Influence of pollution and climate change on emerging disease threats in arctic black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla)

In Svalbard, we will study the blacked legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) as our model species, as it allows for a huge possibility for comparison across a wide latitudinal range (breeding from Svalbard to the United Kingdom [UK]). We will assess pollutant levels, immune system effects and pathogen prevalence in the kittiwakes breeding at Ny Ålesund, Svalbard. This data will then be compared to similar data being collected at two sites in the UK (as part of our collaborative efforts with Uni Birmingham and Uni Oxford) to develop our long-term goal of a forecasting tool for the impact of pollution and climate change on infectious diseases in Northern ecosystems.