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Seabird-driven shifts in Arctic pond ecosystems.
Neal Michelutti1, Bronwyn E Keatley, Samantha Brimble
1Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6. nm37@queensu.ca
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|October 24, 2008
Summary
Climate change is boosting Arctic seabird populations, increasing the transport of vital nutrients and harmful contaminants like PCBs and cadmium into coastal ecosystems. This shift is restructuring these sensitive environments.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Migratory animals, including seabirds, salmon, and whales, are crucial vectors for nutrient and contaminant transport across ecosystems.
- Seabirds are significant biovectors, transferring marine-derived nutrients and pollutants to terrestrial environments due to their abundance and distribution.
- Long-term seabird population data are scarce, hindering our understanding of their ecological impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of climate change on Arctic seabird populations.
- To assess the role of seabird biotransport in the accumulation of contaminants in coastal ecosystems.
- To understand the consequences of climate-induced shifts in seabird populations on coastal food webs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized palaeolimnological proxies to reconstruct historical seabird population dynamics.
- Analyzed pond sediments for contaminant concentrations, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and cadmium.
- Correlated sediment contaminant levels with seabird biotransport and population trends.
Main Results:
- Documented climate-induced population increases in an Arctic seabird colony in recent decades.
- Observed rising concentrations of contaminants (PCBs, cadmium) in pond sediments.
- Established a direct link between seabird biotransport and increased contaminant levels in sediments.
Conclusions:
- Climate change is driving increases in Arctic seabird populations.
- Seabird biotransport is a significant pathway for contaminant accumulation in coastal pond ecosystems.
- Shifts in global seabird populations due to climate change will unexpectedly restructure coastal ecosystems.
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