Climate influence on mercury in Arctic seabirds

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Climate Science

Background:

• Arctic ecosystems are sensitive to climate change and contaminants.
• Mercury contamination in wildlife is a significant environmental concern.
• Long-term monitoring data is crucial for understanding contaminant trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of interannual weather and climate variability on total mercury (THg) concentrations in Arctic seabird eggs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of long-term versus short-term datasets in identifying climate-contaminant relationships.
• To identify key weather and climate predictors of mercury levels in northern fulmars and thick-billed murres.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 40-year time series (1975-2014) of THg in seabird eggs from Prince Leopold Island.
• Compilation and analysis of atmospheric and oceanic weather/climate time series, including teleconnection indices (NAO, AO).
• Application of General Linear Models (GLMs) with staggered time lags (0-10 years) to identify significant predictors of THg concentrations.

Main Results:

• The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), temperature, snowfall, and sea ice cover were identified as significant predictors of THg concentrations in seabird eggs.
• Longer time series (40 years) were more effective than shorter ones (10 years) in detecting relationships with broad-scale climate indices like NAO.
• Weather and climate variability demonstrated a significant and substantial influence on mercury levels in Arctic seabirds.

Conclusions:

• Interannual weather and climate variability play a significant role in regulating total mercury concentrations in Arctic seabird eggs.
• Long-term monitoring programs are essential for accurately assessing the impact of climate change on contaminant burdens in wildlife.
• Findings highlight the complex interactions between climate, environment, and contaminant dynamics in polar regions.