Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate science in Svalbard in a changing world: from regional to pan-Arctic scales (STAFIEN - Svalbard Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology Network)

Invertebrates are ubiquitous. Diverse in form and function, they play crucial roles in ecosystems: for example as food for other organisms, as pollinators, and as decomposers. Invertebrate species vastly outnumber vascular plants, birds and mammals combined, but we know little about them and their roles due to challenges in identification, sampling, access, and funding. One of the world’s fastest changing environments, Svalbard is also a hotspot for multidisciplinary environmental research, ideal for studying responses to change. Nonetheless, comprehensive biodiversity surveys across Svalbard are still needed, to better inform governance actions aimed at protecting this unique environment. Research on Svalbard’s terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate community is key to understanding resilience and vulnerability to environmental change. Upscaling results from Svalbard will help us assess threats and consequences across the whole Arctic.