Katrine Borgå

• Andvik, Clare; Bories, Pierre; Harju, Mikael; Borgå, Katrine; Jourdain, Eve & Karoliussen, Richard [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Phthalate contamination in marine mammals off the Norwegian coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin. ISSN 0025-326X. 199. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115936. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Phthalates are used in plastics, found throughout the marine environment and have the potential to cause adverse health effects. In the present study, we quantified blubber concentrations of 11 phthalates in 16 samples from stranded and/or free-living marine mammals from the Norwegian coast: the killer whale (Orcinus orca), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and harbour seal (Phoca vitulina). Five compounds were detected across all samples: benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP; in 50 % of samples), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP; 33 %), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP; 33 %), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP; 19 %), and dioctyl phthalate (DOP; 13 %). Overall, the most contaminated individual was the white-beaked dolphin, whilst the lowest concentrations were measured in the killer whale, sperm whale and long-finned pilot whale. We found no phthalates in the neonate killer whale. The present study is important for future monitoring and management of these toxic compounds.

• Silva, Andreia Sofia Jorge; Kristiansen, Silje Marie; Sengupta, Sagnik; van Gestel, Cornelis A. M.; Leinaas, Hans Petter & Borgå, Katrine (2023). Using dietary exposure to determine sub-lethal effects from imidacloprid in two springtail (Collembola) species. Ecotoxicology. ISSN 0963-9292. 32, p. 1209–1220. doi: 10.1007/s10646-023-02715-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Bustnes, Jan Ove; Bårdsen, Bård-Jørgen; Moe, Børge; Herzke, Dorte; Ballesteros, Manuel & Fenstad, Anette [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2023). Impacts of a warming climate on concentrations of organochlorines in a fasting high arctic marine bird: Direct vs. indirect effects? Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. 908. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168096. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The present study examined how climate changes may impact the concentrations of lipophilic organochlorines (OCs) in the blood of fasting High Arctic common eiders (Somateria mollissima) during incubation. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p′-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and four chlordane compounds (oxychlordane, trans-chlordane and trans- and cis-nonachlor) were measured in females at chick hatching (n = 223) over 11 years (2007–2017). Firstly, median HCB and p,p′-DDE concentrations increased ~75 % over the study period, whereas median chlordane concentrations doubled (except for oxychlordane). PCB concentrations, in contrast, remained stable over the study period. Secondly, both body mass and clutch size were negatively associated with OC levels, suggesting that females with high lipid metabolism redistributed more OCs from adipose tissue, and that egg production is an important elimination route for OCs. Thirdly, the direct climate effects were assessed using the mean effective temperature (ET: air temperature and wind speed) during incubation, and we hypothesized that a low ET would increase redistribution of OCs. Contrary to expectation, the ET was positively correlated to most OCs, suggesting that a warmer climate may lead to higher OCs levels, and that the impact of ET may not be direct. Finally, potential indirect impacts were examined using the Arctic Oscillation (AO) in the three preceding winters (AOwinter 1–3) as a proxy for potential long-range transport of OCs, and for local spring climate conditions. In addition, we used chlorophyll a (Chla) as a measure of spring primary production. There were negative associations between AOwinter 1 and HCB, trans-chlordane and trans-nonachlor, whereas oxychlordane and cis-chlordane were negatively associated with Chla. This suggests that potential indirect climate effects on eiders were manifested through the food chain and not through increased long-range transport, although these relationships were relatively weak.

• Gerland, Sebastian; Ingvaldsen, Randi Brunvær; Reigstad, Marit; Sundfjord, Arild; Bogstad, Bjarte & Chierici, Melissa [Show all 41 contributors for this article] (2023). Still Arctic? — The changing Barents Sea. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. ISSN 2325-1026. 11(1), p. 1–62. doi: 10.1525/elementa.2022.00088. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Barents Sea is one of the Polar regions where current climate and ecosystem change is most pronounced. Here we review the current state of knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological systems in the Barents Sea. Physical conditions in this area are characterized by large seasonal contrasts between partial sea-ice cover in winter and spring versus predominantly open water in summer and autumn. Observations over recent decades show that surface air and ocean temperatures have increased, sea-ice extent has decreased, ocean stratification has weakened, and water chemistry and ecosystem components have changed, the latter in a direction often described as “Atlantification” or “borealisation,” with a less “Arctic” appearance. Temporal and spatial changes in the Barents Sea have a wider relevance, both in the context of large-scale climatic (air, water mass and sea-ice) transport processes and in comparison to other Arctic regions. These observed changes also have socioeconomic consequences, including for fisheries and other human activities. While several of the ongoing changes are monitored and quantified, observation and knowledge gaps remain, especially for winter months when field observations and sample collections are still sparse. Knowledge of the interplay of physical and biogeochemical drivers and ecosystem responses, including complex feedback processes, needs further development.

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• Giebichenstein, Julia; Warner, Nicholas Alexander; Routti, Heli Anna Irmeli; Harju, Mikael; Varpe, Øystein & Andersen, Tom [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Emerging contaminant accumulation in an Arctic marine food web.
• Nowicki, Robynne; Borgå, Katrine; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing & Varpe, Øystein (2023). Exploring seasonal energetics of Barents Sea macrozooplankton and the impact of borealization.
• Nowicki, Robynne; Borgå, Katrine; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Søreide, Janne & Varpe, Øystein (2023). Seasonal Dynamics of Body Condition and Energy Content of Polar Cod (Boreogadus saida).
• Giebichenstein, Julia; Harju, Mikael; Varpe, Øystein; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Andersen, Tom & Borgå, Katrine (2023). Across the Seasons: Persistent Organic Pollutants in an Arctic Pelagic Food Web.
• Ziegler, Amanda; Jørgensen, Lis Lindal; Bluhm, Bodil Annikki Ulla Barbro; Giebichenstein, Julia; Borgå, Katrine & Ricardo de Freitas, Thaise (2023). The effect of ice-free summer conditions on benthic food web structure in the Barents Sea. Show summary

  Reduced Arctic sea-ice cover has been shown to alter phytoplankton community composition and reduce the magnitude of vertical flux, thereby reducing the strength of pelagic-benthic coupling. It is predicted that Arctic shelf ecosystems, like the Barents Sea, will transition into sub-polar-like ecosystems under future climatic conditions. However, few studies have provided a benthic perspective to the question of how ice-free conditions in the Arctic will affect food web structure. In this study, we aim to test whether ice-free summer conditions in the Barents Sea and adjacent Nansen Basin alter benthic food web structure and the strength of pelagic benthic coupling. To do so, we used bulk stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen measured in food sources and benthic consumers, demersal fish, and zooplankton collected during summers with contrasting sea-ice conditions: August 2018 – low sea-ice extent and August 2019 – high sea-ice extent. We compared benthic food web structure across three oceanographically distinct regions from the sea-ice free central Barents Sea shelf and the seasonally ice-free northern Barents Sea shelf to the slope extending into the Nansen Basin. The results of this work will not only improve our understanding of the impact that Arctic sea-ice loss has on benthic communities but provide additional insight to the resiliency of Arctic benthic food webs.

• Husson, Berengere; Eriksen, Elena; Jentoft, Sissel; Boge, Erling; Borgå, Katrine & Chierici, Melissa [Show all 36 contributors for this article] (2023). Polar cod connectivity cruise 2022 Cruise Report. UiT Norges arktiske universitet. ISSN 2703-7525.

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