300197 VO Ecology of Marine Polar Systems (2021W)

This lecture provides an introduction to the ecosystems of the Arctic and Antarctic Ocean. In the first part, the students will be introduced to the common definitions of polar and sub-polar regions and get an insight into the climate history of polar regions and the history of polar exploration and research. The second part will focus on the physical processes shaping coastal and open ocean polar environments and on the role the Arctic and Antarctic play in the world’s marine and climate system. The third and main part of this lecture will deal with the communities and key species of selected ecosystems in the Arctic and Antarctic – coastal, ice-shelves and sea ice, the open water body and the benthic ecosystems from the shelves down to the deep-sea. Adaptations and strategies of plants and animals to cope with the challenges of the different environments will be presented. The last part will focus on the impact of climate change and touch upon questions of stewardship, exploitation and conservation of the polar regions. Every section will be accompanied by examples and novel findings from recent literature.