Omics can be used to evaluate biodiversity across the whole of the polar Tree of Life from microbes in the ocean, land, ice and permafrost through to the large charismatic mega fauna, such as polar bears, whales, seals and sea birds, as discussed in the main text. Such analyses will reveal adaptations to life in the cold from the single gene to whole animal levels. Furthermore, sequencing multiple individuals in different populations, as represented by the groups of seals, penguins and polar bears will reveal evolutionary histories and population variability, which may provide indications of future resilience. Sequencing of gut contents from any of the species depicted can provide insight into current and changing food webs on land and in the sea. Using the past to predict the future is represented by the frozen woolly mammoth and permafrost. Long-term monitoring for surveillance is represented at both poles by the two research stations, with automatic sampling depicted by the unmanned vehicle autosub. Related to surveillance is the pictogram of the ship, representing the potential introduction of alien invasives, as can be monitored using eDNA.
Polar ecosystems, undergoing some of the most rapid rates of regional warming on Earth, face imminent threats due to anthropogenic climate change. In response to these challenges, scientists are increasingly turning to ‘omics’ approaches to unravel the mysteries of polar biodiversity. This article delves into the current state of ‘omics’ methodologies applied to polar ecosystems, offering insights into the future prospects and outlining recommendations for a community road map to harness multi-omics data from polar organisms.
More extensive details of adaptations with associated references in Supplementary Note 2. A Polar bears have a modified cardiovascular system allowing them to tolerate chronically elevated levels of serum cholesterol in their diet. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer Angelika Renner. B Antarctic sea spiders are examples of polar gigantism. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer Dave Bowden. C Antarctic diatoms produce ice antifreeze proteins to survive in sea ice. Photograph from Thomas Mock, University of East Anglia. D Copepods accumulate lipids (up to 70% of individual dry weight) to survive Arctic winters. Photograph from Kim Last, Scottish Association for Marine Sciences. E Antarctic springtails survive down to −30 °C via rapid cold hardening. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer Pete Bucktrout. F Icefish are the only vertebrates that lack haemoglobin. Photograph from Gianfranco Santovito, University of Padua. G Antarctic endolithic communities in rock survive the most extreme conditions. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer David Wynn-Williams. H Krill has the largest biomass of any wild animal on the planet. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer Pete Bucktrout. I Arctic tern undertakes the longest migration on Earth. Photo from BAS photo library. Photographer Callan Duck. J Antarctic nematodes normally live in temperatures of down to −7 °C, but some can survive at −80 °C. Photograph from Kevin Newsham, British Antarctic Survey. K Arctic Bell-heather thrives in deep snow over winter. Photographer from Melody Clark, British Antarctic Survey. L Polar cod shows convergent evolution of antifreeze glycoprotein to survive the cold. Photograph from Till Luckenbach, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research — UFZ. M Blue mussels and macroalgae can survive to 36 °C in the Greenland intertidal. Photographer Jakob Thyrring, Aarhus University. N Ectomycorrhiza colonise plant roots and play vital roles in protecting the plant from extreme conditions. Photographer Kevin Newsham, British Antarctic Survey. O An Ocean quahog holds the record of the longest-lived animal on Earth. Photographer Al Wanamaker, Iowa State University. P Antarctic fur seal genomics is revealing signals of past hunting pressures. Photographer Joseph Hoffman, University of Bielefeld. All photographs published with permission and all supporting imagery from the BAS Image Collection is published according to the image rights agreement between each photographer and the British Antarctic Survey.
Polar regions, encompassing the majority of the world’s cryosphere, play pivotal roles in the Earth’s climate system and global nutrient circulation. However, they are currently at the forefront of climate-induced changes, with the Arctic experiencing rapid warming and the Antarctic Peninsula already witnessing substantial temperature increases. These alterations, driven by anthropogenic factors, pose a significant threat to polar biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
