State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report

In 2017, the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR) synthesized data about biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems around the circumpolar Arctic. SAMBR highlighted observed changes and relevant monitoring gaps. This document provides an update on the status of marine mammals in the circumpolar Arctic from 2015– 2020 (scientific references for factual information and a more detailed version of the text herein can be found in Kovacs et al. 2021).

Update Seabirds
Circumpolar Seabird Expert Group (CBird)
CBMP-Marine

In 2017, the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report (SAMBR) synthesized data about biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems around the circumpolar Arctic. SAMBR highlighted observed changes and relevant monitoring gaps using data compiled through 2015 (CAFF 2017). This document provides an update on the status of seabirds in the circumpolar Arctic using data from 2016–2019.

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 focal ecosystem components (FECs): marine mammals, seabirds, marine fishes, benthos, plankton, and sea ice biota.

Cover and acknowledgements to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.

Title and table of contents to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.

Findings and advice for monitoring to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.

Introduction to the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.

Setting the scene for the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report.

Sea ice biota chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering four Focal Ecosystem Components: Bacteria and Archaea, microalgae and other protists, meiofauna and under-ice macrofauna.

Plankton chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering four Focal Ecosystem Components: Bacteria and Archaea, microbial eukaryotes, phytoplankton, and zooplankton.

Benthos chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering two Focal Ecosystem Components: megafauna, and macrofauna.

Fishes chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering three Focal Ecosystem Components: Greenland halibut, polar cod and capelin.

Seabirds chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering eight Focal Ecosystem Components: glaucous gull, ivory gull, least auklet, little auk, common murre, thick-billed murre, black-legged kittiwake, common eider.

Marine mammals chapter of the State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report covering 11 Focal Ecosystem Components: walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida) bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), spotted seal (Phoca largha), ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata), harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), narwhal (Monodon monoceros), and polar bear (Ursus maritimus).

Synthesis: Status and trends of Arctic marine biodiversity and monitoring

Annex 4.1: List of common and scientific species names

The State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report identifies trends in key marine species and points to important gaps in biodiversity monitoring efforts across key ecosystem components in: sea ice biota, plankton, benthos, marine fishes, seabirds and marine mammals. Changes in these species are likely to indicate changes in the overall marine environment.