Editing Spitsbergen (section)

==Nature==
{{Main|Environment of Svalbard}}

[[File:Svalbard poppy (Papaver dahlianum).jpg|thumb|[[Svalbard poppy]]]]
Three terrestrial mammalian species inhabit the island: the [[Arctic fox]], the Svalbard [[reindeer]], and accidentally introduced [[southern vole]], which are only found in Grumant.<ref name=vernebrosjyre>{{cite web|url=http://www.dirnat.no/attachment.ap?id=1043 |title=Protected Areas in Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927000359/http://www.dirnat.no/attachment.ap?id=1043 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref> Attempts to introduce the [[Arctic hare]] and the [[muskox]] have both failed.<ref>Umbreit (2005): 33</ref> There are fifteen to twenty types of [[marine mammal]]s, including whales, dolphins, [[pinniped|seals]], [[walrus]]es and [[polar bear]]s.<ref name=vernebrosjyre/> [[Arctic charr]] inhabit Linne´vatn and other freshwater lakes on the island.<ref name="Omalley 2019">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/ece3.4891 |pmid=30847088 |title=Characterizing neutral and adaptive genomic differentiation in a changing climate: The most northerly freshwater fish as a model |journal=Ecology and Evolution |volume=9 |issue=4 |pages=2004–2017 |year=2019 |last1=O'Malley |first1=Kathleen G. |last2=Vaux |first2=Felix |last3=Black |first3=Andrew N. |pmc=6392408 |bibcode=2019EcoEv...9.2004O }}</ref>

Polar bears are the iconic symbol of Spitsbergen and one of the main tourist attractions.<ref>Torkildsen (1984): 174</ref> While they are protected, persons going outside settlements are required to carry a rifle to kill polar bears in [[self-defence]], as a last resort should they attack.<ref name="Umbriet 2005: 132">Umbriet (2005): 132</ref> Spitsbergen shares a common polar bear population with the rest of Svalbard and [[Franz Joseph Land]]. The [[Svalbard reindeer]] (''R. tarandus platyrhynchus'') is a distinct sub-species. While it was previously almost extinct, hunting is permitted for both it and the Arctic fox.<ref name=vernebrosjyre/>

About thirty types of bird are found on Spitsbergen, most of which are [[migratory bird|migratory]]. The [[Barents Sea]] is among the areas in the world with most [[seabird]]s, with about 20 million counted during late summer. The most common are [[little auk]], [[northern fulmar]], [[thick-billed murre]] and [[black-legged kittiwake]]. Sixteen species are on the [[IUCN Red List]]. Particularly [[Storfjorden, Svalbard|Storfjorden]] and [[Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park|Nordvest-Spitsbergen]] are important [[breeding ground]] for seabirds. The [[Arctic tern]] has the furthest migration, all the way to [[Antarctica]].<ref name=vernebrosjyre/> Only two songbirds migrate to Spitsbergen to breed: the [[snow bunting]] and the [[northern wheatear]]. [[Rock ptarmigan]] is the only bird to overwinter.<ref>Torkilsen (1984): 162</ref>

[[File:Svalbardrein pho.jpg|thumb|left|[[Svalbard reindeer]]]]
Two partial skeletons of ''[[Pliosaurus funkei]]'' from the [[Jurassic]] period were discovered in 2008. It is the largest [[Mesozoic]] [[marine reptile]] ever found—a [[pliosaur]] estimated to be almost {{cvt|15|m}} long.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229101002.htm |title=Enormous Jurassic Sea Predator, Pliosaur, Discovered in Norway |work=[[Science Daily]] |date=29 February 2008 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> Svalbard has [[permafrost]] and [[tundra]], with both low, middle and high [[Arctic vegetation]]. One hundred and sixty-five species of plants have been found on the archipelago.<ref name=vernebrosjyre/> Only those areas which defrost in the summer have vegetation.<ref>Torkilsen (1984): 144</ref> Vegetation is most abundant in [[Nordenskiöld Land]], around Isfjorden and where effected by [[guano]].<ref>Umbreit (2005): 29–30</ref> While there is little precipitation, giving the island a [[steppe]] climate, plants still have good access to water because the cold climate reduces evaporation.<ref name=t101>Torkilsen (1984): 101</ref><ref name=vernebrosjyre/> The growing season is very short, and may last only a few weeks.<ref>Umbreit (2005): 32</ref>

There are [[list of national parks of Norway|six national parks]] on Spitsbergen: [[Indre Wijdefjorden National Park|Indre Wijdefjorden]], [[Nordenskiöld Land National Park|Nordenskiöld Land]], [[Nordre Isfjorden National Park|Nordre Isfjorden Land]], [[Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park|Nordvest-Spitsbergen]], [[Sassen-Bünsow Land National Park|Sassen-Bünsow Land]] and [[Sør-Spitsbergen National Park|Sør-Spitsbergen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dirnat.no/nasjonalparker/ |title=Norges nasjonalparker |publisher=[[Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |language=no |archive-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914050729/http://www.dirnat.no/nasjonalparker/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The island also features [[Festningen Geotope Protected Area]]; some of the northeastern coast is part of [[Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/status/NBdata.asp?FyNr=21&Datasett=VV&Overskrift=true&knrSort=true |title=Verneområder i Svalbard sortert på kommuner |publisher=[[Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |language=no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824235325/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/status/NBdata.asp?FyNr=21&Datasett=VV&Overskrift=true&knrSort=true |archive-date=24 August 2011 }}</ref> All human traces dating from before 1946 are automatically protected.<ref name="Umbriet 2005: 132"/> Svalbard is on Norway's tentative list for nomination as a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5161/ |title=Svalbard |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref>