Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 134)

1.1 Title of Activity
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) circumpolar health assessment in relation to toxicants and climate change

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
BearHealth

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Christian Sonne
National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment
Denmark

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment

1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
Norway
Canada
USA, Alaska
Greenland, Denmark
Russia

1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
1031, FP# 257, FP# 163, FP#235

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
4. Exploring new frontiers
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

Global atmospheric and oceanic pathways and processes result in the deposition of semi-volatile organic contaminants in the Arctic. With the ratification of the Stockholm POPs protocol the Arctic has become a strategic location with which to monitor global contaminants. Polar bears are top arctic predators, and hunted regularly by indigenous people, which so far has not been a threat to the stability of circumpolar subpopulation numbers. Polar bears are also captured and released for various research and monitoring porojects and thus accessible for biosampling. Polar bears are therefore ideal biomonitors of spatial and temporal distribution, dynamics, fate, biomagnification and potential effects of legacy and emerging organic contaminants of anthropogenic origin and present in the arctic environment. Furthermore, polar bears are indicators of ecosystem health and environmental change such as in sea ice habitat due to global warming. POPs and mercury and their concentrations in polar bear fat have been corelated to a number of biomarker endpoints of various effects including bone density, histology of immunological organs, renal lesions, liver morphology, immune function and/or hormones in polar bears from Svalbard, East Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.

Polar bears are exposed to a wide range of organohalogen contaminants at relatively high concentrations because of their high trophic level dependence as well as their preference to the blubber of their prey. For example, POP studies carried out in the circumpolar Arctic have shown high levels of selected POPs in polar bears from especially East Greenland, Svalbard and Russian Arctic. The highest levels POPs such as oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor and p,p’-DDE were found in bears from Franz Josef Land and Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic. Polar bears from the Western Russian Arctic are exposed to higher levels of chlordanes and p,p′-DDE than polar bears from locations westwards and eastwards from this region. Bears from the Western Russian Arctic (Franz Josef Land and Kara Sea) also had highest PCB levels compared to Svalbard, East Siberian and Chukchi Sea. A number of POPs such as PBDE, PFOS and chlorinated compounds are expected to increase to high levels.

By 2007-2008 it will be almost a decade since the last semi-circumpolar assessment of the spatial and temporal distribution of legacy and emerging POPs, and their metabolic by-products, was conducted in polar bears. Furthermore, the last truly circumpolar assessment, including bears from the Russian Arctic, will have been at least 15 years past. Emerging contaminants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other brominated flame retardant compounds and perfluorinated compounds, have also yet to be determined in polar bears from the Russian Arctic. In addition, two related IPY pre-proposals are also being submitted, with essentially the same international, collaborative team, to assess the circumpolar, spatial and temporal distribution of legacy and emerging contaminants - including the rising mercury levels in the Western Arctic - in polar bear and ringed seal (blubber), which is the major dietary species for polar bears.

Therefore, we propose to examine region-specific effect parameters (histology on internal organs, bone morphology) from necropsy samples taken via local Inuit hunters and haematology samples from the on-going telemetry studies, clitoris biopsies and rectal, vaginal and tracheal swabs and blood samples for bacteriology/virology, cytology and parasitology, vitamin and hormone profiles. These will be linked to the potential relationship between regionally bioaccumulation differences for the organohalogen contaminants and mercury levels. Fatty acid profiles and stable isotopes will also be determined to assess region-specific similarities and differences in polar bear diets linked to habitat climate factors - such as ice extent - from climate changes. Futhermore, genetical analysis would be helpful in the differentiaton of subpopulations in relation to hunting and management. This will be facilitated through the IUCN PBSG (Polar Bear Specialist Group) lead by Denmark as given in the resolutions from the last meeting in Seattle, June 2005. Beside this, a large Danish-Greenland research programme with numeours international scientific cooperation partners has been on-going since 1999, with several international published peer-reviewed papers.

The present study would follow up previous work by resampling the same polar bear subpopulations with the help of polar bear biologists and hunters in circumpolar countries, with extension to populations in the Russian Arctic. This proposed project will build on the network of interested scientists in Alaska (USA), Nunavut/Canada, Greenland/Denmark and Norway, as well as new Russian collaborators, that was established in 2000-2001. The proposed study would complement polar bear and ringed seal programs envisaged under IPY, or ongoing in each country, which are focussed, broadly speaking, on marine mammal ecology including polar bears. It would also link to human health and social integrity studies related to traditional diet and contaminants as well as climate changes. The project would use a common protocol for sample collection (timing, tissue type, preservation) and analysis. Chemical analysis would be done in 3-4 Canadian, Danish and Alascian labs (few specialised analyses might be done by a single specialized lab) while the pathological/micro pathogen analyses may be done at different national labs. Tissues would be archived for future chemical analyses. The contaminant results would be interpreted in terms of temporal trends (compared to previous studies on the same populations), spatial trends (especially of new contaminants) and potential for effects on polar bears and by extension to human exposure. In addition markers of climate changes will be developed, analysed and interpreted.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
A cooperation between hunters in local communities, polar bear biologists, analytical chemists and wildlife veterinarians conducting necropsies and in vivo sampling during in vivo telemetry studies. Most of the participants have joined in earlier international coordinated arctic programmes focusing on pollution in polar bears and ringed seals. The present study will provide data to another IPY proposal on circumpolar assessment of POPs in polar bears (spatial and temporal trends of legacy and emerging contaminants in the arctic marine food web) and come up with new knowledge on clitoris and vaginal abnormalities observed in polar bears the past 10 years. The results will be used to infer sources and pathways of contamination and the extent of global distribution of organic contaminants relevant to arctic ecosystem, as well as the negative effects on internal organs and bone system. Finally, the project will incorporate studies of combined effects from POPs and climate changes and analyse and interpret these new results. Additionally, linkages would be made to other studies (IPY proposals on polar bears and ringed seal) on polar bear ecology and responses to climate change (Themes 1 and 2) and marine food web biomagnification and effects across the Arctic. Linkages would also be made to studies on traditional food use, diet and contaminants in indigenous people (Theme 6) and on other circumpolar top predators (e.g. killer whales and arctic seabirds) as well as prey (e.g. ringed seals). The final output will be scientific articles in high ranging journals, as previous published works from the danish polar bear group in cooperation with greenlandic and canadian research institutions, as well as the entire IUCN PBSG.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
This study would provide data on spatial and temporal trends of legacy and emerging contaminants in the arctic marine food web, in relation to combined effects from climate changes on the outcomes at different organ levels (Theme 6). The results will be used to infer sources and pathways of contamination and the extent of global distribution of organic contaminants relevant to arctic ecosystem, as well as effects on vital organs as consequence of regionally-specific contaminant exposure. Linkages would be made to other studies (IPY proposals) on polar bear ecology and responses to climate change (Themes 1 and 2) and marine food web biomagnification and effects across the arctic. Linkages would alos be made to studies on traditional food use, diet and contaminants in indigenous people (Theme 6) and on other circumpolar top predators (e.g. killer whales and arctic seabirds) as well as prey (e.g. ringed seals).

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?
Helicopters
Snow terrain vehicles
Existing field stations
Fixed wing geophysical aircraft

Further details – The project would use existing facilities in circumpolar countries. e.g. Environment Canada (Ottawa, Burlington); US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alasca Science Center, Nunavut Management Board, NIST (Charleston); NOAA (Seattle); Univ of Alaska Fairbanks; NPI, Tromsø; NERI (Roskilde), KVL (Copenhagen), Hvidovre Hospital (Copenhagen), Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, East Greenland bear hunters, Alaskan and Canadian bear hunter, bear scientists. These facilities include analytical chemical laboratories, freezer space, instrumentation. Could be shared with the other polar bear and ringed seal IPY projects (e.g. Canadian #497, 680).

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?
Since 1999 we have successfully sampled various tissue from East Greenland polar bears through local hunters. The present program will use these contacts in East Greenland as well as similar contacts in Canada (Nunavut) and Alaska (Barrow a.o.) facilitated through the IUCN PBSG.

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This is a new activity developed for the IPY period

If part of an existing programme please name the programme – Dancea AMAP Bear Programme, NPI Tagging Programme, Canada Research Chairs Program

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The project would use existing facilities in circumpolar countries. e.g. Environment Canada (Ottawa, Burlington); NIST (Charleston); NOAA (Seattle); Univ of Alaska Fairbanks; NPI, Tromsø; Greenland Institue of Natural Resources; NERI (Roskilde) (please see 2.5). These facilities include analytical chemical laboratories, freezer space, instrumentation. Could be shared with other projects e.g. #497, 680. The activities will be organised and managed by NERI-DAE, Denmark, via existing networks developed through the past 10 year of scientific cooperations as well as the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group. Each country will have a contact person within his/her specialised field. Additionally, local hunters in Canada, Alaska and Greenland will be involved via the relevant authorities. Communication with these communities will be done in consultation with indigenous peoples organizations and other IPY projects (e.g. Canadian #483) that will be dealing with human health, diet and nutrition. Anticipated, supplemental funding from the Canadian NCP program and Danish Cooperation in the Arctic, Danish Research Council as well as from other National programs, is intended to offset some costs of sample collection and logistics.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
Yes. Beside the international scientific network that will be developed, the large international scientific collaboration will be used in future AMAP monitoring and assessments.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
No

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
Yes, to different Canadian IPY initiatives as stated above.

Collaboration with IPY FULL #192 (Dr. Chris Metcalfe and Dr. Gordon
Balch) has been established as has collaboration with IPY FULL #163 (Dr.
Peter Boag and Dr. Paul Wilson). Furthermore, Eol #1031 (Dr. Robert
Letcher) are now an official research components of FP #134".

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
The project will generate data on organic contaminants, including mercury, and relationships to potential negative effects on various vital organs and endocrine systems, as well as biological data on each individual (age, sex, location, nutritional status, dietary intake, season etc.). These data will be managed by the project coordinator. Following publication of key findings, results will be provided to the AMAP marine contaminants database maintained by ICES (Copenhagen, Denmark). Collected organ and tissue samples will be stored in existing national environmental tissue banks and hence be available for subsequent scientific use.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
The sampling, logistics, data handling and publishing will facilitate young scientists to be a part of the different investigation. In fact, young scientists are already a part of the different nations programs and as such will be continued in the present IPY proposal.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Sample collection will involve indigenous peoples in communities throughout the arctic, particularly in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia. Communication with these communities will be done in consultation with organizations of indigenous peoples and other projects that will be dealing with human health, diet and nutrition. Results of the study will be communicated back to these communities by poster, presentations, radio interviews by members of the project team most familiar with the region/community a.o. communication tools.
The project involves the education of Masters, PhDs and post-docs in each of the involved countries.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
Funding for selected geographic regions e.g. USA, Canada, Greenland and Norway will be sought from national programs. Funding is anticipated in Canada from, e.g. NCP and NSERC. Funds will be sought specifically for analysis of a broader suite of contaminants possibly in concert with other parallel projects (e.g. Canadian polar bear circumpolar proposal, #680, #497) and an anticipated circumpolar ringed seal project. Funding may also be sought from NGO sources including the WWF and the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Greenland Home Rule, Danish Cooperation in the Arctic, Norwegian Research Council, Danish Cooperation in the Arctic, Danish Research Council a.o.

3.11 Additional Comments
There is likely to be numerous other IPY pre-proposals submitted, which could logically network and integrate with the present proposal. For example, Dr. Muir and Dr. Letcher (both Canada) and Dr. Gordon Balch (Trent University, Peterborough, ON) are leading an IPY proposals with which we plan to work closely, as we have in the past, circumpolarily including researchers at NERI, Copenhagen, Denmark, Oslo University and Norwegian Polar Institute and Zoological Museum of Oslo, Norway, Canadian Wildlife Service and Nunavut Board, Canada, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Ministry of Natural Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA, and Russian Research Institute of Nature protection, SevPINRO, Arkhangelsk, SevPINRO, Arkhangelsk, SPI Typhoon, Obninsk and Wrangel Island State Nature Reserve of Russia. The present proposal has been recommended in the IUCN PBSG resolution, Seattle, June 2005: “to coordinate a circumpolar study of health effects from pollution on vital organs, skeletal and other systems in polar bear subpopulations”. The present IUCN PBSG proposal will strengthen other IPY intiatives and visa-versa via close collaboration.
As we regard the BearHealth project as an overarching, circumpolar and interdisciplinary activity, we find the project suitable as a cluster lead project. We are willing to accept the role of cluster lead.

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Dr Christian Sonne
National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment
POBox 358, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde
DK-4000 Roskilde
Denmark

Tel:          (+45) 46301954
Mobile:   (+45) 25214686
Fax:         (+45) 46301914
Email:       csh@dmu.dk

Second Contact
Dr Rune Dietz
National Environmental Research Institute, Department of Arctic Environment
POBox 358, Frederiksborgvej 399
DK-4000 Roskilde
Denmark

Tel:          (+45) 46301938
Mobile:   (+45) 21254035
Fax:         (+45) 46301914
Email:      rdi@dmu.dk

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation