Effects of terrestrial inputs on coastal food-web structure and contaminant trophodynamics in an Arctic fjord system

Increased terrestrial run-off in Arctic regions is one major impact of climate change. As temperatures and precipitation increase and permafrost and glaciers melt, coastal areas are experiencing increased levels of riverine inputs. These inputs bring water, sediments, nutrients, organic matter and contaminants across the land-ocean interface with a range of implications for coastal contamination and food-web ecology. This PhD project will investigate the influence of terrestrial inputs on the flow of energy and contaminants in coastal marine foods webs in Isfjord, Svalbard. The project has three main aims: 1) To characterize the physicochemical conditions and response to terrestrial inputs along gradients in Isfjord. 2) To distinguish between the utilization of terrestrial vs. marine energy sources in Arctic coastal food webs. 3) To determine how terrestrial inputs can directly and indirectly affect contaminant dynamics through effects on food sources, trophic pathways and nutritional quality of prey items.