9th March 2023
IASC Activity Report: The Importance of Within-Species Diversity in Arctic systems Workshop
Global biodiversity loss is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. However, in research, policy, and public understanding, biodiversity is often treated in an overly simplistic manner. This approach often emphasises species diversity over all other diversity measures, and also focuses on patterns of diversity over the processes which generate and maintain biodiversity into the future. This workshop brought together 25 international and local Icelandic researchers to discuss the importance of an often-overlooked aspect of biodiversity – within-species diversity. Within-species diversity is important for evolutionary processes, as individual variation is the currency of evolution. In northern systems that are often lower in species diversity, within-species diversity likely plays an increased role in shaping ecosystem function and resilience.