Effects of pollution on metabolic rate and physiological blood parameters in arctic kittiwake, RIS ID 6617

I aim to study the physiological effects (both in terms of metabolic rate, endocrine and clinical parameters) of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), traditional organohalogenated compounds (OHCs) and toxic metals in the light of ecological characteristics (diet, habitat) and environmental factors (climate) using black-legged kittiwakes at Svalbard. The project will start up with a master thesis in July 2014, but is intended to be continued over several year s, to investigate the influence of climate alterations over time on the physiological effects in kittiwakes. As a new employee at the Department of Biology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim), the AFG funding will hel p me to setup new research at Svalbard. The AFG will allow me to gain insight in field studies on Svalbard and to make a good study setup for the project in the following years. I will also be actively collaborating with other researchers at Svalbard (Pro f. Bech RIS 2919 and Dr. Gabrielsen - RIS 3375), in terms of coordinating field activities, supervision of students and sharing expenses.As I aim to follow up the concentrations and effects in kittiwakes at Svalbard for several years to come, the AFG may give a kick-start for this new collaborative research.