The cryosphere, that portion of the Earth’s surface where water is in solid form for at least one month a year, has been shrinking in response to climate warming. The extent of sea ice, snow, and glaciers, for example, have been decreasing. In response, the ecosystems within the cryosphere or depend on the cryosphere have been changing. Two principal aspects of ecosystem-level responses to cryosphere loss are trophodynamic alterations resulting from the loss of habitat and species loss or replacement; and changes in the rates and mechanisms of biogeochemical storage and cycling of carbon and nutrients, caused by changes in physical forcings or ecological community functioning. These changes affect biota in positive or negative ways depending on how they interact with the cryosphere. We invite presentations that deal with these issues either from a site-specific inquiry based on original data collection or synthesis perspectives of specific habitats or regional responses.