Sep. 10, 2009 Much of circumpolar Arctic research focuses on the
physical, direct changes resulting from climate warming such as
sea ice retreat and temperature increases. “What’s understudied
is the living component of the Arctic and that includes humans,”
said Syndonia “Donie” Bret-Harte, associate professor of biology
at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and co-author of a paper
to be published September 11, 2009 in the journal Science. The
paper reviews current knowledge on the ecological consequences
of climate change on the circumpolar Arctic and issues a call
for action in several areas of global climate change research.
“Humans live in the Arctic with plants and animals and we care
about the ecosystem services such as filtering water, fiber and
food production and cultural values that the Arctic provides”
said Bret-Harte, who specializes in Arctic plant ecology in
Alaska. The global average surface temperature has increased by
0.72 F (0.4 C) over the past 150 years and the average Arctic
temperature