The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

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174 Limited data are available to determine whether species adapted to cold are more (or less) sensitive to contaminants than temperate species and thereby whether the relationships between contaminant concentrations and impacts derived from temperate species can be applied to the sub and high Arctic environment. As part of the AMAP assessment in 2009, the most recent studies have been reviewed and summarised in regard to biological effects and how they relate to organohalogen contaminant (OHC) exposure (Letcher et al. 2010). First attempts have been made to assess known tissue/body compartment concentration data in the context of possible threshold levels on top trophic level species, including seabirds (e.g. glaucous gull), polar bears and Arctic char. There was only little evidence that OHCs are having a widespread effect on the health of Arctic organisms. However, on a smaller scale, effects have been documented. Based on the ‘weight of evidence’ found in different studies performed on Arctic and Sub-Arctic wildlife and fish, several key species and populations have been identified (Letcher et al. 2010). Among these are East Greenland polar bear and ringed seal, Greenland shark from the Baffin Bay/David Strait and a few populations of freshwater Arctic char. Pollution effects have also been investigated on polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in more detail, since this species exhibits the highest levels of certain contaminants (e.g. organochlorines, PBDEs, PFCs or mercury) in the Arctic, in particular the populations from East Greenland and Svalbard (Norway). Effects on polar bear health caused by the complex, biomagnified mixture of these substances are summarised and assessed by Sonne (2010). The review shows that hormone and vitamin concentrations, liver, kidney and thyroid gland morphology as well as reproductive and immune systems of polar bears are likely to be influenced by contaminant exposure. 7.3.1 Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and possible effects on biota At present, PAH levels are relatively low in Greenland biota; although, as described in the previous section, point sources in harbour areas are found. With intensification of human activities, e.g. in relation to oil exploration, however, this may change and reliable environmental monitoring tools are required to identify any potential impact on the biota. PAHs are taken up by marine organisms directly from the water (via the body surface or gills) or through the diet. Many studies have indicated that PAHs are more or less metabolised by invertebrates and generally efficiently metabolised by vertebrates such as fish (Hylland et al. 2006). Therefore, and in contrast to most persistent organic pollutants, PAHs are not biomagnified in the marine food web. Dietary exposure to PAHs may, however, be high in species that preferentially feed on organisms with low ability to metabolise PAHs, such as bivalves (Peterson et al. 2003). At the other end of the food chain, filter-feeding zooplankton can be exposed to high levels through filtering of oil droplets containing PAHs from the surrounding water. The effects of PAHs on organisms are extensive and occur on various levels, including biochemical and physiological and/or genotoxic (Hylland et al. 2006). The responses and tolerance to PAHs can vary considerably in organisms, depending on the geographical range of the species but also on the particular PAH mixture. PAHs are a large group of diverse substances, ranging from two-ring naphthalenes and naphthalene derivates to complex ring
structures containing up to 10 rings. Effects in relation to PAH exposure have also been found at the population level, possibly reflecting the preexposure history and/or heritable, genetic changes in populations chronically exposed to PAHs. PAHs are also major contributors to the toxicity of produced water released during oil and gas production. Produced water is a complex mixture and contains numerous toxic compounds, such as dispersed oil, metals, alkylphenols (APs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Composition varies between wells, among other reasons due to the different chemicals added during the oil production process. Possible effects on biota caused by PAHs are discussed in more details in chapters 10 and 11. In general, it can be stated that exposure to PAHs causes effects at different biological levels and that the thresholds can differ according to species. To be able to assess better the potential risk for Arctic and sub-Arctic biota and their environment due to petroleum related contamination, e.g. oil spills, more integrated studies are necessary. Knowledge concerning the sensitivity of key species in the assessment area and their responses to oil or PAH exposure is also in need of improvement. Studies performed in Norway on polar cod and other typical Artic-sub-Artic species have documented that application of a range of biomarkers should be considered when assessing biological effects. Moreover, assessment criteria have to be established allowing any unacceptable impact to be assessed. Such criteria are based on ecotoxicological tests covering the sensitivity range of relevant species at different trophic levels, e.g. OSPAR Environmental Assessment Criteria (EAC). Toxicological tests with relevant species from the Davis Strait are not available for establishing such criteria. Knowledge concerning species’ sensitivity and assessment criteria as well as an adequate monitoring strategy need to be available before any increase in drilling activity, e.g. during oil exploration or production, commences in West Greenland. 175
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THE DAVIS STRAIT A preliminary stra
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AU THE DAVIS STRAIT A preliminary s
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Contents Preface 5 Summary and conc
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Preface The Bureau of Minerals and
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anks are normally ice free or have
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ed in large numbers in the assessme
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cetaceans (whales and harbour porpo
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placement and transport corridors.
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shrimp and Greenland halibut, for i
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Mitigation The risk of accidents an
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Miljøet Det pelagiske miljø De fy
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Fangst og udnyttelse Menneskelig ud
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Indenfor fiskeriet, er risikoen for
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Kumulative effekter Der vil være e
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dybde, kan muligvis ændre på konk
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ingsæl, spættet sæl, finhval, pu
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tassannga misilittagarineqalersut s
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Timmisat imarmiut amerlasoorsuit, q
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lu klimami pissutsinut atuutunut tu
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toqunartoqarneri arrortikkuminarner
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toqusarnermik taarserneqarluni, uum
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minguttitamiit ajoquserneqarsinnaan
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Kalaallit Nunaanni immikkut ulorian
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Figure 1.1.1. The assessment area,
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VEC = Valued Ecosystem Components V
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tings/well and in total 6,000 tons
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2.9 Other activities Ship transport
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Figure 3.2.1. Major sea surface cur
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3.2.3 The coasts The coastal zone b
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Jan Feb May Apr May Jul Aug Sep Oct
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Figure 3.3.3. Average sea ice exten
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Figure 3.3.4. Major iceberg sources
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4 Biological environment 4.1 Primar
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Figure 4.1.1. Monthly progressions
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Figure 4.2.1. Calanus spp. biomass
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69 Fish larvae are important compon
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Figure 4.2.4. Red dots indicate san
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focus should improve our understand
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The coastal zone of the assessment
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183 macroalgal species (excl. the b
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Table 4.3.1. Distribution of macroa
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Chaetomorpha capillaris Chaetomorph
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egistered in the area. A similar pa
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The sea ice algal production in the
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1990) and then north (mid-2000s) in
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September when they have reached a
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Salmon, Salmo salar Biology and dis
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tween 1 and 2.4 billion individuals
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It should be noted that the breedin
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66°N 64°N 62°N 60°W 60°W Arcti
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Knowledge on habitat use of the win
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Great shearwater, Puffinus gravis T
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Common eider, Somateria mollissima
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Figures 4.7.7. At-sea distribution
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Figure 4.7.9. Distribution and inte
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Figure 4.7.11. At-sea distribution
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The Iceland gull has a favourable c
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Figure 4.7.12. Distribution and int
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Murres spend very long time on the
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The puffins are migratory, but thei
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Figure 4.7.16. Density of whitetail
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sonal communication 1984) varied wi
Page 125 and 126: Numbers: The status of the walrus s
Page 127 and 128: tively impacted by disturbance from
Page 129 and 130: surround the eyes and line the oral
Page 131 and 132: Sensitivity: Non-whelping hooded se
Page 133 and 134: winter in reoccurring leads and pol
Page 135 and 136: Critical and important habitats: Th
Page 137 and 138: Figure 4.8.6. The main frequency ra
Page 139 and 140: tude breeding grounds and high lati
Page 141 and 142: Figure 4.8.7. Migration routes for
Page 143 and 144: long-finned squid (Loligo pealei) (
Page 145 and 146: Until recently the abundance of har
Page 147 and 148: Figure 4.8.9. Main summer and winte
Page 149 and 150: 4.9.1 Pelagic hotspots The shelf ba
Page 151 and 152: 5 Natural resource use 5.1 Commerci
Page 153 and 154: 66°N 64°N 62°N 60°W Snow crab c
Page 155 and 156: Figure 5.1.4. Distribution and size
Page 157 and 158: Salmon, Salmo salar The fishery for
Page 159 and 160: Figure 5.2.2. Annual number of king
Page 161 and 162: 2003/04-2007/08 the catch averaged
Page 163 and 164: 66°N 64°N 62°N 66°N 64°N 62°N
Page 165 and 166: Figure 5.2.6. The West Greenland ca
Page 167 and 168: Figure 5.3.1. The number of cruise
Page 169 and 170: 6.2 National nature protection legi
Page 171 and 172: formation see the IBA website (http
Page 173 and 174: glaucous gulls, great black-backed
Page 175: 7.2 Conclusions on contaminant leve
Page 179 and 180: The current warming trends are ofte
Page 181 and 182: species interactions. In the review
Page 183 and 184: 8.5 Marine mammals and seabirds The
Page 185 and 186: 9 Impact assessment David Boertmann
Page 187 and 188: 10 Impacts of the potential routine
Page 189 and 190: Impact of seismic noise on zoo- and
Page 191 and 192: type or timing of vocalisations. In
Page 193 and 194: detailed studies on the effect of s
Page 195 and 196: Table 10.1.1. Overview of potential
Page 197 and 198: een eliminated on the grounds of en
Page 199 and 200: 10.3 Development and production act
Page 201 and 202: hydrocarbon activities in Greenland
Page 203 and 204: parts of the shelf. Activities in t
Page 205 and 206: Seabird hunting is widespread and i
Page 207 and 208: There is a risk of reduced availabi
Page 209 and 210: General knowledge on the potential
Page 211 and 212: week period after the Exxon Valdez
Page 213 and 214: In general, species with distinct s
Page 215 and 216: A study of the density and distribu
Page 217 and 218: majority of the biomass. From a bio
Page 219 and 220: waters longer. The coastal fishery
Page 221 and 222: Seal pups are very sensitive to dir
Page 223 and 224: indicates that similar long-term im
Page 225 and 226: other parameters. It should be note
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Autumn (September-November) During
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to oil spills and produced water. I
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12.2.1 Ecotoxicological Monitoring
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Andersen JB, Böcher J, Guttmann B,
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Anon (2011b). Selvstyrets bekendtg
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Blackwell SB, Lawson JW, Williams M
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Born EW (2003). Reproduction in mal
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Buch E, Nielsen MH, Pedersen SA (20
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Clark RC, Finley JS (1977). Effects
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Dietz R, Heide-Jørgensen MP (1995)
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Falk K, Møller S (1997). Breeding
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Gjertz I, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Wi
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Hansen JLS, Hjorth M, Rasmussen MB,
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Heide-Jørgensen MP, Laidre KL (201
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Horsted SA (2000). A review of the
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Jonas RF (1974). Prospect for the e
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Ketten DR, Lien J, Todd S (1993). B
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Lick R, Piatkowski U (1998). Stomac
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Melle W, Serigstad B, Ellertsen B (
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Mosbech A, Danø R, Merkel FR, Sonn
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Nielsen OK, Lyck E, Mikkelsen MH, H
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Parry GD, Gason A (2006). The effec
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Popper AN, Fewtrell J, Smith ME, Mc
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Rivkin RB, Tian R, Anderson MR, Pay
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Schaaning MT, Trannum HC, Øxnevad
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Simpson AC, Howell BR, Warren PJ (1
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Taylor MK, Akeeagok S, Andriashek D
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Wegeberg S, Bangsholt J, Dolmer P,
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