What Is the ASTI?

The Arctic Species Trend Index uses population monitoring data to track trends in marine, terrestrial and freshwater Arctic vertebrate species. The index allows for a composite measure of the overall population trends of Arctic vertebrate populations (between 1970 and 2004). It can also be organized to display trends based on taxonomy, biome or region. The Index tracks almost 1,000 Arctic vertebrate population datasets by biome, taxa, migratory status, and so on.

To facilitate the examination of regional trends, the Arctic was divided into three sub-regions: Sub Arctic, Low Arctic and High Arctic (see map). As well, species population data was classified based on the broad habitats they live in (land, lakes and rivers, or oceans). The latter were also identified by which ocean basin--Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific--they inhabit. The individual populations in the ASTI were further tagged based on migratory status, trophic level and other relevant categories. The ASTI allows us to track broad trends in the Arctic’s living resources and identify potential causes of those trends, whether they be responses to natural phenomena or human-induced stressors.

The Arctic Species Trend Index (ASTI) was commissioned and coordinated by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP), an international forum that includes scientists and conservation experts from the eight Arctic countries, Indigenous organizations of the Arctic Council, and key global conservation organizations. (The CBMP is the cornerstone program of the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna [CAFF] Working Group.) Funding for the project was provided by the Government of Canada.

While the Arctic Species Trend Index represents population data for 35% of all Arctic vertebrate species (a very high number for such an index), more information is needed in order to attain an adequate understanding of how Arctic vertebrate populations are faring.

The Arctic Species Trend Index was commissioned by the Arctic Council’s CAFF Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program. The development of the index was a collaboration between the CBMP, the Zoological Society of London, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the World Wildlife Fund.

Figure 2 Data Coverage by Taxonomic Class
The coverage of species represented in the ASTI. Black bars represent proportion of Arctic species in each class for which there are population data available. White bars are the proportion of Arctic species with no available population-trend data.

Report Authors

Louise McRae (ZSL), Christoph Zöckler (UNEP-WCMC), Michael Gill (CBMP), Jonathan Loh (WWF), Julia Latham (ZSL), Nicola Harrison (ZSL), Jenny Martin (ZSL) and Ben Collen (ZSL).