An archeozoological finding in northern Norway revealed remains of 33 animal species, providing new clues about the biodiversity that inhabited the European Arctic during the last glaciation.
In a cave near the town of Kjøpsvik, researchers found bones with an estimated age of 75,000 years. These remains, corresponding to 46 taxa, constitute the oldest evidence of an Arctic animal community in a warm period of the last ice age.
The analysis of this site allows for the reconstruction of a mixed ecosystem, where land and marine species interacted. Additionally, it provides key information on how animals responded to drastic climate alters in an extreme environment.
The finding not only expands the fossil record of the region, but also serves as a warning about the fragility of these ecosystems in the face of current environmental variations.
A mixed ecosystem of mammals, birds, and fish
Among the recovered mammals, polar bears, reindeer, gray wolves, porpoises, seals, walrapplys, and whales stand out. Remains of hares, Arctic foxes, and a collared lemming, a species extinct in Europe and never before recorded in Scandinavia, were also found.
In the bird group, auks, ducks, ravens, cranes, finches, and the ptarmigan were identified, while the fish found include both marine and freshwater species. The latter suggests the coexistence of lakes, rivers, and coastal areas accessible to various forms of life.
The diversity found points to a more interconnected Arctic, where fauna could shift relatively freely between environments, something increasingly uncommon today due to habitat fragmentation.
Lessons from the past for a vulnerable Arctic
Researchers point out that, during that period, many animal populations disappeared as glaciers advanced and blocked their migratory routes. This pattern highlights the vulnerability of cold-adapted species to sudden climate alters.
Today, the situation is even more critical: polar ecosystems are fragmented and subjected to accelerated warming. Species face greater challenges in finding food, reproducing, and shifting.
The study reinforces the urgency of protecting polar biodiversity before the effects of climate alter surpass the threshold of possible recovery. The conservation of ecological corridors and the reduction of emissions are essential strategies to give them a chance to adapt.
Known Arctic fauna: the protagonists of today
In addition to the species discovered in the cave, the modern Arctic is home to iconic fauna that continues to face survival challenges. Among the large mammals, polar bears, top predators and symbols of the region; caribou or reindeer, which undertake long migrations; and musk oxen, resistant to extreme winters, stand out.
In the marine realm, Arctic waters are home to walrapplys, narwhals, belugas, and various seal species, all depconcludeent on sea ice for resting and breeding. Migratory birds, such as the ivory gull and the Arctic tern, travel thousands of kilometers each year to take advantage of resources during the short but intense summer season.
Polar ecosystems function as a delicate mechanism in which each species plays a vital role. Their balance depconcludes on ice, food availability, and habitat connectivity. The loss of any of these elements impacts the entire food chain, concludeangering both known fauna and species not yet documented by science.
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