Arctic Flora (ll)

The Arctic is warming extremely fast; some studies suggest that it’s warming at a rate nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet.

Usually, more warmth means more life, which might initially sound like good news.  But in the Arctic, it’s not that simple.  The ecosystems are finely balanced, from the tiny flowering plants to the animals that depend on them.  Over thousands of years, they have adapted to the cold, the light, the snow, and the short summers.  When temperatures rise too quickly, the balance gets thrown off.

One noticeable shift is the spread of shrubs.  Plants like the Arctic willow are growing bigger and moving into areas once filled with small mosses.  

Flowers such as mountain avens, which once carpeted the ground, are slowly being pushed aside.

Then there are the Arctic dandelion and the mountain sorrel – their blooming periods are usually perfectly timed with pollinators.  However, with earlier snowmelt and rising temperatures, these plants may flower too soon before the pollinators arrive.  No pollinators, no seed, no next generation.

Wetter areas are also drying out as thawing permafrost causes water to drain away.  This affects species that grow in soggy tundra and wetlands, potentially destabilizing the ground.  Plants like Saxifraga Herculis, which love boggy, waterlogged conditions, can’t survive in drier soils.

While more warmth brings more green in some parts of the world, the Arctic is one place that could do without it.  Ideally, it would be left to hold on to its rich, delicate patchwork of life and the fragile biodiversity that so many animals rely on.