Beach litter in the European Arctic: Accumulation patterns, likely sources and pathways.

Patterns of beach litter accumulation in the European Arctic was investigated by sampling beaches on the Norwegian mainland in the southern Barents Sea, on northern Novaya Zemlya (Russia), and the southern shore of the Svalbard archipelago. The coast of Finnmark county on the Norwegian mainland was considerably more polluted than the other regions. More than half the surveyed beaches there were more polluted than the "very clean" designation from the Clean Coast Index, compared to <20 % in the other regions.

Evidence of separate influence of moon and sun on light synchronization of mussel's daily rhythm during the polar night.

Marine organisms living at high latitudes are faced with a light climate that undergoes drastic annual changes, especially during the polar night (PN) when the sun remains below the horizon for months. This raises the question of a possible synchronization and entrainment of biological rhythms under the governance of light at very low intensities. We analyzed the rhythms of the mussel .

SailBuoy Ocean Currents: Low-Cost Upper-Layer Ocean Current Measurements.

This study introduces an alternative to the existing methods for measuring ocean currents based on a recently developed technology. The SailBuoy is an unmanned surface vehicle powered by wind and solar panels that can navigate autonomously to predefined waypoints and record velocity profiles using an integrated downward-looking acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Data collected on two validation campaigns show a satisfactory correlation between the SailBuoy current records and traditional observation techniques such as bottom-mounted and moored current profilers and moored single-point current meter.

Autonomous Surface and Underwater Vehicles as Effective Ecosystem Monitoring and Research Platforms in the Arctic-The Glider Project.

Effective ocean management requires integrated and sustainable ocean observing systems enabling us to map and understand ecosystem properties and the effects of human activities. Autonomous subsurface and surface vehicles, here collectively referred to as "gliders", are part of such ocean observing systems providing high spatiotemporal resolution. In this paper, we present some of the results achieved through the project "Unmanned ocean vehicles, a flexible and cost-efficient offshore monitoring and data management approach-GLIDER".

Distribution and ecology of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) in the eastern Barents Sea: A review of historical literature.

The polar cod (Boreogadus saida) has a circumpolar distribution and is the most abundant planktivorous fish in the Arctic. Declining sea-ice coverage impacts polar cod directly and also facilitates expansion of human activities in the region leading to increasing anthropogenic pressures on biota. Here we summarize current data and knowledge on polar cod from the Russian sector of the Barents Sea and discuss knowledge needs for the management of polar cod under changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts.

Growth and behaviour of blue mussels, a re-emerging polar resident, follow a strong annual rhythm shaped by the extreme high Arctic light regime.

Polar regions are currently warming at a rate above the global average. One issue of concern is the consequences on biodiversity in relation to the Northward latitudinal shift in distribution of temperate species. In the present study, lasting almost two years, we examined two phenological traits, i.

Rhythms during the polar night: evidence of clock-gene oscillations in the Arctic scallop .

Arctic regions are highly impacted by climate change and are characterized by drastic seasonal changes in light intensity and duration with extended periods of permanent light or darkness. Organisms use cyclic variations in light to synchronize daily and seasonal biological rhythms to anticipate cyclic variations in the environment, to control phenology and to maintain fitness. In this study, we investigated the diel biological rhythms of the Arctic scallop, , during the autumnal equinox and polar night.

The sensitivity of the deepsea species northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and the cold-water coral (Lophelia pertusa) to oil-associated aromatic compounds, dispersant, and Alaskan North Slope crude oil.

This study investigated the sensitivity of two deepsea species using mortality of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) and polyp activity of stony coral (Lophelia pertusa) to dispersant, Corexit 9500 and aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, 2-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene) in 96-h tests. Resulting hydrocarbon toxicity data were fit to the Target Lipid Model to generate predictive models and determine species sensitivity. Toxicity of chemically enhanced water accommodated fractions of Alaskan North Slope crude oil (ANS-oil) was also investigated with shrimp using nominal loading, total petroleum hydrocarbons and biomimetic extraction (BE) as oil exposure metrics.

Seasonal variation of oxidative biomarkers in gills and digestive glands of the clam Anomalocardia flexuosa and the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae.

We determined values of antioxidant biomarkers catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in two bivalve species from a subtropical system in Brazil. Differences in the biomarkers activities measured in digestive glands and gills sampled at two seasons and in sites with different levels of contamination were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses. Seasonality was the main factor accounting for overall variability.

Underwater hyperspectral classification of deep sea corals exposed to 2-methylnaphthalene.

Coral reefs around the world are under threat due to anthropogenic impacts on the environment. It is therefore important to develop methods to monitor the status of the reefs and detect changes in the health condition of the corals at an early stage before severe damage occur. In this work, we evaluate underwater hyperspectral imaging as a method to detect changes in health status of both orange and white color morphs of the coral species Lophelia pertusa.

Exploring inter-species sensitivity to a model hydrocarbon, 2-Methylnaphtalene, using a process-based model.

We compared inter-species sensitivity to a model narcotic compound, 2-Methylnaphthalene, to test if taxonomical relatedness, feeding guilds, and trophic level govern species sensitivities on species distributed in different regions. We fitted a toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic model to survival patterns over time for 26 species using new and raw data from the literature. Species sensitivity distributions provided little insight into understanding patterns in inter-species sensitivity.

Environmental effects of Arctic oil spills and spill response technologies, introduction to a 5 year joint industry effort.

With the level of industrial activities increasing in Arctic areas it is crucial to assure that dedicated oil spill response capabilities and strategies are available for deployment in this region. To further build on existing research and improve technologies and methodologies for Arctic oil spill response, nine oil and gas companies established the Arctic Response Technology Joint Industry Program (ART-JIP) in 2012 with the goal to advance Arctic oil spill response strategies and equipment as well as to increase understanding of potential impacts of oil on the Arctic marine environment. As part of the environmental effects research program of the ART-JIP a comprehensive review of the environmental impacts arising from both the oil spill itself and the countermeasures activities was executed.

Seasonal ecology in ice-covered Arctic seas - Considerations for spill response decision making.

Due to retreating sea ice and predictions of undiscovered oil and gas resources, increased activity in Arctic shelf sea areas associated with shipping and oil and gas exploration is expected. Such activities may accidentally lead to oil spills in partly ice-covered ocean areas, which raises issues related to oil spill response. Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) is the process that the response community uses to identify which combination of response strategies minimises the impact to environment and people.

The sensitivity of a deep-sea fish species (Anoplopoma fimbria) to oil-associated aromatic compounds, dispersant, and Alaskan North Slope crude oil.

A predominant concern following oil spills is toxicity to aquatic organisms. However, few data are available on effects in deep-sea cold water fishes. The present study had 3 major objectives.

Effects of an in situ diesel oil spill on oxidative stress in the clam Anomalocardia flexuosa.

Intensive exploitation and transport of oil and derivatives are increasing the risk of coastal contamination by either dramatic disasters or diffuse sources. Tools for monitoring diffuse contamination, such as diesel oil that leaks from marine vessels are much needed. We experimentally tested the efficiency of antioxidant biomarkers as indicators of chronic exposure to diesel oil in a mudflat from the subtropical Bay of Paranaguá, in southern Brazil.

In the darkness of the polar night, scallops keep on a steady rhythm.

Although the prevailing paradigm has held that the polar night is a period of biological quiescence, recent studies have detected noticeable activity levels in marine organisms. In this study, we investigated the circadian rhythm of the scallop Chlamys islandica by continuously recording the animal's behaviour over 3 years in the Arctic (Svalbard). Our results showed that a circadian rhythm persists throughout the polar night and lasts for at least 4 months.

Baseline levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in species from a subtropical estuarine system (Paranaguá Bay, southern Brazil).

Offshore petroleum exploration has increased the risks of oil spills in coastal tropical and subtropical habitats. Monitoring tools are needed to assess and protect environmental health. We determined baseline values of antioxidant biomarkers (CAT, SOD, GPx, GST, MDA) for five ecologically relevant species in a subtropical system in southern Brazil.

Oxidative stress in two tropical species after exposure to diesel oil.

Recent offshore petroleum exploration has increased the risks of oil spills worldwide. We investigated biomarker responses to diesel oil exposure in two tropical and subtropical species, the clam Anomalocardia flexuosa and the polychaete Laeonereis culveri. Animals were exposed to oil-spiked sediment at two different concentrations (0.

Antioxidant responses in estuarine invertebrates exposed to repeated oil spills: Effects of frequency and dosage in a field manipulative experiment.

We have experimentally investigated the effects of repeated diesel spills on the bivalve Anomalocardia brasiliana, the gastropod Neritina virginea and the polychaete Laeonereis culveri, by monitoring the responses of oxidative stress biomarkers in a subtropical estuary. Three frequencies of exposure events were compared against two dosages of oil in a factorial experiment with asymmetrical controls. Hypotheses were tested to distinguish between (i) the overall effect of oil spills, (ii) the effect of diesel dosage via different exposure regimes, and (iii) the effect of time since last spill.

Biological effects of mechanically and chemically dispersed oil on the Icelandic scallop (Chlamys islandica).

This study aimed to simulate conditions in which dispersant (Dasic NS) might be used to combat an oil spill in coastal sub-Arctic water of limited depth and water exchange in order to produce input data for Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) of Arctic and sub-Arctic coastal areas. Concentration dependent differences in acute responses and long-term effects of a 48h acute exposure to dispersed oil, with and without the application of a chemical dispersant, were assessed on the Arctic filter feeding bivalve Chlamys islandica. Icelandic scallops were exposed for 48h to a range of spiked concentrations of mechanically and chemically dispersed oil.

Sensitivity of the deep-sea amphipod Eurythenes gryllus to chemically dispersed oil.

In the context of an oil spill accident and the following oil spill response, much attention is given to the use of dispersants. Dispersants are used to disperse an oil slick from the sea surface into the water column generating a cloud of dispersed oil droplets. The main consequence is an increasing of the sea water-oil interface which induces an increase of the oil biodegradation.

Biomarker modulation associated with marine diesel contamination in the Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica).

The decrease of ice cover in the Arctic will lead to an increase of ship traffic in the upcoming decades. Consequently, oil pollution is expected. In this context, the goals of this study were to evaluate the biological impact of marine diesel contamination and, on this basis, to determine analytical tools of interest (biomarkers) for future biomonitoring of diesel spills.

Unexpected Levels of Biological Activity during the Polar Night Offer New Perspectives on a Warming Arctic.

The current understanding of Arctic ecosystems is deeply rooted in the classical view of a bottom-up controlled system with strong physical forcing and seasonality in primary-production regimes. Consequently, the Arctic polar night is commonly disregarded as a time of year when biological activities are reduced to a minimum due to a reduced food supply. Here, based upon a multidisciplinary ecosystem-scale study from the polar night at 79°N, we present an entirely different view.

Bioconcentration, biotransformation and elimination of pyrene in the arctic crustacean Gammarus setosus (Amphipoda) at two temperatures.

The influence of temperature on the bioaccumulation, toxicokinetics, biotransformation and depuration of pyrene was studied in the arctic marine amphipod Gammarus setosus. A two-compartment model was used to fit experimental values of total body burden, total metabolites and parent pyrene concentrations and to calculate toxicokinetic variables derived for two experimental treatments (2 and 8 °C). No statistically significant differences were observed with temperature for these toxicokinetic variables or bioconcentration factors.

Acute and long-term biological effects of mechanically and chemically dispersed oil on lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus).

Concentration dependent differences in acute and long-term effects of a 48 h exposure to mechanically or chemically dispersed crude oil were assessed on juvenile lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus). Acute or post-exposure mortality was only observed at oil concentrations representing higher concentrations than reported after real oil spills. Acute mortality was more apparent in chemically than mechanically dispersed oil treatments whereas comparable EC50s were observed for narcosis.