Adaptations to Alpine and Polar Environments in Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods

Abstract

Insects and other terrestrial arthropods use several techniques to adapt to alpine and polar environments. Unfavorable climatic conditions drastically reduce the number of species (Mani, 1968; Danks, 1981). The timberlines of the alpine regions and of the Arctic in the north abruptly mark a change in environmental conditions. Because of the isolated position of the Antarctic, its fauna is even poorer in number of species, and hence diversity is low (Block, 1984). To limit the topic, this chapter mainly reviews the adaptation of terrestrial arthropods found beyond the limits of forests and focuses on the different factors that contribute to the overall adaptational strategies of different species.