The history of seabird colonies and the North Water ecosystem: Contributions from palaeoecological and archaeological evidence

The North Water (NOW) polynya is one of the most productive marine areas of the Arctic and an important breeding area for millions of seabirds. There is, however, little information on the dynamics of the polynya or the bird populations over the long term. Here, we used sediment archives from a lake and peat deposits along the Greenland coast of the NOW polynya to track long-term patterns in the dynamics of the seabird populations. Radiocarbon dates show that the thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia) and the common eider (Somateria mollissima) have been present for at least 5500 cal. years. The first recorded arrival of the little auk (Alle alle) was around 4400 cal. years bp at Annikitsoq, with arrival at Qeqertaq (Salve Ø) colony dated to 3600 cal. years bp. Concentrations of cadmium and phosphorus (both abundant in little auk guano) in the lake and peat cores suggest that there was a period of large variation in bird numbers between 2500 and 1500 cal. years bp. The little auk arrival times show a strong accord with past periods of colder climate and with some aspects of human settlement in the area.     

Amphibian recovery after a decrease in acidic precipitation

We here report the first sign of amphibian recovery after a strong decline due to acidic precipitation over many decades and peaking around 1980–90. In 2010, the pH level of ponds and small lakes in two heavily acidified areas in southwestern Scandinavia (Aust-Agder and Østfold in Norway) had risen significantly at an (arithmetic) average of 0.14 since 1988–89. Parallel with the general rise in pH, amphibians (Rana temporaria, R. arvalis, Bufo bufo, Lissotriton vulgaris, and Triturus cristatus) had become significantly more common: the frequency of amphibian localities rose from 33% to 49% (n = 115), and the average number of amphibian species per locality had risen from 0.51 to 0.88. In two other (reference) areas, one with better buffering capacity (Telemark, n = 21) and the other with much less input of acidic precipitation (Nord-Trøndelag, n = 106), there were no significant changes in pH or amphibians.     

Algal tests with soil suspensions and elutriates: a comparative evaluation for PAH-contaminated soils

An algal growth inhibition test procedure with soil suspensions is proposed and evaluated for PAH-contaminated soil. The growth rate reduction of the standard freshwater green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) was used as the toxicity endpoint, and was quantified by measuring the fluorescence of solvent-extracted algal pigments. No growth rate reduction was detected for soil contents up to 20 g/l testing five non-contaminated Danish soils. Comparative testing with PAH-contaminated soil elutriates and soil suspensions showed that the suspensions had toxicity endpoints 2.5-3000 times lower than tests with the corresponding elutriates. Algal growth inhibition tests with soil suspensions are recommended for screening purposes as a supplement to elutriate testing. Experiments with a phenanthrene-spiked soil, showed that the sorbed compound did not contribute to the toxicity. However, the soil did act as a reservoir for phenanthrene, allowing desorption to occur continuously during the algal test which maintained higher concentrations of phenanthrene in the dissolved phase. Phenanthrene-spiked soil incubated for 90 days before algal testing, resulted in a reduction of the toxicity to P. subcapitata by a factor of 76 (from EC10 = 0.3 to 23.6 g soil/l). However, during this 90-day period the total concentration of phenanthrene in the soil decreased by 38% (from 322 to 199 mg/kg) indicating that phenanthrene in the aged soil had become less bioavailable.     

High prevalence of infections and pathological changes in burbot (Lota lota) from a polluted lake (Lake Mjøsa,Norway)

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exposure to high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) affected a fish population in Lake Mjøsa. Lake Mjøsa is known to be contaminated by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a subgroup of brominated flame retardants from local industrial activities. Fish from Lake Losna, a less contaminated lake located close to Lake Mjøsa, was used as reference (control).The sampling of burbot (Lota lota) was carried out between 2005 and 2008. Hepatic levels of POPs were analysed in burbot from the two lakes, and the fish were examined for bacterial- and parasite infection and histopathological changes. The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and PBDEs were about 10, 15 and 300 times higher in fish from Lake Mjøsa compared to fish from Lake Losna. Mycobacterium salmoniphilum was present in 7% and 35% of the fish from Lake Losna and Lake Mjøsa respectively. Significantly higher number of external and visceral macroscopic lesions, histopathological diffuse changes and granulomas were seen in fish from Lake Mjøsa compared to Lake Losna. Furthermore the parasite infection was higher and the hepatic lipid content was significantly lower in burbot from Lake Mjøsa. The results of the present study suggest that the high level of contamination in Lake Mjøsa could have a negative impact on the health status of wild fish inhabiting the lake.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in seven different marine bird species from Iceland

Data on distribution, concentration and trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is scarce in biota from the sub-Arctic region of the Atlantic. The present study is an investigation on PBDE and HBCD concentrations in eggs from seven marine bird species from Iceland, i.e. common eider (Somateria mollissima), arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), guillemot (Uria aalge), fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) and great skua (Stercorarius skua). Concentrations of sum PBDEs ranged from 44 ng g⁻¹ fat in eider eggs to 2400 ng g⁻¹ fat in great skua eggs. The contribution of different PBDE congeners to the sum concentration differed between species. Concentration of HBCDs (sum of α−,β⁻ and γ−HBCD) ranged from 1.3 ng g⁻¹ fat in arctic tern eggs to 41 ng g⁻¹ fat in great black-backed gull. PCA on PBDE and HBCD shows different trends between the two BFR groups, further indicating different sources/usage. Investigations on any potential health or population effects of environmental pollutants on the great skua are advised since both the PBDE and HBCD concentrations are high.     

Chemisorption of hydrogen sulphide and methanethiol by light expanded clay aggregates (Leca)

Removal of volatile sulphur compounds from livestock waste air by biological air filtration may be enhanced by application of packing materials with reactive properties. In this study, light expanded clay aggregates (Leca®) was tested with respect to sorption and potential chemical degradation of H₂S, Methanethiol (MT) and Dimethyl sulphide (DMS). Leca was selected due to its content of minerals, including iron, and due to its high specific surface area. The performance of Leca was evaluated based on breakthrough curves and by comparing the difference between the inlet and outlet gas concentrations. Whereas DMS did not appear to be removed by Leca, both H₂S and MT were removed with variable efficiency depending on the specific conditions. Dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) and dimethyl trisulphide (DMTS) were demonstrated to be produced during the degradation process in relatively high yields. A comparison between ambient air and nitrogen gas conditions showed that the chemisorption of H₂S and MT did not necessarily need oxygen to be present. X-ray analysis of Leca showed an abundance of Fe₂O₃. It is therefore hypothesized that Fe₂O₃ in Leca can remove H₂S and MT by chemisorption. Both air velocity and moisture content clearly affected the capacity of Leca for removal of H₂S and MT. Lower removal is seen at higher air velocities, whereas higher moisture content enhances removal. However, chemisorption of MT by Leca appears to be limited above a threshold moisture level. Potential reaction mechanisms are discussed in relation to the observed effects. The results implicate that Leca can be used as a filter material with reactive properties provided that moisture content is controlled and that an adequate air velocity is used.     

On the perchlorination of 2-hydroxybiphenyl and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-4,5,6-trichlorophenol and their methyl ethers

2-Hydroxybiphenyl and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-4,5,6-trichlorophenol and their methyl ethers were perchlorinated with four different reagents of various strengths. It was shown that perchlorination is not a reliable method in the analysis of these compounds. Pure octachlorodibenzofuran and nonachlorohydroxybiphenyl were, however, synthesized by the perchlorination procedure.     

Trends in Nitrogen Transport in Swedish Rivers

Concern about nitrogen loads in marine environments has drawn attention to the existence and possible causes of long-term trends in nitrogen transport in rivers. The present study was based on data from the Swedish environmental monitoring programme for surface water quality; the continuity of these data is internationally unique. A recently developed semiparametric method was employed to study the development of relationships between runoff and river transport of nitrogen since 1971; the observed relationships were then used to produce time series of flow-normalised transports for 66 sites in 39 river basins. Subsequent statistical analyses of flow-normalised data revealed only few significant downward trends (p 0.05) during the time period 1971–1994, and the most pronounced of these downward trends were caused by reduced point emissions of nitrogen. The number of significant upward trends was substantially larger (15 for total-N and 18 for NO₃-N). Closer examination of obtained results revealed the following: (i) the most pronounced upward trends were present downstream of lakes, and (ii) observed increases in nitrogen transport coincided in time and space with reduced point emissions of phosphorus or organic matter. This indicated that changes in the retention of nitrogen in lakes were responsible for the upward nitrogen trends. The hypothesis that nitrogen saturation of forest soils has caused a general increase in the riverine export of nitrogen from forested catchments in Sweden was not confirmed. Neither did the results indicate that improved agricultural practices have reduced the export of nitrogen from agricultural catchments.     

Pools and fluxes of organic matter in a boreal landscape: implications for a safety assessment of a repository for nuclear waste

To provide information necessary for a license application for a deep repository for spent nuclear fuel, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co is carrying out site investigations, including extensive studies of different parts of the surface ecosystems, at two sites in Sweden. Here we use the output from detailed modeling of the carbon dynamics in the terrestrial, limnic and marine ecosystems to describe and compare major pools and fluxes of organic matter in the Simpevarp area, situated on the southeast coast of Sweden. In this study, organic carbon is used as a proxy for radionuclides incorporated into organic matter. The results show that the largest incorporation of carbon into living tissue occurs in terrestrial catchments. Carbon is accumulated in soil or sediments in all ecosystems, but the carbon pool reaches the highest values in shallow near-land marine basins. The marine basins, especially the outer basins, are dominated by large horizontal water fluxes that transport carbon and any associated contaminants into the Baltic Sea. The results suggest that the near-land shallow marine basins have to be regarded as focal points for accumulation of radionuclides in the Simpevarp area, as they receive a comparatively large amount of carbon as discharge from terrestrial catchments, having a high NPP and a high detrital accumulation in sediments. These focal points may constitute a potential risk for exposure to humans in a future landscape as, due to post-glacial land uplift, previous accumulation bottoms are likely to be used for future agricultural purposes.