The need for theories that address food web assembly and complexity over multiple spatial scales are critical to understanding their stability and persistence. In a meta-food web – an integrated network of local food webs – spatial heterogeneity in physical processes may have profound effects on food web function and energy flow. In the Arctic, surface water connectivity plays a vital role in determining fish assemblage composition, and potentially, food web structure. We examined lentic food web complexity associated with heterogeneity in surface water connectivity among Arctic lakes at the local scale, by contrasting lakes over a stream-lake connectivity gradient, and at the regional scale, by contrasting two locations with different surface water conditions (i.e., wet and dry) on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. Among lakes and across locations, increased hydrologic connectivity between streams and lakes increased the number of fish species and increased the complexity of the food web. The interaction of the region's hydrologic connectivity, local stream-lake connections, and the trophic niches of relevant fish species produced integrated, complex meta-food webs. Fully understanding mechanisms that support meta-food web stability are crucial when assessing future changes to Arctic stream-lake networks and the function and persistence of aquatic food webs.

This perspective paper argues for an urgent need to monitor a set of 12 concrete, measurable indicators of food and water security in the Arctic over time. Such a quantitative indicator approach may be viewed as representing a reductionist rather than a holistic perspective, but is nevertheless necessary for actually knowing what reality aspects to monitor in order to accurately understand, quantify, and be able to project critical changes to food and water security of both indigenous and non-indigenous people in the Arctic. More relevant indicators may be developed in the future, taking us further toward reconciliation between reductionist and holistic approaches to change assessment and understanding. However, the potential of such further development to improved holistic change assessment is not an argument not to urgently start to monitor and quantify the changes in food and water security indicators that are immediately available and adequate for the Arctic context.

Algae can be used as an ingredient for food production, as well as a source of marine hydrocolloids and various biologically active substances. There is a lack of studies on the significant floral diversity of the northern seas. It justifies the need not only to determine the species composition of common red algae species, but also to scrutinize its chemical composition and methods to obtain sulfated polysaccharides for further use in the food industry. The chemical composition of a natural mixture consisting of two species of red algae – Ptilota serrata and Ptilota gunneri - gathered in the littoral near Bolshoy Solovetsky Island in the period 2019–2023 had been explored. The research demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the content of ash, protein, carbohydrates and fiber in the mixtures, depending on the month of gathering. When developing a production technology for a water-soluble polysaccharide from a P. serrata and P. gunneri mixture, it was revealed that the rational algae pretreatment mode was maintaining the pH level, duration 1 hour, temperature (22 ± 2) deg C. The polysaccharide extraction modes are the following: temperature (120 ± 2) deg C, duration 1 hour and pH medium level 7. To purify the polysaccharide extract, it is most rational to use activated carbon in an amount of 0.5–1.0% by extract weight, duration (60 ± 5) minutes, temperature (98 ± 2) deg C. The water-soluble polysaccharide should be dried using freeze-drying or spray dryers. The authors recommend using a water-soluble polysaccharide from a P. serrata and P. gunneri red algae mixture as a thickener in production such foods as fruit desserts, sauces and jelly-like soft drinks. | Морские водоросли могут использоваться для производства продуктов питания, как источник морских гидроколлоидов и различных биологически активных веществ. Значительное флористическое многообразие северных морей практически не изучено, что обосновывает необходимость не только определения видового состава массовых видов красных водорослей, но и исследования их химического состава и способов получения сульфатированных полисахаридов с целью их дальнейшего применения в пищевой промышленности. Представлены результаты исследования химического состава природной смеси, состоящей из двух видов красных водорослей – Ptilota serrata и Ptilota gunneri, собранных на литорали у о. Большой Соловецкий в период 2019–2023 гг. Показано, что в смесях отсутствуют значимые различия в содержании золы, белка, углеводов и клетчатки в зависимости от месяца их сбора. При разработке технологии получения водорастворимого полисахарида из смеси P. serrata и P. gunneri, установлено, что рациональным режимом предобработки водорослей является поддержание рН среды, продолжительность 1 ч, температура (22 ± 2) град. С. Экстрагирование полисахарида следует проводить при температуре (120 ± 2) град. С, продолжительности 1 ч и рН среды 7. Для очистки экстракта полисахарида наиболее рационально использовать активированный уголь в количестве 0,5–1,0% к массе экстракта, продолжительность (60 ± 5) мин, температура (98 ± 2) град. С. Сушку водорастворимого полисахарида следует проводить с использованием сублимационной или распылительной сушилок. Рекомендовано использовать водорастворимый полисахарид из смеси красных водорослей P. serrata и P. gunneri в качестве загустителя при изготовлении таких пищевых продуктов, как десерты фруктовые, соусы и кисели питьевые.