Multiple stressors in a top predator seabird: potential ecological consequences of environmental contaminants, population health and breeding conditions

Environmental contaminants may have impacts on reproduction and survival in wildlife populations suffering from multiple stressors. This study examined whether adverse effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) increased with poor population health and breeding conditions in three colonies (60–74°N) of great skua (Stercorarius skua) in the north-eastern Atlantic (Shetland, Iceland and Bjørnøya [Bear Island]). POPs (organochlorines [OCs] and polybrominated diphenyl ethers [BDEs]) were measured in plasma of incubating birds (n = 222), concentrations differing nearly tenfold among colonies: Bjørnøya (2009) > Bjørnøya (2010) > Iceland (2009) > Shetland (2009). Reproductive success (hatching success and chick survival) showed that breeding conditions were favourable in Shetland and at Bjørnøya (2010), but were very poor in Iceland and at Bjørnøya (2009). Biomarkers indicated that health was poor in the Shetland population compared to the other populations. Females whose chicks hatched late had high POP concentrations in all colonies except at Bjørnøya (2010), and females losing their eggs at Bjørnøya (2009) tended to have higher concentrations than those hatching. Moreover, there was a negative relationship between female POP concentrations and chick body condition at hatching in Iceland and at Bjørnøya (2010). Supplementary feeding experiments were conducted, and in Iceland where feeding conditions were poor, significant negative relationships were found between female POP concentrations and daily growth-rate in first-hatched chicks of control nests, but not in food supplemented nests. This suggests that negative impacts of POPs were mitigated by improved feeding conditions. For second-chicks, there was a strong negative relationship between the female POP concentrations and growth-rate, but no effects of supplementary feeding. Lowered adult return-rate between breeding seasons with increasing POP loads were found both at Bjørnøya (2009) and in Shetland, especially related to BDEs. This indicates stronger fitness consequences of POPs following seasons with very poor breeding conditions and/or high reproductive effort. This study suggests that the impacts of POPs may differ depending on population health and breeding conditions, and that even low concentrations of POPs could have ecological consequences during adverse circumstances. This is important with regard to risk assessment of biomagnifying contaminants in marine ecosystems

Niches of marine mammals in the European Arctic

The Arctic is warming rapidly, with concomitant sea ice losses and ecosystem changes. The animals most vulnerable to Arctic food web changes are long-lived and slow-growing such as marine mammals, which may not be able to adapt rapidly enough to respond to changes in their resource bases. To determine the current extent and sources of these resource bases, we examined isotopic and trophic niches for marine mammals in the European Arctic using skin carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N) stable isotope (SI) compositions from 10 species: blue, fin, humpback, minke, sperm and white whales, bearded and ringed seals, walruses and polar bears, and dietary fatty acids (FAs) in polar bears, walruses and most of the whale species listed here. SI values showed clear species separation by trophic behaviour and carbon sources. Bearded seals, walruses and white whales had the smallest isotopic niches; these species are all resident High Arctic species and are likely to be particularly vulnerable to changes in Arctic ecosystems. We found clear separation between FA groupings driven by pelagic, benthic and planktonic/algal sources: pelagic FAs in all whales, benthic FAs in walruses, and copepod/algae/dinoflagellate FAs in polar bears, with some polar bear compositions approaching those of the whales and walruses. There is strong niche partitioning between study species with minimal functional redundancy, which could impact Arctic ecosystem structure and connectivity if populations of these large nutrient vectors are reduced or lost

Climate change and environmental impacts on maternal and newborn health with focus on Arctic populations

In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented a report on global warming and the impact of human activities on global warming. Later the Lancet commission identified six ways human health could be affected. Among these were not environmental factors which are also believed to be important for human health. In this paper we therefore focus on environmental factors, climate change and the predicted effects on maternal and newborn health. Arctic issues are discussed specifically considering their exposure and sensitivity to long range transported contaminants. Considering that the different parts of pregnancy are particularly sensitive time periods for the effects of environmental exposure, this review focuses on the impacts on maternal and newborn health. Environmental stressors known to affects human health and how these will change with the predicted climate change are addressed. Air pollution and food security are crucial issues for the pregnant population in a changing climate, especially indoor climate and food security in Arctic areas. The total number of environmental factors is today responsible for a large number of the global deaths, especially in young children. Climate change will most likely lead to an increase in this number. Exposure to the different environmental stressors especially air pollution will in most parts of the world increase with climate change, even though some areas might face lower exposure. Populations at risk today are believed to be most heavily affected. As for the persistent organic pollutants a warming climate leads to a remobilisation and a possible increase in food chain exposure in the Arctic and thus increased risk for Arctic populations. This is especially the case for mercury. The perspective for the next generations will be closely connected to the expected temperature changes; changes in housing conditions; changes in exposure patterns; predicted increased exposure to Mercury because of increased emissions and increased biological availability. A number of environmental stressors are predicted to increase with climate change and increasingly affecting human health. Efforts should be put on reducing risk for the next generation, thus global politics and research effort should focus on maternal and newborn health

Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of Organic Chemicals in Terrestrial Invertebrates

Terrestrial invertebrates are key components in ecosystems, with crucial roles in soil structure, functioning, and ecosystem services. The present chapter covers how terrestrial invertebrates are impacted by organic chemicals, focusing on up-to-date information regarding bioavailability, exposure routes and general concepts on bioaccumulation, toxicity, and existing models. Terrestrial invertebrates are exposed to organic chemicals through different routes, which are dependent on both the organismal traits and nature of exposure, including chemical properties and media characteristics. Bioaccumulation and toxicity data for several groups of organic chemicals are presented and discussed, attempting to cover plant protection products (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and molluscicides), veterinary and human pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, flame retardants, and personal care products. Chemical mixtures are also discussed bearing in mind that chemicals appear simultaneously in the environment. The biomagnification of organic chemicals is considered in light of the consumption of terrestrial invertebrates as novel feed and food sources. This chapter highlights how science has contributed with data from the last 5 years, providing evidence on bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and toxicity derived from exposure to organic chemicals, including insights into the main challenges and shortcomings to extrapolate results to real exposure scenarios

Sårbarhetskriterier for marine arter og leveområder - Barentshavet og Lofoten

I forbindelse med forvaltningsplan for Barentshavet (St.meld. nr. 8, 2005/2006) må det utvikles sårbarhetskriterier med tilhørende indikatorer for å analysere den samlete effekten av påvirkningene på definerte naturressursgrupper. NIVA arrangerte ”Workshop om sårbarhetskriterier for havområder i Barentshavet – Lofoten” 8. september 2009 ved CIENS i Oslo, der relevante forskningsmiljøer (NINA, NIVA, Akvaplan-niva, HI, NP, Aquabiota, DNV, NGU, UiO) og forvaltningsinstitusjoner (SFT og DN) var invitert. Arbeidet med utvikling av sårbarhetskriterier er omfattende, og er i oppstartsfasen både nasjonalt og internasjonalt. Følgende forslag til inndeling i påvirkningstyper ble lagt frem: I. Forurensning, II. Akuttutslipp, III. Klimaendringer, IV. Introduserte arter, V. Fysisk påvirkning, VI. Arealbeslag, VII. Høsting og bifangst, VIII. Eutrofiering og IX. Forstyrrelser. Vi anbefaler at det videre arbeidet med sårbarhetskriterier skal være enkelt, gjennomsiktig og etterprøvbart. Det er viktig at arbeidet er nasjonalt og internasjonalt forankret og at de er i overensstemmelse med internasjonale prosesser, for eksempel EUs Vanndirektiv og Havdirektiv (Marine strategier). Det anbefales at det først gjennomføres en pilot for påvirkningstypen ”Akuttutslipp”

Tallknusing av miljøovervåkingsdata

Natural populations are affected by a range of factors, including climate and contaminants. In this study, we have used use data from both population monitoring as well as contaminant monitoring to analyse variation in abundance of Atlantic cod on the coast of Skagerrak and black-legged kittiwake in mainland Norway. For Atlantic cod, we found significant effects of both climate (temperature and wind) as well as contaminants (concentrations of HCH-A, HCB and PCB-153 in blue mussels). For black-legged kittiwake, a population model confirms that for the southerly populations Runde and Sklinna, either adult survival is lower than in more northerly populations, or that chicken mortality is extremely high (~95%)

Analyse av sedimenter: Kildesporing av bromerte flammehememre i Ålesundområdet. Analysis of sediments: Tracking sources of brominated flame retardants in the Ålesund area

Årsliste 2008Det er tidligere observert høye konsentrasjoner av polybromerte difenyletere (PBDE) og heksabromsyklododekane (HBCDD) i Åsefjorden og en del omkringliggende områder. For HBCDD kjenner en hovedkilden som antas å ligge i Spjelkavika, mens hovedkilden for PBDE er ukjent. I rapporten har en forsøkt å spore kilden(e) til de observerte nivåer av PBDE og HBCDD ved analyse av sedimenter fra 41 stasjoner spredt i Åsefjorden, Borgundfjorden, Spjelkavika, Tjørsundet og øst og vest for Vegsundet. Konsentrasjonen av PBDE i prøvene varierte fra 0,27 til 1034 ng/g tørrvekt. Det var generelt vanskelig å påvise en entydig kilde for PBDE i resipienten. Trolig har en flere kilder med ulik kongenersammensetning som gjør at en får en diffus og sammensatt belastning. Hovedmengden av PBDE lå i de øvre 10 cm av sedimentet. Fordelingen av PBDE i ulike dyp av sedimentet antyder at tilførslene til stasjonen i Tjørsundet tok til før ca 1966 og at de holdt seg stabilt høye i perioden 1982-2003 for deretter å opphøre eller bli redusert. Konsentrasjonene av HBCDD varierte mellom 0,24 og 38884 ng/g tørrvekt. Konsentrasjonsforskjellene i resipienten er dermed mer enn en størrelsesorden større for HBCDD enn for PBDE. Ut fra et giftighetssynspunkt er forekomsten av HBCDD i sedimentet langt viktigere enn PBDE. Resultatene endrer ikke på oppfattningen av at hovedkilden til forekomsten av HBCDD ligger i SpjelkavikaStatens Forurensningstilsy