Causes and consequences of high loads of biomagnifying pollutants in avian top predators in the Arctic

Although the Arctic Sea is remote and considered pristine, paradoxically the marine food chain is highly loaded by persistent environmental contaminants. Such pollutants bio-magnify in food chains and arctic seabirds often suffer from high concentrations. The research on environmental contaminants in Arctic has developed substantially over the last decade, and seabirds have been at the core of this achievement. In this project the focus has on arctic seabird species occupying different positions in the food chain. The project has specifically focused on establishing the origin of organic pollutants , and the role of seabirds as vectors for such compounds. It has also examined the physiological stress caused by different contaminants measured through biomarker responses, and finally the ecological impact that contaminants have on seabird populations in a changing environment through the use of population modeling. This approach seek to bridge the gap between empirical studies and more process-oriented modeling approaches. Hence, the project aims at exploring the true role of pollution as an anthropogenic driver in Arctic ecosystems.

Although the Arctic Sea is remote and considered pristine, paradoxically the marine food chain is highly loaded by persistent organic pollutants; especially seabirds suffer from high concentrations. The research on environmental contaminants in Arctic has developed substantially over the last decade, and seabirds have been at the core of this achievement: e.g. recent research projects in the Norwegian Arctic have increased our understanding and enabling studies of more fundamental relevance. The proposed project studying seabird species at different trophic positions will focus on three integrated work packages (WPs): 1) the origin of POPs and mercury and the role of seabirds as vectors of emerging and legacy contaminants (bio-transport); 2) the physiolog ical stress caused by different contaminants measured through biomarker responses; and 3) the ecological impact that contaminants have on seabird populations in a changing environment through the use of population modelling (Population Viability Analyses) . We aim at developing a dynamic modelling approach that integrates simulation/theoretical modelling and statistical analyses of empirical data. Such an approach will bridge and extend the different WPs as we aim at linking more patterns-oriented empirica l studies with more process-oriented modelling approaches. Hence, the project aims at exploring the true role of pollution as an anthropogenic driver in Arctic ecosystems.