Farming in The Artic Case Study - F. o. F. Flashcards
How large is the Arctic and what are some of the areas included?
- 14 million km^2
- Arctic ocean, Russia, Canada, Alaska
What is the growing season like in the Arctic?
- Growing season short - 6 months no sunlight
- NPP 140 g/m^2/year
How is much of the food eaten in the Arctic gained?
- Hunting
- Gathering
- Herding
- Fishing
Why are fish in such abundance in the Arctic?
- Cold water stores more oxygen
Where are mussels a large part of the diet?
- Wakeham Bay, Quebec
Where are the Inuit people known for hunting marine mammals?
- Qaanaaq, Northern Greenland
Where is whale hunting prominent in the Arctic?
- Barrow, Alaska
What vitamins are gained by consuming marine mammals?
- Vitamin C
How does diversity relate to food security in the Arctic?
- Low diversity as sea ice/snowfall/permafrost decrease due to climate change
How can less ice impact the gathering of foods?
- Less ice to hunt from
- Travel routes are longer or more dangerous
How can alterations in environment affect the food chain? Give an example.
- A change to the environment forces animals to consume other sources of food, reducing the supply for other animals that rely on them
- Eg polar bears have less access to fish as waters warm and ice melts, so they scavenge berries/mosses/birds’ eggs
How can changes in seasonal patterns impact animal populations?
- Spring growth happens earlier
- Most calves (caribou/reindeer) born past peak-foliage
- Many calves die
How can increasing global temperatures alter migration patterns and then food supply?
- Warmer temperatures encourage ‘southerly’ animal to move north, reducing food available
- New animals bring diseases eg meningeal brain worm
What do indigenous people believe is happening to natural resources?
- That the safety of ‘wild resources’ is decreasing
- Contamination, pollution
How have indigenous people responded to the decreasing quality of wild resources?
- Buying imported food
What issues have arisen from increased consumption of imported foods?
- Obesity/malnutrition
- Health issues
- Poverty
How does a reliance on imported food impact Indigenous people’s finances?
- High cost due to importing over large distances
- Low budget due to minimal jobs and low wages
What proportion of Inuit children are malnourished?
- 30%
Outline the proportions of adults’ weights in Alaska, in 2012.
- 34% healthy
- 37% overweight
- 28% obese
- 1% underweight
