Arctic Food Webs: Dynamics of Survival in a Changing Ecosystem explores how life thrives in Earth’s harshest environment—and why this intricate balance is unraveling. Centered on the fragile yet resilient connections between species, the book reveals how keystone players like polar bears and Arctic cod shape the ecosystem. Polar bears, for instance, aren’t just apex predators; their movements distribute nutrients across vast icescapes, while tiny Arctic cod act as linchpins, channeling energy from plankton to seals and whales. Yet climate-driven sea ice loss disrupts these relationships, threatening cascading collapses. The book underscores a paradox: Arctic food webs evolved to endure extreme cold but rely on precise energy transfers, making them acutely sensitive to modern disruptions.
Blending ecological models with Indigenous knowledge, the authors map how shifts in species behavior ripple through trophic levels. One striking insight: melting ice doesn’t just shrink habitats—it alters the timing of phytoplankton blooms, starving fish populations that entire food webs depend on. The book progresses from foundational concepts to urgent conservation strategies, using network theory to identify critical “weak links” like sea ice algae. Case studies illustrate how Inuit observations complement satellite data, offering a holistic view often missing in Western science.
Accessible yet rigorous, Arctic Food Webs bridges disciplines, showing why saving this ecosystem demands both cutting-edge science and time-tested stewardship. It equips readers to grasp the stakes of biodiversity loss and the tools to address it, from policy to grassroots action.
