Article
Biology
Simo Njabulo Maduna, Jon Aars, Ida Floystad, Cornelya F. C. Klutsch, Eve M. L. Zeyl Fiskebeck, Oystein Wiig, Dorothee Ehrich, Magnus Andersen, Lutz Bachmann, Andrew E. Derocher, Tommi Nyman, Hans Geir Eiken, Snorre B. Hagen
Summary: Climate change-induced loss of Arctic sea ice is predicted to have negative impacts on genetic diversity and gene flow in ice-dependent species like polar bears. A study on polar bears in the Svalbard Archipelago showed a loss in genetic diversity and an increase in genetic differentiation, attributed to habitat fragmentation caused by reduced sea ice coverage leading to increased inbreeding within local populations. This highlights the importance of genetic monitoring for developing adaptive management strategies for polar bears and other ice-dependent species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Malia E. K. Smith, Lara Horstmann, Raphaela Stimmelmayr
Summary: This study used stable isotope analysis of bone collagen in polar bears to investigate the differences between two subpopulations, including differences in prey sources. The results showed that although there was no difference in stable nitrogen isotope values between the two subpopulations, there was a difference in stable carbon isotope values, indicating that the two subpopulations consumed similar high trophic level prey but in different carbon isotope baselines. Based on stable isotope values, we were able to accurately classify polar bears into their respective subpopulations based on their geographical locations, which can aid in transboundary harvest quota management.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam D. Morris, Birgit M. Braune, Mary Gamberg, Jason Stow, Jason O'Brien, Robert J. Letcher
Summary: Temporal trends of mercury in Arctic wildlife are inconsistent and often insignificant. Weather and climate factors are related to mercury concentrations. This study compared time series of mercury concentrations in different species and found relationships with sea ice conditions, precipitation levels, and time-lagged Arctic and/or North Atlantic Oscillation indices.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Marwan Naciri, Jon Aars, Marie-Anne Blanchet, Olivier Gimenez, Sarah Cubaynes
Summary: Reproductive senescence in female polar bears was studied using 31 years of capture-recapture data. The research found that litter production and size peak in middle-aged females before declining sharply, while cub and litter survival rates do not decline with age. Old females are most affected by environmental conditions, with a combination of fertility and body-condition senescence contributing to the decline in reproductive output.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karyn D. Rode, Hannah Voorhees, Henry P. Huntington, George M. Durner
Summary: Successful wildlife management relies on coordination and consultation with local communities, with Indigenous people in the Arctic having unique opportunities to observe the environment and ecology of Arctic species. Research shows that polar bears are spending more time on land during late summer and early fall in recent decades due to climate change, posing challenges for local communities' safety.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Remi Amiraux, David J. Yurkowski, Philippe Archambault, Marie Pierrejean, C. J. Mundy
Summary: The traditional view that the benthic compartment is simpler in structure compared to the pelagic compartment is challenged in this study, which illustrates the presence of a subweb in the benthic realm with similar complexity to the pelagic counterpart, including megafaunal-predatory sea stars equivalent to iconic polar bears.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Bruce G. Marcot, Todd C. Atwood, David C. Douglas, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Anthony M. Pagano, Steven C. Amstrup
Summary: Updating predictions on the response of at-risk species to climate change and human activity is crucial for effective conservation efforts. In this study, researchers reviewed previous Bayesian network probability models and provided an updated model for predicting the global polar bear population based on recent research findings and sea-ice projections. The results showed that polar bears are likely to experience population declines throughout the 21st century, particularly in the Polar Basin Divergent Ice Ecoregion, due to the expected degradation and loss of sea ice.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fausto Machado-Silva, Leonardo F. Peres, Celia M. Gouveia, Alex Enrich-Prast, Roberta B. Peixoto, Jose M. C. Pereira, Humberto Marotta, Pedro J. F. Fernandes, Renata Libonati
Summary: Research has shown that the net primary productivity in the Amazon basin is influenced by the combined impacts of individual droughts and post-drought effects on ecosystem recovery. Ecosystems undergoing recovery after extreme droughts exhibit approximately 13% lower NPP compared to pre-drought conditions or undisturbed areas. The deficits in NPP have consistently increased with extreme droughts of 2005, 2010, and 2015 due to the magnitude of disturbances and length of recovery.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shaojian Huang, Feiyue Wang, Tengfei Yuan, Zhengcheng Song, Peipei Wu, Yanxu Zhang
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive simulation of mercury (Hg) cycling in the polar cryosphere, offering insights into its behavior across the ocean-sea ice-atmosphere interface. The study highlights the seasonal cycling of Hg in the polar sea ice environment, with snow acting as an important source of Hg deposition to the underlying sea ice. The model developed in this study can evaluate the impact of climate change on polar Hg cycles and the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention for Arctic populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthieu B. Miller, Dean A. Howard, Ashley M. Pierce, Kellie R. Cook, Melita Keywood, Jennifer Powell, Mae S. Gustin, Grant C. Edwards
Summary: This study investigated mercury concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly reactive mercury (RM), through measurements in Australia and during a research voyage to the East Antarctic coast. The results show significant variations in RM concentrations, with differences observed between seasons and locations. The study also highlights the complexity of mercury concentration changes near the Antarctic region, with higher concentrations observed along the Antarctic coast.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katie R. N. Florko, Gregory W. Thiemann, Jeffrey F. Bromaghin, Evan S. Richardson
Summary: Research on 148 polar bears from Viscount Melville Sound and the Northern Beaufort Sea revealed that declining sea ice conditions have led to reduced consumption of preferred prey among polar bears from Viscount Melville Sound, resulting in poorer body condition compared to polar bears from the Northern Beaufort Sea.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marco Capodiferro, Esther Marco, Joan O. Grimalt
Summary: A study analyzed 1345 specimens of wild fish and seafood from the western Mediterranean Sea to assess mercury levels and determine which species meet EU recommendations for human consumption. Only 13 species were found to have mercury levels below the recommended threshold. These species, including sardines, anchovies, and squid, have lower mercury concentrations compared to others in the same environment. It is important for health authorities to pay attention to species that do not meet EU thresholds and provide appropriate health recommendations, especially for pregnant women and children.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Lippold, Andrei Boltunov, Jon Aars, Magnus Andersen, Marie-Anne Blanchet, Rune Dietz, Igor Eulaers, Tamara N. Morshina, Vyacheslav S. Sevastyanov, Jeffrey M. Welker, Heli Routti
Summary: This study examined the spatial variation in total mercury concentrations in polar bear hair samples from the Norwegian and Russian Arctic regions. The results revealed that both the Norwegian and Russian polar bears had lower mercury exposure compared to other populations, and the spatial variation of mercury concentration was not driven by the feeding ecology of polar bears.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiang Wang, Sergey Danilov
Summary: This paper examines the major changes in the Arctic Ocean from 2000 to 2019, including the Beaufort Gyre spin-up and the Arctic Atlantification in the eastern Eurasian Basin. The study reveals that unusual atmospheric circulation and sea ice decline are the main drivers for these changes.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
C. Bertin, D. Carroll, D. Menemenlis, S. Dutkiewicz, H. Zhang, A. Matsuoka, S. Tank, M. Manizza, C. E. Miller, M. Babin, A. Mangin, V. Le Fouest
Summary: Arctic warming changes the fluxes of nutrients and organic matter from land to sea, affecting air-sea carbon exchange. Using a biogeochemical model, this study examines the role of Mackenzie River discharge in modulating air-sea CO2 fluxes in the southeastern Beaufort Sea from 2000 to 2019. The discharge of six chemical constituents leads to a net CO2 outgassing of 0.13 TgC yr(-1) and a decrease in the coastal carbon sink due to riverine dissolved organic and inorganic carbon. The results indicate that the Mackenzie River influences the capacity of the southeastern Beaufort Sea to act as a sink or source of atmospheric CO2. Accurate representation of land-to-sea biogeochemical coupling is crucial for understanding the Arctic coastal ocean response to the rapidly changing environment.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nasrin Golzadeh, Benjamin D. Barst, Janelle M. Baker, Josie C. Auger, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: The rising global demand for energy has led to extensive mining of natural resources in Alberta, Canada, releasing hazardous chemicals into the environment. A study conducted on plant and animal foods collected in Alberta revealed high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), raising concerns about potential impacts on Indigenous communities who consume traditional foods in the area. The predominance of alkylated PAHs in all food samples highlights the importance of considering a broader range of PACs in research near oil sands mining activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anais Remili, Robert J. Letcher, Filipa I. P. Samarra, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Gisli Vikingsson, David Blair, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: Individual variation in prey specialization is crucial in the context of exposure to toxic contaminants, with Icelandic killer whales showing significant differences in PCB concentrations based on diet and gender. Understanding the ecology of individuals is essential to accurately predict how contaminants may impact the long-term survival of killer whale populations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadia Facciola, Sara Pedro, Magali Houde, Aaron T. Fisk, Steven H. Ferguson, Helena Steer, Derek C. G. Muir, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: The study investigated short-chain chlorinated paraffins in an Arctic marine food web, finding varying concentrations in zooplankton, fishes, and ringed seals. Despite relatively high concentrations in fishes, biomagnification of SCCPs within this food web appears limited.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jennifer H. Stern, Kristin L. Laidre, Erik W. Born, Oystein Wiig, Christian Sonne, Rune Dietz, Aaron Fisk, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: Loss of sea ice due to climate change affects polar bear access to prey. A study on the Baffin Bay polar bear subpopulation found limited variation in feeding habits despite seasonal and spatial differences, with carbon and sulfur isotope values showing some seasonal variation and mercury concentrations related to age class.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Megan Franz, Lyle Whyte, Todd C. Atwood, Kristin L. Laidre, Denis Roy, Sophie E. Watson, Esteban Gongora, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: This study analyzed the gut microbiomes of polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea and East Greenland using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. The results showed that southern Beaufort Sea polar bears had higher gut microbiome diversity compared to East Greenland polar bears, and diet had a significant impact on the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Katrine Borga, Melissa A. McKinney, Heli Routti, Kim J. Fernie, Julia Giebichenstein, Ingeborg Hallanger, Derek C. G. Muir
Summary: This review summarizes the current understanding of how climate change-driven processes influence the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and contaminants of emerging Arctic concern (CEACs) in Arctic biota and food webs. It highlights the interactions between climate change and other stressors, and the use of modeling and research tools to improve understanding of climate change-contaminant interactions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John Chetelat, Melissa A. McKinney, Marc Amyot, Ashu Dastoor, Thomas A. Douglas, Lars-Eric Heimburger-Boavida, Jane Kirk, Kimmo K. Kahilainen, Peter M. Outridge, Nicolas Pelletier, Henrik Skov, Kyra St Pierre, Jussi Vuorenmaa, Feiyue Wang
Summary: This review summarizes the latest scientific research on how climate change affects the transport and biogeochemical cycling of mercury in Arctic terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The review emphasizes the profound shifts in climate and cryosphere in the Arctic and their connections to mercury cycling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anais Remili, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Sara J. Iverson, Denis Roy, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Haley Land-Miller, Adam F. Pedersen, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: Accurate diet estimates are necessary to understand the dynamics of food webs in ecosystems, especially for apex predators like cetaceans. In this study, the researchers developed and validated a cetacean-specific quantitative fatty acid analysis method for killer whales. The method was found to be effective in estimating killer whale diets using full blubber samples, and it has the potential to provide new insights into the diet dynamics of free-ranging cetaceans.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melissa A. McKinney, John Chetelat, Samantha M. Burke, Kyle H. Elliott, Kim J. Fernie, Magali Houde, Kimmo K. Kahilainen, Robert J. Letcher, Adam D. Morris, Derek C. G. Muir, Heli Routti, David J. Yurkowski
Summary: Global climate change has had a significant impact on the Arctic environment and ecosystems, affecting mercury (Hg) levels in Arctic biota. The marine environment has higher Hg levels compared to terrestrial environments, leading to changes in Hg concentrations in herbivores and predators in the Arctic region.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nadia Facciola, Magali Houde, Derek C. G. Muir, Steven H. Ferguson, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: This study compares the feeding ecology and contaminant concentrations in ringed seals from two Canadian sub-Arctic and two Arctic sites, providing insight into how climate-driven diet shifts may affect contaminant exposures in Arctic species. The results suggest that the changing prey fish communities in the sub-Arctic may serve as a harbinger of future conditions in the Arctic. Differences in diet and contaminant concentrations between sub-Arctic and Arctic seals were observed, with seals in Sachs Harbour potentially consuming both southern and Arctic species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam F. Pedersen, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Lan Liu, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: Legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are monitored in marine mammal blubber using established techniques, but these methods have limitations. The QuEChERS extraction method was developed and validated for PCB and OC contaminants in marine mammal blubber, showing higher matrix removal, reduced solvent usage, and shorter extraction time compared to current methods. The method was successfully applied to southeast Greenland killer whales and demonstrated good agreement with current-use methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kailee E. Hopkins, Melissa A. McKinney, Robert J. Letcher, Kim J. Fernie
Summary: The tissues of tree swallows in two sites in southern Ontario, Canada, were analyzed for various PFAAs. PFOS was the dominant PFAA, followed by other PFAAs including long-chain PFCAs. Short-chain PFSAs and PFCAs had lower concentrations compared to the long-chain ones. The presence of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) may contribute to higher levels of certain PFAAs in tree swallow tissues.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Megan Franz, Lyle Whyte, Todd C. Atwood, Damian Menning, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. Talbot, Kristin L. Laidre, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: This study developed and evaluated DNA metabarcoding to identify the presence of pinniped and cetacean prey DNA in polar bears' fecal samples. The results showed that prey DNA was detected in half of all samples, with ringed seal being the predominant prey species. The study also compared the results from DNA metabarcoding with quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) and found differences in prey detection. Furthermore, the study found that prey DNA detection, sex/age class, and subpopulation significantly explained variations in polar bear gut bacterial composition.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Anais Remili, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Filipa I. P. Samarra, Audun H. Rikardsen, Lisa E. Kettemer, Steven H. Ferguson, Cortney A. Watt, Cory J. D. Matthews, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Eve Jourdain, Katrine Borga, Anders Ruus, Sandra M. Granquist, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Melissa A. McKinney
Summary: This study used a new quantitative fatty acid signature analysis approach to model the diet of nearly 200 killer whales and over 900 potential prey across the North Atlantic. The results showed that killer whales mainly consume other whales in the western North Atlantic, seals in the mid-North Atlantic, and fish in the eastern North Atlantic, with significant variation among individuals within each region. These findings provide valuable insights into the trophic ecology of killer whales and their impacts on marine ecosystems.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kailee E. Hopkins, Melissa A. McKinney, Amandeep Saini, Robert J. Letcher, Natalie K. Karouna-Renier, Kim J. Fernie
Summary: This study investigates the movement of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in linked aquatic-terrestrial food webs. The results show that tree swallow nestlings in southwestern Ontario consume both terrestrial and aquatic macroinvertebrates, leading to the bioaccumulation of PFAS in their bodies. The study highlights the congener- and compartment-specific movement of PFAS in these food webs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
