[en] Temporal trend analysis of (total) mercury (THg) concentrations in Arctic biota were assessed as part of the 2021 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Mercury Assessment. A mixed model including an evaluation of non-linear trends was applied to 110 time series of THg concentrations from Arctic and Subarctic biota. Temporal trends were calculated for full time series (6–46 years) and evaluated with a particular focus on recent trends over the last 20 years. Three policy-relevant questions were addressed: (1) What time series for THg concentrations in Arctic biota are currently available? (2) Are THg concentrations changing over time in biota from the Arctic? (3) Are there spatial patterns in THg trends in biota from the Arctic? Few geographical patterns of recent trends in THg concentrations were observed; however, those in marine mammals tended to be increasing at more easterly longitudes, and those of seabirds tended to be increasing in the Northeast Atlantic; these should be interpreted with caution as geographic coverage remains variable. Trends of THg in freshwater fish were equally increasing and decreasing or non-significant while those in marine fish and mussels were non-significant or increasing. The statistical power to detect trends was greatly improved compared to the 2011 AMAP Mercury Assessment; 70% of the time series could detect a 5% annual change at the 5% significance level with power ≥ 80%, while in 2011 only 19% met these criteria. Extending existing time series, and availability of new, powerful time series contributed to these improvements, highlighting the need for annual monitoring, particularly given the spatial and temporal information needed to support initiatives such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Collecting the same species/tissues across different locations is recommended. Extended time series from Alaska and new data from Russia are also needed to better establish circumarctic patterns of temporal trends.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Morris, Adam D.; Northern Contaminants Program, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Gatineau, Canada
Wilson, Simon J.; Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Secretariat, The Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
Fryer, Rob J.; Marine Scotland, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Thomas, Philippe J.; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Andreasen, Birgitta; The Faroese Environment Agency, Argir, Faroe Islands
Blévin, Pierre; Akvaplan-niva AS, Tromsø, Norway
Bustamante, Paco; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France ; Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
Chastel, Olivier; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers en bois, France
Dietz, Rune; Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, Roskilde, Denmark
Evans, Marlene; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Canada
Evenset, Anita; Akvaplan-niva AS, Tromsø, Norway
Ferguson, Steven H.; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Canada ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Fort, Jérôme; Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, La Rochelle, France
Grémillet, David; Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS-La Rochelle Université, Villiers en bois, France ; Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
Houde, Magali; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Montreal, Canada
Letcher, Robert J.; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Loseto, Lisa; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Canada
Muir, Derek; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, Canada
Pinzone, Marianna ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Océanographie biologique
Poste, Amanda; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Tromsø, Norway
Routti, Heli; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
Sonne, Christian; Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, Roskilde, Denmark
Stern, Gary; Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Rigét, Frank F.; Aarhus University, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Ecoscience, Roskilde, Denmark
The research that produced the data used in the assessment was supported by a number of national monitoring programs and scientific agencies, but did not receive a specific grant to produce the AMAP assessment or this publication. The programs and agencies providing support included: Canada: Northern Contaminants Program (NCP, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands): Danish Environmental Support to the Arctic (DANCEA, formerly Danish Cooperation for Environment in the Arctic); Iceland: the Icelandic National Monitoring Programme; Norway: the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Research Council, the Fram Centre, Institut Polaire Français, French National Research Agency (ANR), Centre of Biological Studies Chizé (CEBC), BNP Paribas Foundation (SENSEI); Sweden: Swedish National Monitoring Programme for Contaminants in Biota. Additional funding for research on East Greenland little auks was provided by the French Polar Institute, the European Commission, and ARCTOX.We would like to thank the governments and national programs in the participating countries for funding and ongoing support of this work, and for contributions to logistical support for AMAP. We extend gratitude to all of the Northern and Arctic communities and local community councils and organizations such as the Hunters and Trappers Committees, Organizations and Associations for their contributions and support of research in their regions. Special thanks to all of the Northern and Indigenous hunters, project leaders, and participants for contributing their expertise and knowledge and for the collection of biological samples. In addition to the data sources referenced in the Supplemental Information, the following people/groups are thanked for their contributions to this study: Canada: Birgit Braune, Paloma Carvalho, Amber Gleason, Jane Kirk, Cortney Watt; Denmark/Greenland: Krishna Das, Sandra Drewes, Sigga Joensen; Faroe Islands: Katrin Hoydal; Norway: Jon Aars, Magnus Andersen, Aurore Aubail, Claus Bech, Jan Ove Bustnes, Andrew Derocher, Igor Eulaers, Eva Fuglei, Geir Wing Gabrielsen, Ingeborg Hallanger, Anna Lippold, Børge Moe, Sabrina Tartu, Øystein Wiig; Sweden: Sara Danielsson, Suzanne Faxneld; and others who voluntarily contributed data to the assessment through the ICES database. Gratitude is also extended to all past and present technicians, database managers and others that have contributed to building and maintaining these time series over the last several decades, including those at ICES for preparing data from the AMAP data archives.
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