Norwegian Environment Agency

Sea-ice algae account for a substantial part of annual primary production in ice-covered waters and are an important component of the Arctic marine food web. With climate-induced changes to snow and sea-ice cover and their impact on the surface ocean, such as earlier melt, thinner ice, and increased upper-ocean stratification, a shift toward earlier and more extensive nutrient limitation on ice algal growth can be expected. Therefore, increasing our understanding of the processes governing nutrient supply and uptake by sea-ice algae is essential. Here, we compiled a pan-Arctic dataset of concentrations of sea-ice and sub-ice nutrients and sea-ice chlorophyll a (chl a) to assess their regional and seasonal variability, as well as the relationship of sea-ice algae and nutrient dynamics in the Arctic Ocean. This dataset indicates that bottom sea-ice nutrient and chl a concentrations were highest in the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago (Resolute Passage) due to tidal-driven mixing at the ocean-ice interface, and lowest in the Arctic Ocean basins. At the regional scale, Pacific and Atlantic Water influence variability in sea-ice and sub-ice nutrient concentrations. Significant positive relationships of bottom sea-ice nutrient versus chl a concentrations were ubiquitous across the Arctic during the ice algal bloom, suggesting intracellular nutrient storage as an important mechanism to support ice algal growth. This relationship in turn alters nutrient ratios within the sea ice relative to sub-ice waters, decreasing NOx:PO4 ratios, while increasing NOx:Si(OH)4 ratios. In contrast, bottom sea-ice nutrient-chl a relationships were less common and sometimes negative when nutrient concentrations were low, likely reflecting nutrient limitation. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a pan-Arctic, yet regionally specific, influence of the ice algal community on bottom sea-ice nutrient concentrations.

Abstract The ongoing biodiversity crisis requires policy tools to establish baselines and assess biodiversity status. Reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are iconic ungulates in the Arctic and subarctic, but populations are declining. Although the species is considered vulnerable globally in the International Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Red List, more detailed policy tools at the population level would allow for targeted conservation efforts nationally. We developed an environmental quality standard (or norm) for reindeer populations to evaluate their overall status and put complex variation and change into simple status categories (poor, medium, and good) based on sets of quantitative indicators for 1) population performance, genetic diversity, and health status; 2) available lichen resources; and 3) loss of seasonal habitat and connectivity. We implemented the environmental quality standard for 10 national and 14 smaller wild reindeer areas (populations) in Norway. Except for 1 area with good status, all others ranged from medium (n = 11) to poor quality (n = 12). More than half of the populations had medium (n = 7) or poor (n = 6) status for 1 or more population performance indicators, with negative trends in calf body mass and recruitment in several populations. High loss of genetic diversity gave poor status in 4 small and isolated populations, and 2 populations with chronic wasting disease scored poor on health status. The status of lichen resources was medium (n = 20) or good (n = 3), with 1 exception. However, lichen time series data were not available to evaluate temporal trends to assess overgrazing. Loss of connectivity (poor; n = 7) was more problematic than loss of seasonal habitat (n = 3). The poor availability of high‐quality empirical data, particularly on population performance, has limited the ability to fully assess the conservation status of several small populations. The environmental quality standard provides an important step towards operationalizing management and aiding in securing the long‐term conservation of wild reindeer. We discuss further improvements and the potential usefulness of this approach for other large mammals.

Recent evidence suggests that there is a major switch in coastal seafloor microbial ecology already at a mildly deteriorated macrofauna state. This knowledge is of critical value in the management and conservation of the coastal seafloor. We therefore aimed to determine the relationships between seafloor microbiota and macrofauna on a lregional scale. We compared prokaryote, macrofauna, chemical, and geographical data from 1,546 seafloor samples which varied in their exposure to aquaculture activities along the Norwegian and Icelandic coasts. We found that the seafloor samples contained either a sulfur oxidizer network (42.4% of samples, n=656), or an ammonium oxidizer network of microbes (44.0% of samples, n=681). Very few samples contained neither network (9.8% of samples, n=151), or both (3.8% of samples, n=58). Samples with a sulfur oxidizer network had a tenfold higher risk of macrofauna loss (odds ratios, 95% CI: 9.5 to 15.6), while those with an ammonium oxidizer network had a tenfold lower risk (95% CI: 0.068 to 0.11). The sulfur oxidizer network was negatively correlated to distance from Norwegian aquaculture sites (Spearman rho = -0.42, p < 0.01), and was present in all Icelandic samples (n=274). The ammonium oxidizer network was absent from Icelandic samples, and positively correlated to distance from Norwegian aquaculture sites (Spearman rho = 0.67, p < 0.01). Based on 357 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), we found that the main metabolic process for the ammonium oxidizer network was cobalamin-dependent, while the sulfur oxidizer network was associated with both ammonium retention and sulfur metabolism. In conclusion, our findings highlight the critical roles of sulfur and ammonium oxidizers in mild macrofauna deterioration, which should be included as an essential part of seafloor management.

1.3.1 The approach applied 1.3.2 Research questions 2. Acute plastic discharges: the problem, types, their composition and sources 2.1 A brief introduction to the problem of plastic pollution and its impacts in general 2.1.1 Amounts, nature, composition and impacts 2.1.2 Sources and pathways of plastic pollution 2.1.3 The De inition of Acute Plastic Pollution 2.2 Acute plastic pollution, emphasizing plastic pellets: the nature of the problem 2.2.1 Nature, composition and amounts 2.2.2 Impacts 2.2.3 Sources and pathways for dispersion 2.3 Acute Plastic Discharges 2.3.1 Acute plastic discharges at sea 2.3.2 Sources and amounts of pellet loss 3. Regulations, responsibilities and measures 3.1 The global dimension: organisations, goals and treaties 3.1.1 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 3.1.2 The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 3.1.3 Sustainable Development Goal 14 3.1.4 Global legally binding agreement on plastic pollution -under preparation 3.1.5 Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses 3.1.6 The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)3.1.7 The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) 3.1.8 The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code 3.1.9 International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code 3.1.10 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS) 3.1.11 Other international treaties 3.1

The main objective of the Science Project (SP) Climate Neutral and Smart Cities is to demonstrate that environmental data and data about people’s attitudes, behavior and involvement can be combined for social, political and scientific analysis. In the project, scientists from the Social Sciences & Humanities Open Cloud (SSHOC) and Environmental Research Infrastructures (ENVRI) community work together with the aim of producing new and useful outputs for the benefit of the research community, such as indicators related to environmental indices, and methods and workflows for computing them. The environmental variables will be integrated with data from the European Social Survey for a selection of big European city regions. Data and metadata from the project will be accessible through a new prototype application that will be made available as an exploratory “labs” service from the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Portal and the EOSC Marketplace. This will allow easy access to cross-domain data for scientific analysis and their provenance, as well as to other deliverables from the project.

Today’s increasingly unequal and resource intensive development model degrades and surpasses Earth’s finite capacity to sustain human well-being. Society must restore this capacity and adapt to it without surrendering hard won development gains while also honoring the rightful aspirations of poorer nations and people to enjoy better living standards, according to the UNEP report “Making Peace with Nature”. This article presents findings from the report and reflections on how to take advantage of the 50 years of experience gained since the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The interconnected environmental emergencies of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution need to be addressed together. International scientific assessments are providing the knowledge base for informed evidence-based decision-making, but none of the internationally agreed environmentally targets for climate and biodiversity have been met and the situation is becoming more dire with each passing year. Unless these issues are addressed in the next 5–10 years none of the 2030 sustainable development goals will be achieved. Human knowledge, ingenuity, technology and cooperation need to be mobilized in such an effort. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals provides a blueprint for the transformation. The international environmental governance structure needs to facilitate a system-wide cross-sectoral transformation of humankind's relationship with nature. Transformed economic, financial and productive systems can lead and power the shift to sustainability. Major shifts in investment and regulation are key to just and informed transformations that overcome inertia and opposition from vested interests. Government actions at all levels are needed together with strengthened actions by all actors in society and the next decade is critical.

ObjectivesIncreased use of small affordable alarm sensors with logging or network capabilities has improved the ability to monitor exposure. The large datasets generated from these monitors calls for development of a computer algorithm to assess these data.MethodsWe examined 88 time series of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from wastewater works previously used for developing the exposure index. The time series covered 331 h, where 16 h had readings different from zero.ResultsThe developed algorithm reproduced the manual assessed index almost perfectly (linear regression β = 1.02, R2 = 0.97, P < 0.001). Time-weighted average (TWA) values of the 88 time series showed a mean value of 0.04 ppm (range 0.0–0.9). The mean index value was 18 (range 0–337), with a good linear fit (β = 0.002, R2 = 0.93, and P < 0.001). The index gave us a better resolution and basis for risk assessment than the TWA, and managed to combine evaluation of TWA and exceedance of ceiling value in one number.ConclusionsAs long as peaks above ceiling value occur, we find alarm tools with an H2S sensor to be an essential personal protective equipment against H2S. The proposed method has been verified, and it removes some common human errors in graph evaluation. Use of the index is a possible way of quantifying risk level in exposure to H2S in one single number and provides better understanding of the risk of exposure, as it eases the analysis and evaluation of large numbers of time series.

Abstract Atlantic salmon populations have declined in recent decades. Many of the threats to the species during its freshwater and coastal residency periods are known, and management approaches are available to mitigate them. The global scale of climate change and altered ocean ecosystems make these threats more difficult to address. Managers need to be aware that promoting strong, healthy, and resilient wild populations migrating from rivers is the optimal approach currently to reduce the impacts of changing ecosystems and low marine survival. We argue that a fundamental strategy should be to ensure that the highest number of wild smolts in the best condition leave from rivers and coastal areas to the ocean. There is great scope for water quality, river regulation, migration barriers, and physical river habitat improvements. Maintenance of genetic integrity and diversity of wild populations by eliminating interbreeding with escaped farmed salmon, eliminating poorly planned stocking, and reducing impacts that reduce population sizes to dangerously low levels will support the ability of Atlantic salmon to adapt to changing environments. Reducing the impacts from aquaculture and other human activities in coastal areas can greatly increase marine survival in affected areas. As most of the threats to wild salmon are the result of human activities, a focus on human dimensions and improved communication, from scientific and management perspectives, needs to be increasingly emphasized. When political and social will are coupled with adequate resources, managers often have the tools to mitigate many of the threats to wild salmon.

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fundamental assessment and understanding of fluvial geomorphological processes are crucial for a sustainable management of riverine ecosystems. There is a huge riverscape diversity across Scandinavia; from low gradient river habitats in the lowland (e.g. meanders and river delta in South of Sweden) to high alpine, post-glacial and morphologically highly variable rivers with water falls in West-Norway.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;River basin managers in Sweden and Norway, are facing many of the same challenges related to types of pressures, biogeography, restoration needs and a huge number of water bodies. We have in this project exemplified how unbiased science-justified descriptors and indicators that are realistic to generate for many thousand rivers according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), can be used as basis for ecosystem-based management.&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The coverage of high-resolution laser-scanning-data (lidar) surveyed for mapping purposes are soon covering most of the river basin districts in both countries. Green lidar penetrating water is so far only surveyed only in limited pilot areas. Therefore, we have mainly generated riverscape features from grey LIDAR in all the characterised catchments, like e.g. i) river slope, iii) sinuosity, iv) valley confinement and v) substrate composition.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Cluster riverscape analysis and assessment of more than 7100 unique river segment and ca 2041 km of rivers in 10 diverse catchments in Norway, and about 11 000 river segments and ca 1930 km of rivers in three catchments in Sweden have been included in the GIS databases. These rivers have different management regimes (e.g. several permanent protected rivers in Norway) and key species in focus (several national salmon rivers). Still some of the same hymo pressures (e.g. lack of lateral and/or longitudinal river continuum) seems to be quite prominent across management regimes, and therefore an intensified action plan for river restoration seems to be needed.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;We have demonstrated that our GIS-techniques by combining high resolution lidar data and the river continuum concept is a cost-efficient methodology for assessing river habitats for both riparian and riverine biota in riverscapes of Scandinavia. By combining lidar with other georeferenced data publicly available like geomorphological maps, pressure data (e.g., road culverts), segmentations and semi-automatic GIS-techniques, huge areas (like catchments of several thousand km&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; and hundreds of river water bodies)&amp;amp;#160; can be assessed in an objective transparent way already publicly available.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Application&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The methodology and GIS database we have generated in this project are relevant for managements issues such as&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;a) defining &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;reference conditions&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; (to classify ecological conditions)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;b) large scale analysis of habitat degradation of riverine and riparian biodiversity, (consistent river typologies &amp;amp;#8211; &amp;quot;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;digital twins&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;quot;)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;c) pressure index to pinpoint more accurate and &amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;sustainable restoration&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; strategies and measures, that also acknowledge climate adaptation (e.g. natural flow retention measures)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;d)&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt; identifying significance of physical alterations (hymo pressures&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; - e.g. longitudinal barriers for fish) vs climate change effects (e.g. due to changes in ice break up)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;e)&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt; biodiversity management&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;; habitat fragmentation, rare vs common habitat types (for updating next version of national Red lists of nature types and/or endangered riverine species)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;