site.btaNational Natural History Museum Researchers Go on First Arctic Expedition to Southwest Greenland Fjords

Dr. Tihomir Stefanov from the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), together with scientists from Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom, will study the impact of active glacial melting on fish populations in the fjords of Southwest Greenland. Their research is taking place during an Arctic expedition that runs from August 14-31, the NMNH-BAS said on Friday.

The museum team said that this is the first Arctic expedition of the National Museum of Natural History at BAS. The scientists will explore two fjords in the field - with and without glacial water inflow. In them, different migration strategies of the Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) will be mainly studied using acoustic telemetry.

"The team's expected result is a confirmation of the hypothesis that Arctic charr in Greenland fjords with glacial meltwater inflow will have different migratory behaviour and feeding habits than charr inhabiting similar fjords without glacial meltwater inflow. The base of the expedition is in the small town of Qaqortoq, and most of the fieldwork will be carried out in two separate fjords, where temporary tent camps will be set up," the NMNH-BAS said.

Scientists note that Arctic aquatic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable and threatened by anthropogenic influence and climate change. It is therefore important to gather baseline information about them across the Arctic region, and to document and determine the potential significance of observed ecological changes in these parts of the planet. Freshwater ecosystems are often small, relatively closed and confined and thus provide a good opportunity to document the occurring ecological changes.

The Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is often the only fish species found within these ecosystems and, as a top predator, can provide valuable information on the status and functioning of Arctic aquatic ecosystems. Changes in the environment affect the migration of individual fish species and can also prevent or impair a species' ability to migrate. In both cases, environmental changes could lead to a reduction or complete loss of the ability to migrate, but this is very poorly understood these days, scientists say.