Predicted biodiversity changes in the Arctic

The Arctic ecosystem

For certain habitats in the Arctic, species diversity is considered low compared to European marine ecosystems at lower latitudes. However, during the brief summers with their long day-lengths, the abundance of species is relatively high due to the large numbers of fast growing food organisms. This seasonal availability of enormous quantities of food attracts animals higher up the food chain, such as whales, and provides sufficient energy for other top predators (e.g., seals, polar bears) to survive the long winter.