Research on invertebrates (insects, worms, and other species without backbones) is a relatively young science in Svalbard. In the archipelago there are over 1,100 invertebrate species – but our knowledge of them is limited. UNIS is now arranging a Norwegian-Russian workshop in order to strengthen collaboration and expand our knowledge of these creepy-crawlies.

Text: Eva Therese Jenssen

The Terrestrial Invertebrate Fauna of Svalbard Workshop 2011 takes place at UNIS from 27. March until 1. April. 25 participants from nine countries are attending, the majority coming from Norway and Russia.

Young science
Although terrestrial invertebrate research began already in the mid-1800s, it is only in the past 20 years that the ecology research of this diverse group has begun.

There are several challenges with terrestrial invertebrate research on Svalbard. One is that almost all studies have occurred in two localities, on the southern shore of Isfjorden (Longyearbyen and Barentsburg) and in Kongsfjorden (Ny-Ålesund). Another is the difficulty in communication between Russian and western colleagues, where western scientists are unaware of the work the Russians are doing, and vice versa.

This workshop, which is funded by the Research Council of Norway, will hopefully help diminish those challenges in the future.

Better coordination with the Russians
- The workshop participants all work in Svalbard on diverse projects looking at a wide range of invertebrate groups, both on land and in freshwater, explains Steve Coulson, workshop leader and associate professor at UNIS.

- However, research is often uncoordinated and misses collaborative opportunities. In particular collaboration with Russian workers working from Barentsburg is especially lacking, he says.

The workshop will provide the opportunity for researchers from Norway and Russia to meet and discuss current and future projects in Svalbard.

-The aim of the workshop is to gather invertebrate specialists working on Svalbard in one room to discuss current research, review current knowledge and discuss future projects, Coulson says.

The participants will visit the research facilities available in the Svalbard Science Centre and in Barentsburg.

Establish network of terrestrial invertebrate specialists
-One of the outcomes of this workshop is hopefully to identify opportunities for combined fieldwork in the remoter regions of Svalbard thus reducing the environmental impact of the fieldwork and reducing costs, Coulson says.

Another is to identify opportunities for Norwegian researchers to access sites in Russia which is important when studying circumpolar invertebrate ecology. For scientists investigating invertebrate biodiversity and biogeography on Svalbard meeting Russian counterparts with access to Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and the Siberian coast line is essential.

-We hope to establish a circumpolar network of terrestrial invertebrate specialists, Steve Coulson concludes.

The Terrestrial Invertebrate Fauna of Svalbard Workshop 2011 takes place at UNIS 27. March-1. April.