Long-term study of the tundra food web at a hotspot of Arctic biodiversity, the Bylot Island Field Station

We present the history of research activities at the Bylot Island Field Station of the Centre d'etudes nordiques, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Canadian Arctic. Intensive wildlife studies started at the station in the late 1980s, initially focussing on greater snow goose ecology and its impacts on the tundra vegetation. Since then, studies have expanded to encompass the whole vertebrate food web and have become one of the most comprehensive ecological monitoring programs in the Canadian Arctic. The main vertebrate species monitored include snow geese, lemmings, shorebirds, avian predators, buntings, and Arctic foxes. Over time, we recorded 66 bird and 10 mammal species, including 51 confirmed breeders. Contributions of the program to the field of ecology are numerous, but our demonstration of the dominant role played by predator-prey interactions in the Arctic food web is especially significant for the understanding of direct and indirect trophic interactions. Our studies provided essential information for management decisions taken to control the overabundant greater snow goose population and supported international efforts to assess the state of Arctic biodiversity. Future directions will reflect the need to deepen our understanding of trophic interactions and the effects of climate change using innovative advanced technologies.

Automated summary

This study presents the research activities and findings from the Bylot Island Field Station in the Canadian Arctic, a hotspot of biodiversity. The research started in the late 1980s, primarily focusing on greater snow goose ecology and its impact on tundra vegetation. It has since expanded to encompass the entire vertebrate food web and has become one of the most comprehensive ecological monitoring programs in the region. The study's contribution to the field of ecology, particularly in understanding predator-prey interactions in the Arctic food web, has been significant and has supported management decisions and international efforts to assess Arctic biodiversity.