| Project Detail |
Studying Arctic mercury pollution’s impact in ocean biodiversity
Marine chemical pollution poses a significant threat to human life, marine biodiversity, and ecosystems essential for global climate regulation. Regrettably, recent studies suggest that the Arctic, a major repository of global mercury (Hg) pollution, may increasingly contribute to marine Hg contamination due to rising temperatures. The MSCA-funded SEASOL project aims to investigate the pathways of Hg bioaccumulation in marine food webs throughout the High Arctic. It will identify the sources of Hg in fjords and its accumulation in aquatic species. The outcomes will enhance our comprehension of the impact of climate change on marine predators and enable improved early-warning and adaptation strategies to mitigate potential harm to species.
Marine chemical pollution poses known threats to human health and to biodiversity, ecosystem and societal services. The Arctic is a major sink of global mercury (Hg) pollution. Arctic sediments, sea and glacial ice constitute vast Hg reservoirs. Recent studies raise concerns about their increasing role as local Hg sources. In a rapidly warming Arctic, the consequences of potentially increased environmental Hg on marine biota remain unknown. The objective of SEASOL is to identify the pathway(s) of Hg bioaccumulation in marine food webs of the High Arctic Kongsfjorden (Svalbard). This changing glacial fjord is recognised as a ‘natural laboratory’ of climate change in the Arctic. The fellow’s earlier research has shown the sole measurement of Hg levels as insufficient to connect biotic Hg dynamics to environmental change, whereas the analysis of Hg stable isotopes proved to be a promising tool for source discrimination and biotic transfer. SEASOL will build on the novel application of stable isotope analysis to identify the sources of Hg within the fjord system and the pathways to Hg accumulation within sentinel marine species. On the short-term, the study will provide fundamental knowledge to help understand how emerging sources of Hg from rapid environmental change will impact Arctic marine predators. On the long-term, SEASOL will contribute to the development of early-warning, adaptive management strategies, including modelling, for mitigating the cumulative impact of pollutants and climate change on Arctic marine species. This multidisciplinary approach and the central position of the host institution (Norwegian Polar Institute) in the field of Polar Research will equip the Fellow with a broad set of new skills and lay the foundation for building her specific niche as a future leader in marine pollution science. |
