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Dragańska‐Deja K, Stoń‐Egiert J, Wiktor J, Ostrowska M. Productivity of Spitsbergen fjords ecosystems in summer-Spatial changes of in situ primary production in Kongsfjorden and Hornsund in the period 1994-2019. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11607. [PMID: 38932961 PMCID: PMC11199330 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive study examines primary production (PP) within the Spitsbergen fjords, Hornsund, and Kongsfjord, over a 25-year period (1994-2019), across 45 stations and 348 incubation levels at various depths. PP and hydrological parameters were measured at 28 sampling stations in Kongsfjorden and 17 in Hornsund, with the locations of "Glacier," "Inner," and "Outer" zones defined to reflect the varying influence of glacial meltwater. Our study revealed spatial and temporal variability in PP, both at the surface and within the water column with very high depth resolution. The highest PP values were observed in the Glacier and Inner zones of Hornsund, particularly in the water layer up to 3 m depth, exceeding 20 mgC m-3 h-1. A notable decline in PP with increasing depth was observed in both fjords, with the Glacier zones displaying the highest productivity at the surface. The study also highlights the influence of glacial meltwater on surface water conditions, affecting the PP in the upper layers of both fjords. The observed gradient in the depth of maximum PP toward the mouth of the fjord varied between the two fjords, with Kongsjord displaying more dynamic variations. The spatial distribution of integrated primary production (Pi) suggested lower productivity in the glacial regions, likely due to light limitation caused by high concentrations of mineral particulate matter. The values of Pi were considerably higher in Hornsund, approximately twice as high overall, with specific emphasis on the Glacier and Inner zones where Pi values were about 6.5 and 2.5 times higher, respectively, when compared to those observed in Kongsfjord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Dragańska‐Deja
- Remote Sensing Laboratory, Department of Marine Physics, Institute of OceanologyPolish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
| | - Joanna Stoń‐Egiert
- Marine Bio‐Optic Laboratory, Department of Marine Physics, Institute of OceanologyPolish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
| | - Józef Wiktor
- Marine Protists Laboratory, Department of Marine Ecology, Institute of OceanologyPolish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
| | - Mirosława Ostrowska
- Marine Bio‐Optic Laboratory, Department of Marine Physics, Institute of OceanologyPolish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
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2
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Saniewski M, Wietrzyk-Pełka P, Węgrzyn MH, Balazy P, Saniewska D, Klajman K. Assessing the present levels of 137Cs in the remote ecosystem of Bjornoya (South Svalbard). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 197:115736. [PMID: 37922750 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The remoteness and small size of Bjornoya (S Svalbard) make the island one of the most unreachable places in the Arctic. Limited accessibility contributes to still-existing knowledge gap on isotope accumulation in compartments of its ecosystem. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the current concentration of 137Cs in the terrestrial samples of vascular plants, cryptogams, and soil collected on Bjornoya in 2021. The measured average activity of 137Cs in bryophytes was 56.5 Bq kg-1, lichens 27.6 Bq kg-1, vascular plants 7.26 Bq kg-1, and soil 9.63 Bq kg-1. In the case of bryophytes, 137Cs activity was negatively correlated with δ15N. Our results suggest that bird guano was the main source of nitrogen and 137Cs for vascular plants. For bryophytes, significantly lower values of δ15N than in vascular plants suggests that this group is more sensitive to atmospheric N intake, with fallout being the main source of 137Cs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Saniewski
- Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Waszyngtona 42, 81-342 Gdynia, Poland.
| | | | | | - Piotr Balazy
- Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-412 Sopot, Poland
| | - Dominika Saniewska
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geogrpahy, University of Gdańsk, Al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Kamila Klajman
- Institute of Applied Radiation Chemistry, Łódź University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Łódź, Poland
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3
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Zwolicki A, Zmudczyńska-Skarbek K, Weydmann-Zwolicka A, Stempniewicz L. Ecological niche overlap in the Arctic vegetation influenced by seabirds. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4405. [PMID: 36928348 PMCID: PMC10020437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the High Arctic, nutrients are the most limiting resources, so terrestrial vegetation is of low complexity and grows slowly. However, locally, large seabird colonies increase soil fertility by deposition of faeces, supporting the development of rich and fast-growing plant communities. Here, we assessed how seabird colonies affected ecological niche segregation of plants, across the fertilisation gradient. Study sites were located near five little auk colonies, distributed longitudinally across the Svalbard archipelago. We described vascular plant composition and identified 13 environmental variables, based on which, we calculated and tested the niche overlap (NO) between the 18 most frequent species. Based on the hierarchical classification of the NO matrix, we distinguished typical High Arctic Vegetation (HAV), and Bird-Cliff Vegetation (BCV). The BCV was characterised by higher average NO and soil δ15N compared to HAV. The highest NO values across the fertilisation gradient were found on the border between the distinguished communities and were positively correlated with species diversity. We suggest that in the High Arctic, seabirds-delivered nutrients lead to the development of separate plant communities through the mechanism of avoiding inter-species competition, while simultaneous high species diversity and NO are related to high facilitation between plants on the border between the communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Zwolicki
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | | | | | - Lech Stempniewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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Marín C, Barták M, Palfner G, Vergara-Barros P, Fernandoy F, Hájek J, Casanova-Katny A. Antarctic Lichens under Long-Term Passive Warming: Species-Specific Photochemical Responses to Desiccation and Heat Shock Treatments. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11192463. [PMID: 36235326 PMCID: PMC9572451 DOI: 10.3390/plants11192463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Climate warming in the Antarctic tundra will affect locally dominant cryptogams. Being adapted to low temperatures and freezing, little is known about the response of the polar lichens’ primary photochemistry to warming and desiccation. Since 2008, we have monitored the ecophysiological responses of lichens to the future warming scenario during a long-term warming experiment through open top chambers (OTCs) on Fildes Peninsula. We studied the primary photochemical response (potential Fv/Fm and effective efficiency of photosystem II YPSII) of different lichen taxa and morphotypes under desiccation kinetics and heat shock experiments. As lichens grow slowly, to observe changes during warming we methodologically focused on carbon and nitrogen content as well as on the stable isotope ratios. Endemic Himantormia lugubris showed the strongest effect of long-term warming on primary photochemistry, where PSII activity occurred at a lower %RWC inside the OTCs, in addition to higher Fv/Fm values at 30 °C in the heat shock kinetic treatment. In contrast, Usnea aurantiaco-atra did not show any effect of long-term warming but was active at a thallus RWC lower than 10%. Both Cladonia species were most affected by water stress, with Cladonia aff. gracilis showing no significant differences in primary photochemical responses between the warming and the control but a high sensibility to water deficiency, where, at 60% thallus RWC, the photochemical parameters began to decrease. We detected species-specific responses not only to long-term warming, but also to desiccation. On the other hand, the carbon content did not vary significantly among the species or because of the passive warming treatment. Similarly, the nitrogen content showed non-significant variation; however, the C/N ratio was affected, with the strongest C/N decrease in Cladonia borealis. Our results suggest that Antarctic lichens can tolerate warming and high temperature better than desiccation and that climate change may affect these species if it is associated with a decrease in water availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Marín
- Laboratory of Mycology and Mycorrhiza, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Campus Concepción, Concepción University, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Miloš Barták
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A13/119, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Götz Palfner
- Laboratory of Mycology and Mycorrhiza, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Campus Concepción, Concepción University, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Pablo Vergara-Barros
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Francisco Fernandoy
- Isotope Analysis Laboratory, Andrés Bello University, Viña del Mar 2531015, Chile
| | - Josef Hájek
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A13/119, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Angélica Casanova-Katny
- Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Natural Resources, Campus Luis Rivas del Canto, Catholic University of Temuco, Rudecindo Ortega #03694, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-96-209-7709
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Jakubas D, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Petersen A. A quiet extirpation of the breeding little auk Alle alle population in Iceland in the shadow of the famous cousin extermination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 808:152167. [PMID: 34875336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The little auk Alle alle is an Arctic seabird breeding in the North Atlantic. Its southernmost breeding population in the Low Arctic occurred in Iceland but started to decline in numbers at the beginning of the 20th century ending in extirpation at the end of the same century. Climate warming has been blamed for the disappearance of this population. However, it was also exploited by humans (mainly for eggs). Thus, it is unclear what was the main driver for the population collapse. In this study, we reconstruct population dynamics in relation to changes in environmental conditions, and perform stochastic modelling of population viability considering various scenarios including presence/absence of climate warming and/or egg harvest. We found that extirpation of the studied population was attributed to synergistic effects of both climate warming and human harvest. The simulations revealed that climate warming without harvest would cause a 71% decline in population size but not lead to extirpation. Models with climate warming and egg harvesting resulted in population estimates close to the real data (decrease from 400 individuals in 1903 to 2 in 1996). This is one of the few studies documenting synergistic effect of climate warming and human exploitation on extirpation. A strong harvesting component in the explanation for the decline of the study population emphasizes the continuing need to control commercial harvest of animal species in the face of other pressures such as climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, The University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
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6
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Abstract
AbstractThe Little Auk Alle alle is a small planktivorous auk breeding colonially in the High Arctic. Owing to its large population size and bi-environmental lifestyle, resulting in the large-scale transport of matter from sea to land, the Little Auk is one of the most important components of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the Arctic. As a result of globalization, which facilitates access to remote areas of the Earth, a growing number of studies is being dedicated to this endemic Arctic seabird. Research has focussed primarily on the importance of the Little Auk as an ecological indicator reacting to the climatic and oceanological changes that are particularly evident in the Arctic as a result of Arctic amplification (warming is more rapid in the Arctic than in any other region on Earth). Importantly, the species is also used as a model to investigate matter and energy flow through the ecosystem, mate choice, parental care and biological rhythms. Here, we review the natural history of the Little Auk, highlighting studies with the potential to provide answers to universal questions regarding the response of seabirds to climate variability and avian reproductive behaviour, e.g. threshold of foraging flexibility in response to environmental variability, carry-over effects between the breeding and non-breeding periods, the reasons for the transition from bi- to uni-parental care, parental coordination mechanisms.
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7
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Flexibility of little auks foraging in various oceanographic features in a changing Arctic. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8283. [PMID: 32427941 PMCID: PMC7237489 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Using GPS-tracked individuals, we compared foraging ecology and reproductive output of a High-Arctic zooplanktivorous seabird, the little auk Alle alle, between three years differing in environmental conditions (sea surface temperature). Despite contrasting environmental conditions, average foraging fights distance and duration were generally similar in all studied years. Also, in all years foraging locations visited by the little auk parents during short trips (ST, for chick provisioning) were significantly closer to the colony compared to those visited during long trips (LTs, mainly for adults’ self-maintenance). Nevertheless, we also found some differences in the little auk foraging behaviour: duration of LTs was the longest in the coldest year suggesting more time for resting for adults compared to warmer years. Besides, birds foraged closer to the colony and in significantly colder water in the coldest year. Interestingly, these differences did not affect chick diet: in all the years, the energy content of food loads was similar, with the Arctic copepod, Calanus glacialis copepodite stage V being the most preferred prey item (>73% of items by number and >67% by energy content). Also chick survival was similar in all the study years. However, when examining chicks growth rate we found that their peak body mass was lower in warmer years suggesting that overall conditions in the two warm years were less favourable. While our results, demonstrate a great foraging flexibility by little auks, they also point out their vulnerability to changing environmental conditions.
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8
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Zawierucha K, Zmudczyńska-Skarbek K, Guil N, Bogdziewicz M. Seabirds modify trophic groups, while altitude promotes xeric-tolerant species of Tardigrada in the high Arctic tundra (Svalbard archipelago). ACTA OECOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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9
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Origin, activity and environmental acclimation of stem secondary tissues of the polar willow (Salix polaris) in high-Arctic Spitsbergen. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02469-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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10
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Gąsiorowski M, Sienkiewicz E. Bird population changes reconstructed from isotopic signals of peat developed in a nutrient enriched tundra. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:1359-1366. [PMID: 30235621 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Five peat sequences were studied to identify the time the little auk Alle alle colonies originated in the Hornsund area (Spitsbergen). Elemental and stable isotope analysis of nitrogen and carbon was applied as markers for bird activity. The peat sequences were dated with 210Pb and radiocarbon methods. The results showed that peat development related to seabird activity is significantly older (at least 300 years old) in localities closer to the fjord's mouth (west) than those located deeper in the fjord (east), which are ~100 years old. Isotopic signals indicated that bird activity in the western localities decreased simultaneously with the growth of the eastern colonies. Colonization by birds of new localities correlated with the termination of the Little Ice Age and the meaningful decrease in the glacier area of the region. Hence, we suggest that the availability of new localities for nesting in talus cones, nival moraines and lateral moraines on gentle mountain slopes with south-eastern exposition attracted the little auk due to better thermal conditions, isolation from strong westerly winds and better protection from predation by gull Larus hyperboreus. The expansion of little auks to the new localities was fast (20-30 yrs), and there are no records of changes in bird impacts on the tundra environment after 1920.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Gąsiorowski
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda St. 51/55, PL-00818 Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Elwira Sienkiewicz
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda St. 51/55, PL-00818 Warszawa, Poland
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11
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Hayashi K, Tanabe Y, Ono K, Loonen MJJE, Asano M, Fujitani H, Tokida T, Uchida M, Hayatsu M. Seabird-affected taluses are denitrification hotspots and potential N 2O emitters in the High Arctic. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17261. [PMID: 30467371 PMCID: PMC6250683 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35669-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In High Arctic tundra ecosystems, seabird colonies create nitrogen cycling hotspots because of bird-derived labile organic matter. However, knowledge about the nitrogen cycle in such ornithocoprophilous tundra is limited. Here, we determined denitrification potentials and in-situ nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions of surface soils on plant-covered taluses under piscivorous seabird cliffs at two sites (BL and ST) near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, in the European High Arctic. Talus soils at both locations had very high denitrification potentials at 10 °C (2.62–4.88 mg N kg−1 dry soil h−1), near the mean daily maximum air temperature in July in Ny-Ålesund, with positive temperature responses at 20 °C (Q10 values, 1.6–2.3). The talus soils contained abundant denitrification genes, suggesting that they are denitrification hotspots. However, high in-situ N2O emissions, indicating the presence of both active aerobic nitrification and anaerobic denitrification, were observed only at BL (max. 16.6 µg N m−2 h−1). Rapid nitrogen turnover at BL was supported by lower carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, higher nitrate content, and higher δ15N values in the soils at BL compared with those at ST. These are attributed to the 30-fold larger seabird density at BL than at ST, providing the larger organic matter input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Hayashi
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 305-8604, Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Yukiko Tanabe
- National Institute of Polar Research, 190-8518, Tachikawa, Japan.,SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), 190-8518, Tachikawa, Japan
| | - Keisuke Ono
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 305-8604, Tsukuba, Japan
| | | | - Maki Asano
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 305-8572, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Fujitani
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, 162-8480, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Tokida
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 305-8604, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masaki Uchida
- National Institute of Polar Research, 190-8518, Tachikawa, Japan.,SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), 190-8518, Tachikawa, Japan
| | - Masahito Hayatsu
- Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 305-8604, Tsukuba, Japan
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Pacyna AD, Koziorowska K, Chmiel S, Mazerski J, Polkowska Ż. Svalbard reindeer as an indicator of ecosystem changes in the Arctic terrestrial ecosystem. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 203:209-218. [PMID: 29621677 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.03.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, noticeable effort has been directed towards contaminant determination in multiple biotic samples collected from the inhabitants of the Arctic. Little consideration has been given to polar herbivores, however, especially those from the European parts of the Arctic. To provide a broader perspective, we aimed to decipher trace element concentration in hairs of the key species in the Arctic, namely the Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), and to recognise whether diet variations could correspond with forward exposure. The effect of habitat and diet was investigated using the ratios of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), and previous literature studies on vegetation from the areas of interest. Analysis was performed for eighteen elements in total, both toxic and essential. Metals were present in a decreasing order Fe > Zn > Ba > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > V > Ga =La > Rb > As > Li > Co > Hg > Cd > Cs > Be. Similarity in trends in the studied subpopulations was observed for many metals. A significant log-linear correlation was observed for most of the elements, excluding nitrogen and carbon isotopes signature. Extremely high iron levels were determined in some of the samples, suggesting past iron overload. Zinc, in contrast to the remaining metals, did not correlate well with any other element. Mercury was determined at very low levels, in accordance with previous literature regarding its concentrations in moss and lichen species in Svalbard. The analysis of stable isotopes showed a high variation in nitrogen isotopes signatures. Further research is required to properly evaluate the potential health risks and ecological implications of elevated exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Dorota Pacyna
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 Narutowicza st, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Koziorowska
- Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot, Poland
| | - Stanisław Chmiel
- Department of Hydrology, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Kraśnicka Ave. 2 cd, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jan Mazerski
- Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, 11/12 Narutowicza st, Gdańsk 80-233, Poland
| | - Żaneta Polkowska
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, 11/12 Narutowicza st, Gdansk, 80-233, Poland.
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Wojtuń B, Samecka-Cymerman A, Kolon K, Kempers AJ. Metals in Racomitrium lanuginosum from Arctic (SW Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago) and alpine (Karkonosze, SW Poland) tundra. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:12444-12450. [PMID: 29460250 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1508-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Arctic-alpine tundra habitats are very vulnerable to the input of relatively small amounts of xenobiotics, and thus their level in such areas must be carefully controlled. Therefore, we collected the terrestrial widespread moss Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid. in Spitsbergen in the Arctic moss lichen tundra and, for comparison, in the Arctic-alpine tundra in the Karkonosze (SW Poland). Concentrations of the elements Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in this species and in the parent rock material were measured. We tested the following hypothesis: R. lanuginosum from Spitsbergen contains lower metal levels than the species from the Karkonosze collected at altitudes influenced by long-range transport from former Black Triangle industry. Principal component and classification analysis (PCCA) ordination revealed that mosses of Spitsbergen were distinguished by a significantly higher Na concentration of marine spray origin and mosses of Karkonosze were distinguished by significantly higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Pb, V, and Zn probably from long-range atmospheric transport. The influence of the polar station with a waste incinerator resulted in significantly higher Co, Li, and Ni concentrations in neighbouring mosses in comparison with this species from other sites. This investigation contributes to the use of R. lanuginosum as a bioindicator for metal contamination in Arctic and alpine tundra regions characterised by severe climate habitats with a restricted number of species. This moss enables the control of pollution usually brought solely by long-range atmospheric transport in high mountains as well as in Arctic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronisław Wojtuń
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Kolon
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Alexander J Kempers
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University, Huygens Building, Heijendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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Habitat foraging niche of a High Arctic zooplanktivorous seabird in a changing environment. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16203. [PMID: 29176574 PMCID: PMC5701252 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16589-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we model current and future distribution of a foraging Arctic endemic species, the little auk (Alle alle), a small zooplanktivorous Arctic seabird. We characterized environmental conditions [sea depth, sea surface temperature (SST), marginal sea ice zone (MIZ)] at foraging positions of GPS-tracked individuals from three breeding colonies in Svalbard: one located at the southern rim of the Arctic zone (hereafter ‘boreo-Arctic’) and two in the high-Arctic zone on Spitsbergen (‘high-Arctic’). The birds from one ‘high-Arctic’ colony, influenced by cold Arctic water, foraged in the shallow shelf zone near the colony. The birds from remaining colonies foraged in a wider range of depths, in a higher SST zone (‘boreo-Arctic’) or in the productive but distant MIZ (second ‘high-Arctic’ colony). Given this flexible foraging behaviour, little auks may be temporarily resilient to moderate climate changes. However, our fuzzy logic models of future distribution under scenarios of 1 °C and 2 °C SST increase predict losses of suitable foraging habitat for the majority of little auk colonies studied. Over longer time scales negative consequences of global warming are inevitable. The actual response of little auks to future environmental conditions will depend on the range of their plasticity and pace of ecosystem changes.
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Terrestrial Remote Sensing of Snowmelt in a Diverse High-Arctic Tundra Environment Using Time-Lapse Imagery. REMOTE SENSING 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/rs9070733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Zwolicki A, Zmudczyńska-Skarbek K, Matuła J, Wojtuń B, Stempniewicz L. Differential Responses of Arctic Vegetation to Nutrient Enrichment by Plankton- and Fish-Eating Colonial Seabirds in Spitsbergen. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1959. [PMID: 28083002 PMCID: PMC5187377 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The role of seabirds as sea-land biovectors of nutrients is well documented. However, no studies have examined whether and how colonial seabirds that differ in diet may influence terrestrial vegetation. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe and compare plant communities located in the vicinity of the two most common types of seabird colonies in Arctic, occupied by piscivorous or planktivorous species. Within 46 plots arranged in four transects in the vicinity of planktivorous (little auk, Alle alle) and piscivorous colonies (mixed colony of Brunnich's guillemot, Uria lomvia, and black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla) we measured the following: guano deposition, physical and chemical characteristics of soil, total nitrogen and its stable isotope signatures in soil and plants, ground vegetation cover of vascular plants and mosses, and the occurrence of lichens, algae and cyanobacteria. Using LINKTREE analysis, we distinguished five plant communities, which reflected declining influence along a birds fertilization gradient measured as guano deposition. SIMPROOF test revealed that these communities differed significantly in species composition, with the differences related to total soil nitrogen content and δ15N, distinctive levels of phosphates, potassium and nitrates, and physical soil properties, i.e., pH, conductivity and moisture. The communities were also clearly distinguished by distance from the bird colony. The two colony types promoted development of specific plant communities: the immediate vicinity of the planktivorous colony characterized by a Deschampsia alpina-Cerastium arcticum community while under the piscivorous colony a Cochlearia groenlandica-Poa alpina community was present. Despite the similar size of the colonies and similar magnitude of guano input, differences between ornithogenic communities were connected mostly to phosphate content in the soil. Our results show that the guano input from seabirds which have different diets can affect High Arctic vegetation in specific and more complex ways than previously realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Zwolicki
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of GdańskGdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Jan Matuła
- Institute of Biology, The Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life SciencesWrocław, Poland
- Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, The Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life SciencesWrocław, Poland
| | - Bronisław Wojtuń
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of WrocławWrocław, Poland
| | - Lech Stempniewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of GdańskGdańsk, Poland
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Zielińska S, Kidawa D, Stempniewicz L, Łoś M, Łoś JM. The Arctic Soil Bacterial Communities in the Vicinity of a Little Auk Colony. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1298. [PMID: 27667982 PMCID: PMC5016516 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to deposition of birds' guano, eggshells or feathers, the vicinity of a large seabirds' breeding colony is expected to have a substantial impact on the soil's physicochemical features as well as on diversity of vegetation and the soil invertebrates. Consequently, due to changing physicochemical features the structure of bacterial communities might fluctuate in different soil environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial assemblages in the Arctic soil within the area of a birds' colony and in a control sample from a topographically similar location but situated away from the colony's impact area. A high number of OTUs found in both areas indicates a highly complex microbial populations structure. The most abundant phyla in both of the tested samples were: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi, with different proportions in the total share. Despite differences in the physicochemical soil characteristics, the soil microbial community structures at the phylum level were similar to some extent in the two samples. The only share that was significantly higher in the control area when compared to the sample obtained within the birds' colony, belonged to the Actinobacteria phylum. Moreover, when analyzing the class level for each phylum, several differences between the samples were observed. Furthermore, lower proportions of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were observed in the soil sample under the influence of the bird's colony, which most probably could be linked to higher nitrogen concentrations in that sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Zielińska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dorota Kidawa
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Lech Stempniewicz
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marcin Łoś
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
| | - Joanna M Łoś
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk Gdansk, Poland
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Zwolicki A, Zmudczyńska-Skarbek K, Richard P, Stempniewicz L. Importance of Marine-Derived Nutrients Supplied by Planktivorous Seabirds to High Arctic Tundra Plant Communities. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154950. [PMID: 27149113 PMCID: PMC4858296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the relative importance of several environmental factors for tundra plant communities in five locations across Svalbard (High Arctic) that differed in geographical location, oceanographic and climatic influence, and soil characteristics. The amount of marine-derived nitrogen in the soil supplied by seabirds was locally the most important of the studied environmental factors influencing the tundra plant community. We found a strong positive correlation between δ15N isotopic values and total N content in the soil, confirming the fundamental role of marine-derived matter to the generally nutrient-poor Arctic tundra ecosystem. We also recorded a strong correlation between the δ15N values of soil and of the tissues of vascular plants and mosses, but not of lichens. The relationship between soil δ15N values and vascular plant cover was linear. In the case of mosses, the percentage ground cover reached maximum around a soil δ 15N value of 8‰, as did plant community diversity. This soil δ15N value clearly separated the occurrence of plants with low nitrogen tolerance (e.g. Salix polaris) from those predominating on high N content soils (e.g. Cerastium arcticum, Poa alpina). Large colonies of planktivorous little auks have a great influence on Arctic tundra vegetation, either through enhancing plant abundance or in shaping plant community composition at a local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Zwolicki
- Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Pierre Richard
- Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés, UMR 7266 CNRS – Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France
| | - Lech Stempniewicz
- Dept. of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80–308, Gdańsk, Poland
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