The diversity and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fragile and fast-changing polar regions is strongly understudied and only basically recognized. Even though remote and with limited human impact, Arctic ecosystems are bound to receive antibiotic resistance through wastewater delivered to the fjords, from melting glaciers and permafrost, which are thought to be repositories of ARGs. We need samples of seawater (two litres), sea sediments (one litre), and ice cores (two) from area of Longyearbyen for analysis of ARGs.
