Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #167:The cycling of mercury in the Arctic Ocean and its role in producing variance in food-web mercury concentrations  (The cycling of mercury in the Arctic Ocean and its role in producing variance in food-web mercury concentrations)

Outline
Recent reviews (e.g., CACAR; AMAP) have shown widespread variation in mercury concentration in biota. Furthermore, top predators have shown increasing mercury trends with time in some Canadian northern locations. Despite the potential for atmospheric chemistry associated with polar sunrise (i.e., mercury depletion events) to provide a mechanism to alter surface flux of mercury in the Arctic, and thus explain such trends, recent evidence suggests that much – if not all – of the mercury deposited from the atmosphere after polar sunrise re-enters the atmosphere after snow melt and does not actually impinge on aquatic systems. It seems likely that other mechanisms, presently neglected by research, must be invoked to explain the observed temporal and spatial variation in mercury, but our knowledge of the mercury cycle within arctic aquatic systems is much too limited to produce a coherent model of how mercury becomes accumulated in top predators. It is clear that the bio-geochemistry of methyl mercury is central to the issue and that aquatic biogeochemical processes must set the stage for mercury exposure in aquatic animals and yet it is these very components of the system that have been practically ignored in previous studies. We propose to collect sectional mercury data from the Arctic Ocean and from arctic estuaries including water and biological components plus total mercury and methyl mercury. In addition, we will collect companion data on important geochemical controls such as DOC/POC. Our objective will be to determine the role of runoff in providing methyl- and inorganic mercury to coastal systems and the role of ocean features such as fronts or chlorophyll maxima in passing mercury into foodwebs. Finally, we propose to apply stable isotope chemistry (13C) to see if we can tease out the sources of methyl mercury in coastal foodwebs of the Beaufort Sea. In particular, the work will involve the parallel collection of water-column profiles and zooplankton. Understanding the roles of estuary and ocean in supplying methyl mercury to the food web clearly has an important climate ramifications as projected warming (permafrost melting, flooding) will alter the terrestrial input to estuaries, and loss of sea-ice will change the flow of organic carbon in the ocean with ancillary effects on mercury biogeochemistry. Because aquatic food-basket items provide an important source of mercury to traditional diets, understanding how mercury exposure occurs and how it is likely to change with global warming will be crucial to advising human strategies for consumption of country foods.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will produce the first complete set of mercury bio-geochemical data from which to evaluate processes and spatial trends. Change: Future change is likely to involve alteration in carbon cycling particularly in arctic drainage basins (DOC/POC) and in marine food-webs. These changes will also clearly alter mercury pathways either by affecting the supply of mercury or the rates of methylation. Global Linkages: There are data already for temperate regions; these arctic data will allow a comparison of concentrations and processes between arctic systems and those farther south. New Frontiers: We plan to produce coherent bio- and geochemical data for mercury. If we are able to apply 13C data to the origin of methyl mercury in coastal systems, that would be a first. Human Dimension: Clearly, exposure to methyl-mercury from country foods is of interest to all northerners.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Dr. Daniel Cossa (IFRMER, France); has sent a letter of interest. Dr. N. Lahoutifard (INERIS, France); Has sent a letter of interest

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
This work would be conducted in collaboration with other shipboard activities proposed for IPY. We would like 1) to collect sectional data along the Arctic Ocean margins focussing on boundaries (shelf edge, ice edge) and fronts and; 2) To conduct near-shore sectional data (river to ocean) in the Beaufort Sea where recent increasing trends in beluga mercury burdens have been noted. This work would be conducted during late winter and in open water.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 09/07      04/08 – 09/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
1. Ship-based work will need an oceanographic icebreaker capable of working at the basin margins and into the ice. The techniques of collection include water (rosette) and biological (net hauls) which fit will with other proposed tracer activities. Clean lab facilities will be required on the ship. 2. Ice-based work will require a logistical base (Tuk) and air support to collect samples in late winter. A smaller coastal vessel will be required for the open-water season.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

We would rely on CCG for the icebreaker support, but the coastal operations could be conducted in collaboration with PCSP (lab/aircharter) and by contracting a local coastal vessel of suitable size.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems: Contaminants

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
yes
This would be a new project – that is, it is not presently being conducted nor will it likely be conducted without a source of funds

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project would be led by a Canadian Scientist but would include both Government and University scientists in Canada plus French researchers.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Early in the project we would construct a web-site outlining our detailed proposal. We would focus initially on collecting the data and then publishing it in peer-reviewed journals. Finally, we would produce syntheses and present our findings to northern communities either by web-site or by travelling to the north or both.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The data would be archived and managed by DFO, which already has a system in place to deal with toxic chemical data.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We assume that funding will come from National and International sources. Mercury is an important issue for Northerners as outlined in recent CACAR and AMAP reviews. Within Canada new funding (Memorandum to Cabinet) will be required to conduct this work.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Estimated budget ~ $300K over a 4-year period (two field years, two years to complete analyses and writeup)

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr  Robie Macdonald
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000 Sidney BC
V8L 4B2
Canada

Tel: 250-363-6409
Mobile:
Fax: 250-363-6807
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information