Temperature changes may influence fish populations both directly, through shifts to areas with preferred temperature, and indirectly through the food supply and the occurrence of predators. The length of the ice-free period in the Arctic, for example, affects annual primary production, which is the basis of the food chain supporting populations of fish, sea mammals, and seabirds. As the amount of ice in the Arctic has considerably reduced since the 1970s, and projections indicate that the reduction will continue, it seems likely that primary production in the Arctic will increase during this century. This chart presents the relationship between annual primary production and the ice-free period based on measurements from several sites in the Arctic.
Year: 2010
From collection: Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010
Cartographer:
Hugo Ahlenius, GRID-Arendal & CAFF