Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of organic contaminants in Polar Ecosystems  (BioPol)

Outline
Background The focus of this initiative will be to document recent trends and derive conclusions on the nature of contaminant biotransport through diverse lower trophic level pathways of the Antarctic food web and to compare/contrast contaminant distributions and bioaccumulation for Antarctic and Arctic food webs. Through this IPY initiative we will address the following key questions: • Do we observe differences in contaminant bioaccumulation for Antarctic species inhabiting different areas (i.e. water masses) and if so, are these solely related to environmental concentrations detected in abiotic compartments or to food web dynamics? • How does lipid content influence POPs bioaccumulation in Antarctic species? • What are the trophic magnification factors for predator-prey species in Antarctica and hence, how important is biomagnification in this ecosystem? • How do compound patterns and levels detected in Antarctica compare/contrast with the Arctic? • How do contaminant levels, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification compare among species with similar trophic status in the Arctic and Antarctic? • Are these new observations on the contaminant status of the Antarctic marine food web in line with expectations with respect to current knowledge of long range transported contaminants and the life history strategies of polar-living organisms? Specific tasks will include: Determine OC levels in key species of sympagic and pelagic organisms of the Antarctic marine food web (ice algae, phytoplankton, ice fauna, meso- and macro-zooplankton and fish). Examine contaminant biotransport through different lower trophic level food web pathways Compare/contrast contaminant distributions and bioaccumulation for Antarctic and Arctic food webs The work is intended to achieve an enduring legacy within Arctic science, such that the achievements will contribute fundamental knowledge of the impact of long range transported organic pollutants on polar biological systems at the beginning of the 21st century and strengthen on-going international collaborative linkages on contaminant effects in polar marine ecosystems.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
-Contemporary data for conventional (i.e. compounds that are included in the Stockholm convention on POPs) and newer hazardous compounds (e.g. brominated flame retardants) in different abiotic and biotic environmental compartments. -Contemporary data series of biological variables for the European Arctic and Eastern Weddell Sea appropriate for use in contaminant bioaccumulation models and effects studies over multiple scales of biological organisation. -Documentation of the impact of long range transported organic pollutants on polar biological systems at the beginning of the 21st century including the determination of key differences in contaminant processes within northern and southern hemisphere polar seas. -Baseline for future environmental monitoring in the Norwegian sector of Antarctica while strengthening current initiatives for environmental monitoring in the Arctic.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This EoI consist of a Consortium of active international collaborators. The consortium consists of 15 partners from 5 countries and 12 institutes.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Antarctica: archived samples from the abiotic and biotic environment collected in 2001 at open-ocean and ice-associated stations within the Weddell Sea (60-70 S, 17W - 5E). Arctic: samples from recent years compiled within the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment database and collected through individual collaborating institutes from various Arctic marginal seas, primarily the Kara and Barents Seas. A limited number of new samples will be collected using ships of opportunity.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Summer 2007            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Research platforms available for use by the consortium include the Norwegian Research Vessels Lance and Jan Mayen and Russian Research Vessels operated by PINRO, Murmansk Marine Biological Institute and VNIIOKEANGEOLOGIA, as well as Russian and Norwegian existing coastal stations in the Barents Sea.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes Expansion of scientific collaboration with Russian scientists including education and post-educational training opportunities in polar ecosystem science

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

The Consortium has access to infrastructure for Polar Operations from all of the involved Institutions.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The Consortium has today national and international research projects lasting through the IPY periods.

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 project will be included as part of the ARCTOS consortium which has ongoing projects that will operate into the IPY period (see http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/). In addition new applications have and will be sent both to national and international funding bodies.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The overall project will be headed by JoLynn Carroll (Akvaplan-niva) and Geir Wing Gabrielsen (Norwegian Polar Institute). The project will be coordinated through the ARCTOS network (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Students enrolled in the ARCTOS student network and ongoing ARCTOS PhD trainee school in Arctic Marine Ecosystems (http://www.nfh.uit.no/arctos/) will be involved in the project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The data management will be handled within the operating data management system in associated Institutes, ICES and other bodies which the Institute has agreement with. In addition the Consortium will apply the general principles which are demanded from funding bodies (EU etc).

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Basic funding to the involved Institutions, national programmes and EU.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Analyses of organic contaminants will be performed together with the ecological tracers stable isotopes (carbon and nitrogen) and fatty acid composition on representative species of the Antarctic marine food web, previously collected during the NARE 2000/01 expedition. The organisms include individual species, ranging from primary producers to primary and secondary consumers. Food web dynamics and contaminant bioaccumulation in the Antarctic region will be contrasted with recent knowledge from the Arctic region. In addition to increasing the knowledge and understanding of contaminant flux in marine food webs in general, and the polar Antarctic region in particular, this work will serve as an invaluable baseline for future environmental monitoring in the Norwegian sector of Antarctica while strengthening current initiatives for environmental monitoring in the Arctic.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr JoLynn Carroll
Polarmiljøsenteret, Hjalmar Johansensgt. 14


9296 Tromsø
Norway

Tel: +47 77750314
Mobile: +47 47043844
Fax: +47 77750301
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation