Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Disease factors, energetics and life histories of arctic sandpipers  (LIFE HISTORIES OF ARCTIC SHOREBIRDS)

Outline
Life-history strategies of migratory sandpipers include many behavioural and physiological adaptations to the environmental challenges of an arctic breeding season. These include demanding long-distance flights to reach the Arctic, high energetic costs for living there, and fast growth of the chicks. We have hypothesised that sandpipers bring about these energy demanding adaptations by economising on investments in the immune defence systems. Although the Arctic is relatively poor in pathogens and parasites, reduced investments in immune defense forces them to live in disease-poor environments year-round (Piersma 1997; Oikos 80:623-631). With a warming climate when insect food availability increases while thermoregulatory costs decrease, energy balances of arctic shorebirds are to become more favourable. Shorebirds may then increase reproductive output. However, climate change may also increase the risk of diseases, as the vectors for disease-transmission expand their ranges northward. This will force the arctic birds to channel more energy into immunocompetence (under the assumption that they are genetically able to do so) and reduce reproductive effort. This research aims to investigate the (limitations to) changing energetical trade-offs of highly specialised birds in a changing arctic ecosystem by linking disease factors, energy budgets and life history decisions of migratory Arctic shorebirds. Building on data collected earlier in High Arctic Greenland and other parts of the Arctic we aim to: (1) make empirical measures of immunocompetence during an Arctic breeding season, (2) determine DNA profiles of parents and offspring to elucidate inheritance of the Major Histocompatability Complex, the genetic blueprint of the immunological defence machinery, (3) study Calidris alba to see whether their facultative breeding strategy [in which females sometimes produce a second clutch] is related to immunological investments and other environment-driven condition factors, (4) study Calidris canutus to determine whether non-breeding years are related to immunological and disease factors, and (5) use stable isotopes to measure the energetic consequences of life-history decisions with a change in local climate. During three breeding seasons we plan to catch recently arrived sandpipers, perform non-invasive immunological assays, and individually mark the birds with colour rings and/or radiotransmitters. By intensively searching for territories, radiotracking and behavioural studies of colour-marked individuals we will learn about breeding effort. In addition, we plan to collect blood samples for DNA of nesting birds and their chicks for the proposed genetic studies. This work complements research on demography, immunology and energetics of sandpipers already underway on the wintering grounds in Europe and Africa.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project will describe the current state of aspects of the polar environment. Breeding populations of arctic sandpipers will be monitored and we will investigate physiological and behavioural adaptations of organisms to the arctic environment, especially in relation to forecasted change. A three-year dataset will yield relationships between the ecophysiological and behavioural parameters and variation in the external environment (temperature, insect abundance, etc.; routinely measured at Zackenberg since 1995). The newest techniques (in genetics, radio-tracking, field-immunology, etc) combined with “old-fashioned” behavioural observations are expected to yield highly interesting insights

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This is part of long-term international research efforts on historical demography and comparative life-histories in shorebirds in Europe and Africa. We will collaborate intensively with Danish ecologists working in Greenland, I. Tieleman & G.H. Visser (University of Groningen; field immunology and energetics), and Prof. A.J. Baker (University of Toront; genetics).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Near the Danish Arctic research station at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland (78º 28’ N 20º 34’ W), good local populations (20-100 pairs) of five shorebird species occur and we can build on our own experiences (summer 2003) and the considerable expertise of the ornithologists at the Zackenberg Research Station (ZERO).

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/07– 09/07      06/08– 09/08      06/09 - 09/09 Three breeding seasons
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Our work will be carried out at the research station operated by the Danish Polar Center at Zackenberg, Northeast Greenland (ZERO). This is one of the best equipped and ecologically most intensively studied High Arctic research stations in the world.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Another national polar operator
Own support

Travel arrangements will be made through ZERO/Danish Polar Centre.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project is enthusiastically endorsed by representatives of ZERO and we hope it will be supported also by the national IPY committee.

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?
New
This is a new, self-standing, proposal, but it is based on fieldwork and subsequent laboratory work done by us at Zackenberg in NE Greenland during summer 2003. If supported by IPY, we hope that the proposed research will form the basis of a post-doctoral research project by one of the applicants (JR).

How will the project be organised and managed?
Organisation of the project will be by the applicants and involved institutions, with the logistics being operated by ZERO/Danish Polar Centre.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The project has potential for public attention. The applicants have often published in (inter)national popular scientific media. With professional film-producers we aim for a documentary about the lifes of long-distance migrant shorebirds breeding in the High Arctic. The dramatic scenery at Zackenberg, combined with research on climate change here, will provide the perfect backdrop.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
The standard data collected on bird and arthropod food abundances, timing of breeding, and biometric measurements will be fed into the ZERO databases. The presence of such widely shared data-bases is one of the advantages of carrying out research at Zackenberg.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
National funding agencies should provide additional funds for a full post-doctoral project for one of the applicants (JR), e.g. through Netherlands Arctic Research Project (NAP) of NWO. Personnel and technical costs will partly be born by participating institutions from The Netherlands. Monitoring at Zackenberg is financed by NERI (Denmark).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
All applicants have extensive experience in arctic field work and participated in/organised projects in Canada (Rowley Island, Ellesmere Island), Greenland (Thule, Zackenberg) and Siberia (Taimyr peninsula). TP has participated in the two High Arctic icebreaker-based expeditions (in 1994 and 1999) organised by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is invited to participate in the third in 2005. Our work is planned to be published in highly visible peer-reviewed scientific journals. Previous collaborative work in the Arctic has resulted in publications in journals like Nature, Oecologia, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, etc.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Prof Theunis Piersma
PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands
PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
9750 AA Haren
Netherlands

Tel: +31-222-369300
Mobile:
Fax: +31-222-319674
Email:

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Other Information