Microalgae are the main source of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for the healthy development of most marine and terrestrial fauna including humans. Inverse correlations of algal EPA and DHA proportions (% of total fatty acids) with temperature have led to suggestions of a warming-induced decline in the global production of these biomolecules ...

This master’s project delves into the microbial diversity of the Arctic region, with focus on the isolation and characterization of a yeast of the Cystobasidium genus and likely viruses capable of infecting it. The research also shows preliminary results pointing at the movement and chemotaxis capabilities of the yeast, presenting findings that have the potential to shape our understanding of microbial ...

Diving mammals are perpetually required to manage low-oxygen conditions throughout their lives. The mammalian brain is an organ particularly vulnerable to low oxygen levels due to its high energy demands, which require steady aerobic ATP production. The brain of the deep- diving hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) demonstrates remarkable tolerance to hypoxia. Studies suggest that this brain hypoxia ...

Interest in the deep Arctic Ocean is rapidly increasing from governments, policy makers, industry, researchers, and conservation groups, accentuated by the growing accessibility of this remote region by surface vessel traffic. In this review, our goal is to provide an updated taxonomic inventory of benthic taxa known to occur in the deep Arctic Ocean and relate this inventory to habitat diversity. ...

Background - Studying movement patterns of individual animals over time can give insight into how they interact with the environment and optimize foraging strategies. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) undertake long seasonal migrations between feeding areas in polar regions and breeding grounds in tropical areas. During the last decade, several individuals have had up to a 3-month stop-over ...

Reciprocal effects of adaptive radiations on the evolution of interspecific interactions, like parasitism, remain barely explored. We test whether the recent radiations of European whitefish (Coregonus spp.) across and within perialpine and subarctic lakes promote its parasite Proteocephalus fallax (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) to undergo host repertoire expansion via opportunity and ecological fitting, ...

Drained lake basins (DLBs) are dominant features in lowland permafrost landscapes of the Arctic. Here, we present a novel approach describing and quantifying the succession progression of recently drained basins using a land cover unit retrieval scheme developed specifically for the Arctic tundra biome. The complementarity between land cover units and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ...

Forestalling the decline of global biodiversity requires urgent and transformative action at all levels of government and society, particularly in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent seas where rapid changes are already underway. Amid growing scientific support and mounting pressure, the majority of nations have committed to the most ambitious conservation targets yet. However, without an approach ...

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is a wild berry species that is prevalent in northern Europe. It is renowned and well-documented for its nutritional and bioactive properties, especially due to its anthocyanin content. However, an overview of biological systems governing changes in other crucial quality traits, such as size, firmness, and flavours, has received less attention. In the present study, ...

The novel concept of the review is a focus on the organisms living in the sea ice and what mechanisms they have developed for their existence. The review describes the physical environment of the sea ice and the microorganisms living there as microalgae, bacteria, virus, fungi, meio- and macrofauna where they inhabit the brine channels and exposed to low temperatures as down to −25 °C and high ...