drukis, Canadian Committee for IUCN
Format: Series of presentations followed by question/answer
Presentations:
- Interactive Exhibition as Tool for Learning Climate Change Impact on Arctic Biodiversity in Finnish Lapland: Stéphanie C. Lefrère, The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
- Northern Connections: Involving Northern Youth in Biodiversity and Climate Change Initiatives: Shailyn Drukis, Canadian Committee for IUCN
- From galleries to gruits, blogs to botanical gardens: the many facets of public engagement on Arctic biodiversity research at the Canadian Museum of Nature: Paul Sokoloff, Canadian Museum of Nature
- Learning and teaching on biodiversity with narrative forms and fiction: Marcel Robischon, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
- Dialogus Arctica – an alternative way to communicate arctic values at risk: Frode Aarvik, Steinkaret Scene
Abstracts:
Interactive Exhibition as Tool for Learning Climate Change Impact on Arctic Biodiversity in Finnish Lapland
Stéphanie C. Lefrère, The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
We present to the public the multilingual and interactive traveling exhibition «Climate Change in Lapland’s Nature - What can we do?» which summarizes the impact of climate change on the Arctic biodiversity of Finnish Lapland and identifies solutions that people can take on a daily basis to reduce their carbon footprint and to help mitigate climate change. This exhibition has been used successfully since 2013 as a climate change educational tool in several countries. Studies by the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, along with various Finnish research institutes and universities, show that the distribution of plants and animals in Finland has started to change in relation to climate warming. Southern species are spreading gradually northwards while local species are declining. In the exhibition, scientific results related to the impact of climate change on animal and plant species characteristic of the Arctic are displayed in panels with the help of figures and graphs, along with photos, movies, slideshows and pedagogical quizzes. The exhibition author will introduce the latest findings on the impact of climate change on the animals and plants presented in the exhibition, such as reindeer, lemming, butterflies, birds, mosses, and plants of the fells and forest, as well as the mitigation solutions to climate change, examples of which will be enlivened with photos and figures. The author has given lectures and workshops to schools and general audiences. School pupils have responded very positively to the exhibition and to related lectures by writing essays and participating actively in workshops. Some of their essays will be presented now to the public in addition to an assortment of the artworks done during workshops by children from different school grades and countries. This exhibition conveys the value and importance of Arctic biodiversity and raises public awareness of how individual efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can contribute to protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
Northern Connections: Involving Northern Youth in Biodiversity and Climate Change Initiatives
Shailyn Drukis, Canadian Committee for IUCN
With growing recognition that young Northerners bring valuable ideas, enthusiasm, and first-hand lived experiences with biodiversity and climate change, there have been increasing opportunities for them to be involved with the projects and processes of various organizations and institutions. For this session, youth from different parts of Canada will highlight some of the successful initiatives of northern youth engagement (from local to national scale), and they will facilitate an open discussion in which participants can highlight the work that they are involved with and share opportunities that they are aware of for engaging young Northerners in these projects and programs. Having these types of dialogues will allow for increased Northern connections to be built for youth involvement and collaboration. This session contributes to a couple of the conference goals, in part by identifying that Northern youth have valuable local and Indigenous knowledge of the changing Arctic that could also help to support many of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment recommendations. It particularly addresses recommendations 14 and 17. ‘Other’ was selected as the format of the presentation, because it will include a more formal oral presentation, but also an activity to create a visual understanding of the connections that can be made.
From galleries to gruits, blogs to botanical gardens: the many facets of public engagement on Arctic biodiversity research at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Sokoloff, Paul C. (1) , J.M. Saarela (1), L.J. Gillespie (1), R.T. McMullin (1), R.D. Bull (1), J. Doubt (1), J. Steele (2), C. Iburg (1), E. McCrea (3), L. McIvor (1), C. Lanthier (1), K. Day
(1) Centre for Arctic Knowledge and Exploration, and National Herbarium of Canada, Botany Section, Research and Collections, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa ON, Canada
(2) Canadian Institute for Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
(3) Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
The Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada’s national natural history museum, housing over 14 million natural history specimens and seven permanent galleries, all of which serve to further our mandate: “to increase throughout Canada and internationally, interest in, knowledge of, and appreciation and respect for the natural world”. Arctic programs have been an important component of the museum’s identity since its founding, and thanks to decades of field-based research the museum holds over 300K Arctic natural history collections. The Arctic ecozone occupies a considerable part of Canada’s landmass (approximately 40% of Canada is above the treeline), but the costs involved in traveling to the North mean that most Canadians will never travel there. In the face of increasing commercial and industrial activities in the North, and mounting pressures on northern ecosystems due to climate change, the Canadian Museum of Nature is actively working to increase knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Canadian Arctic in Canadians, through compelling storytelling about our Arctic research and collections, and by providing a venue in the museum, in the heart of Canada’s capital, for northerners to tell their own stories. This talk will cover the different ways the museum’s botany team has been engaging with Canadians about Arctic plant and lichen biodiversity. Our team shares the work we’re doing in the Arctic through museum exhibits (e.g., the permanent Canada Goose Arctic Gallery, the Arctic Voices traveling exhibit), diverse online and media, and interactive events (Science by Night festival and Collections Open House). Through an ongoing partnership with the Students on Ice Foundation, we offer experiential education to adults and youth on ship-based Arctic expeditions. Through creative partnerships with local breweries and entertainment organizations, we have been able to sneak Arctic biodiversity science communication into custom-crafted beers, such as the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada’s Glacial Gruit, and diverse adult-oriented programs.
Learning and teaching on biodiversity with narrative forms and fiction
Marcel Robischon, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
The promotion of education and the development of "communication and outreach tools and methodologies to better convey the importance and value of Arctic biodiversity" have been identified as integral elements in conservation and management in the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment policy recommendations. Educators who aim to reach a broad audience require means that go beyond the pure science and speak to both the cognitive and emotional domains. Narrative forms such as fiction, when inspired by the natural world, offer a valuable tool to both engage and inform, and to build a bridge into more science-based forms of learning. Taking into account that misconceptions may arise from fictional content, such texts can serve as models of transdisciplinary learning. Fiction can also bring past events to life that are important for understanding present situations. This is exemplified in several novels that deal with the extinction history of Arctic or boreal species such as the great auk or the Eskimo curlew. In this presentation, examples of fictional and non-fictional narratives are discussed and analyzed for their biological content and their suitability to promote the acquisition of biological content knowledge. Recommendations for the use of narrative forms in creating learning activities are developed.
Dialogus Arctica – an alternative way to communicate Arctic values at risk
Frode Aarvik, Steinkaret Scene; J. P. Inderberg; M. Ekker, Norwegain Environment Agency
Arctic biodiversity is in danger from anthropogenic pressures. This project is an alternative approach for communication, awareness raising and conservation of Arctic species and their habitats. By focusing on a selection of iconic Arctic species in paintings, contemporary music, and multimedia, "Dialogus Arctica" aims to introduce its audience to a conceptual experience and to inspire people's holistic perception, reflection, and understanding of the environmental values in play. "Dialogus Arctica" is an interdisciplinary performance experiment over two years, in which cross-artistic communication is being developed step by step. By exploring a variety of platforms (events), Frode Aarvik (the painter) and John Pål Inderberg (the musician/saxophonist) – in collaboration with a network of contacts from science to Indigenous people, seeks to communicate the messages of values at risk in a changing Arctic environment – an Arctic dialogue. The ABC in Rovaniemi 2018 represents an excellent venue (platform) for the project that will add artistic value to the scientific program and focus.
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LAVVU1: Nomadic herders lavvu dialogue
Join Arctic youth and Indigenous leaders in the lavvu as they discuss observations of change and solutions for sustainable use of Arctic resources. LEARN MORE
Chairs: Svein Mathiesen, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry; Katherine Johnsen, GRID Arendal; Gunn-Britt Retter, Saami Council
Location: Outside Lappia Hall
Date: Thursday October 11, 2018
Time: 10:30-12:30
Activity: Bird nesting boxes and insect hotels
Join staff from Metsähallitus, Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd and Science centre Pilke to construct bird boxes and insect hotels. Participants can take their boxes and hotels home with them, or they can donate them local schools, who will take them into the forests and monitor their use. LEARN MORE.
Chairs: Timo Tahvonen with Science centre Pilke inspirers, Metsähallitus
Location: Outside Lappia Hall
Date: Tuesday October 9-Thursday October 11, 2018
Time: 12:00-15:00, while supplies last
The form and content of the Congress program is under development, with guidance from the Program Advisory Committee, but is expected to include the above elements. In order to allow for some adjustments, including further input from the Program Advisory Committee, Congress organizers reserve the right to make changes to the preliminary program. Such changes will be posted on this Congress website.
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