Supplementary data for: "Emergence of Potential Anadromous Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) Habitats in the Svalbard Archipelago after the End of the Little Ice Age"

Supplementary data for: “Emergence of Potential Anadromous Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) Habitats in the Svalbard Archipelago after the End of the Little Ice Age”

https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JG008367

Abstract: Glaciers in the Svalbard Archipelago are retreating rapidly in response to climate change. The retreat of glaciers leads to alteration of the hydrological and thermal regimes of the freshwater ecosystems. In this delicate context, existing anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) populations are at severe risk and might disappear from the archipelago. However, the retreat of glaciers also promotes the formation of new lake systems that might be suitable for colonization by anadromous Arctic charr. These systems may provide a substantial opportunity for the establishment of new populations of anadromous charr, potentially buffering the decline in existing systems. To date, there is a lack of information on the number of recently deglaciated lake systems that have emerged since the end of the Little Ice Age (ca. 1920) that might be suitable for charr colonization. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to provide an initial assessment of the number of these lakes. To this end, and in accordance with previously published research, this study assesses whether a recently deglaciated lake system is potentially open to colonization based on gradient, river length, and lake surface area. Depending on the applied threshold (four in total), up to 24 lake systems are classified as potentially open to colonization by anadromous Arctic charr, with Spitsbergen emerging as a colonization hotspot. The findings of this paper might serve as basis for new studies and for implementing proactive management and conservation strategies to protect anadromous charr populations.

Data description:

Recently_Deglaciated_Systems [EPGS: 25833] - Shapefile containing the information of 168 lake systems that emerged between 1936/1938 and 2020 in the Svalbard Archipelago

ID: Identification number

X: Easting

Y: Northing

Fall?: Presence of the lake system in fall (with dates when the lake was visible in satellite images)

Spring?: Presence of the lake system in spring (with dates when the lake was visible in satellite images)

Info: information regarding the type of system (i.e., larger lake surrounded by lakes and ponds or system of multiple lakes and ponds). If blank, lake is considered single.

Analysis [EPGS: 25833] - Shapefile containing the analysis of 125 lake systems with connection to the ocean.

ID: Identification number

X: Easting

Y: Northing

Surface (km2): Surface of the connected recently deglaciated lake system (km2)

Elevation (m): Elevation of the outlet (m)

Length (m): River length (m)

Slope (%): Slope of the river (%)

SV1: Result of the classification with SV1

SV2: Result of the classification with SV2

HY: Result of the classification with HY

NO: Result of the classification with NO