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SSF-Svalbard Science Forum

Effects of pollution on metabolic rate and blood parameters in arctic kittiwake. RiS ID: 6617

Awarded: NOK 71,999

The current proposal aims to study the physiological effects (both in terms of metabolic rate, endocrine and clinical parameters) of emerging flame retardants, traditional persistent organic pollutants and toxic metals in the light of ecological character istics (diet, habitat) and environmental factors (climate) at Svalbard. The project will start up with my master thesis in July 2014, but is aimed to continue over several years, to investigate the influence of climate alterations over time on the physio logical effects in kittiwakes. This project will be supervised by Veerle Jaspers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim) in collaboration with Claus Bech from NTNU and Geir Gabrielsen from the Norwegian Polar Institute (Tro msø). Body feathers and blood will be sampled from adult and nestling birds during the summers at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. At least 20 nests will be targeted per year.

Funding scheme:

SSF-Svalbard Science Forum