Microbial communities as sentinels of environmental changes in Svalbard (MicroSIOS)

This is chapter 6 of the State of Environmental Science in Svalbard (SESS) report 2024 (https://sios-svalbard.org/SESS_Issue7).Svalbard’s ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change and pollution, and monitoring systems in this region are crucial. Although microorganisms are major drivers of biogeochemical cycles in Arctic ecosystems, microbiological variables are not yet comprehensively monitored. Microbial communities are sensitive to change and could therefore serve as environmental sentinels. Moreover, development of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance could threaten both ecosystems and human health, especially in sensitive areas such as the high Arctic. A more uniform and efficient monitoring and data collection system is needed to understand the microbial ecosystems of the present and detect changes in a future warming Arctic.This chapter gives an overview of current knowledge about Svalbard’s diverse microbial communities, their connections with climate change, chemical pollution, antibiotic resistance, and the potential spread of pathogenic species. We also suggest guidelines for future microbial community monitoring and use of microorganisms as environmental sentinels.