Contaminant concentrations in ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) eggs from Svalbard and the Russian Arctic (2006-2007), supplement to: Miljeteig, Cecilie; Strøm, Hallvard; Gavrilo, Maria V; Volkov, Andrey; Jenssen, Bjørn Munro; Gabrielsen, Geir W (2009): High levels of contaminants in ivory gull Pagophila eburnea eggs from the Russian and Norwegian Arctic. Environmental Science & Technology, 43(14), 5521-5528

• Main Authors: Miljeteig, Cecilie, Strøm, Hallvard, Gavrilo, Maria V, Volkov, Andrey, Jenssen, Bjørn Munro, Gabrielsen, Geir W
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA - Data Publisher for Earth & Environmental Science 2009
• Subjects: International Polar Year 2007-2008 IPY; Arctic; Svalbard; Franz Josef Land; Severnaya Zemlya; Bjørn; Climate change; International Polar Year; IPY; ivory gull; Pagophila eburnea; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.817049; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.817049

We found high levels of contaminants, in particular organochlorines, in eggs of the ivory gull Pagophila eburnea, a high Arctic seabird species threatened by climate change and contaminants. An 80% decline in the ivory gull breeding population in the Canadian Arctic the last two decades has been documented. Because of the dependence of the ivory gull on sea ice and its high trophic position, suggested environmental threats are climate change and contaminants. The present study investigated contaminant levels (organochlorines, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances, and mercury) in ivory gull eggs from four colonies in the Norwegian Svalbard) and Russian Arctic (Franz Josef Land and Severnaya Zemlya). The contaminant levels presented here are among the highest reported in Arctic seabird species, and we identify this as an important stressor in a species already at risk due to environmental change. : Data extracted in the frame of a joint ICSTI/PANGAEA IPY effort, see http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.150150