The aim of the study is to detect levels of selected POPs in glaucous gull breeding in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, and investigated how this may affect the thyroid hormone levels.Its hypothesized that high levels of contaminants will be detected and that ther e will be an inverse correlation between the levels of POPs and THs in the plasma.
Sampling of glaucous gull will take place in Kongsfjorden on the west coast of Spitsbergen, Svalbard, with base in Ny-Ålesund, during one month period in June-July 2013. Blood samples will be taken from between 20-30 adult individuals, caught by an automatic triggered nest trap.