David G. Roseneau, Paul R. Becker, Steven J. Christopher, Glenn K. Chen,W. Clay Davis, Rusty D. Day, Michael B. Ellisor, David Point, Rebecca S. Pugh, Kristin Simac, Stacy S. Vander Pol, and Geoffrey S. York

Long History of Using Seabird Eggs Long History of Using Seabird Eggs for Environmental Monitoring and for Environmental Monitoring and Research Research

Canadian Wildlife Service has used Canadian Wildlife Service has used seabird eggs for monitoring chemicals seabird eggs for monitoring chemicals in the environment since 1968in the environment since 1968

Advantages of using seabird eggs Advantages of using seabird eggs for monitoringfor monitoring

• Contain bioaccumulative contaminants Contain bioaccumulative contaminants • Representative of female exposureRepresentative of female exposure• Indicative of the contaminant burden of the Indicative of the contaminant burden of the

next generationnext generation• Relatively easily collectedRelatively easily collected• Relatively low inter-colony variabilityRelatively low inter-colony variability

(enhanced statistical power)(enhanced statistical power)

Factors to consider when using Factors to consider when using seabird eggsseabird eggs

• Effect of egg laying sequenceEffect of egg laying sequence• Representation of area (where bird is exposed)Representation of area (where bird is exposed)• Position of species in food webPosition of species in food web• Shifts in food sourceShifts in food source

­ Effect on contaminant concentration in the foodEffect on contaminant concentration in the food­ Effect on energy content of the foodEffect on energy content of the food

• Egg collection logistics Egg collection logistics

11

22

3344

55

6677

1.1. POPs - POPs - common murrecommon murre (Marth (Marth et al.et al. 2000) 2000)

2.2. POPs & PBDEs – POPs & PBDEs – common murrecommon murre (Bignert (Bignert et al.et al. 1995) 1995)PBDEs – PBDEs – common murrecommon murre (Kierkegaard (Kierkegaard et al.et al. 1999) 1999)

3.3. POPs & Hg - herring gull, POPs & Hg - herring gull, common & thick-billed murrecommon & thick-billed murre, black-legged kittiwake, , black-legged kittiwake, razorbill, puffinrazorbill, puffin (Barrett (Barrett et al.et al. 1985; 1996) 1985; 1996)

4.4. POPs & Hg - POPs & Hg - thick-billed murrethick-billed murre, black-legged , black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmarkittiwake, northern fulmar(Braune (Braune et al.et al. 2001; 2002) 2001; 2002)

5.5. POPs – herring gull (Elliott 1985; POPs – herring gull (Elliott 1985; Wakeford & Kasserra 1997; Wakeford & Kasserra 1997; Hebert 1999)Hebert 1999)

PBDEs – herring gullPBDEs – herring gull(Norstrom (Norstrom et al.et al. 2002) 2002)

6.6. First “biomagnifying natural First “biomagnifying natural POPs” reported - Leach’s POPs” reported - Leach’s storm petrel (Tittlemier storm petrel (Tittlemier et al.et al. 1999; 2002)*1999; 2002)*

7.7. Dioxin, PCBs, & PBDEs - Caspian, Dioxin, PCBs, & PBDEs - Caspian, Forsters, least ternForsters, least tern (She (She et al.et al. 2004) 2004)

*(halogenated dimethyl bypyrroles)*(halogenated dimethyl bypyrroles)

Use of Seabird Eggs for Environmental Use of Seabird Eggs for Environmental Monitoring in AlaskaMonitoring in Alaska

• Bering Sea & Gulf of Alaska - 15 species: geographic Bering Sea & Gulf of Alaska - 15 species: geographic comparison of POPs in 18 colonies from collections comparison of POPs in 18 colonies from collections during 1970s (Ohlendorf during 1970s (Ohlendorf et al.et al. 1982) 1982)

• Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, & Gulf of Alaska – herring, Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, & Gulf of Alaska – herring, glaucous, glaucous-winged gull: geographic glaucous, glaucous-winged gull: geographic comparisons of POPs and heavy metals in 5 colonies comparisons of POPs and heavy metals in 5 colonies (Jack and Martinez 2003)(Jack and Martinez 2003)

• Organohalogen Compounds (OCs):­ Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – 50 congeners­ DDT compounds - 6 dominated by 4,4’-DDE­ Chlordane compounds - 5 dominated by trans-nonachlor and

oxychlordane­ Heptachlor epoxide­ Dieldrin­ Hexachlorobenezene (HCB)­ Hexachlorocyclohexane (-, -, -)­ Mirex­ Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) – 11 congeners

• Metals and Organometallic Compounds:­ Mercury, methylmercury, butyltin compounds (mono-, di-, tri-)

St. Lazaria I.Viesokoi Rock

Hooper Bay

Little Diomede I.

Bogoslof I.

St. George I.

East Amatuli I.

Colonies with analytical resultsColonies with analytical results

Noatak

Thick-billed murres (Thick-billed murres (Uria lomviaUria lomvia))Common murres (Common murres (U. aalgeU. aalge))Glaucous gulls (Glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreusLarus hyperboreus))Glaucous-winged gulls (Glaucous-winged gulls (L. glaucescensL. glaucescens))

Togiak

OCsHg, MeHgButyl-Sn

OCsHg, MeHg

OCsPBDEsHg, MeHgButyl-Sn

OCsHg, MeHgButyl-Sn

Butyl-SnMeHg

OCsHg, MeHgButyl-Sn

Butyl-SnMeHg

Butyl-SnMeHg

OCs

OCs

St. Lawrence I.

Cape Lisburne

Why murres?Why murres?

Global distribution

Do not migrate great distances

Diving fish feeders

Lay large single egg

Eggs important in subsistence diets

COMUCOMU

TBMUTBMU

Why gulls?Why gulls?

Global distribution

Feed on:­ fish and invertebrates ­ other bird’s eggs ­ garbage dumps ­ animal carcasses

Eggs important in subsistence diets

2 - 3 egg clutch2 - 3 egg clutch

GWGUGWGU

GLGUGLGU

Geographic Patterns?Geographic Patterns?

n=9n=9

n=11n=11

n=11n=11n=9n=9

n=10n=10East Amatuli I.East Amatuli I.

St. George I.St. George I.

Bogoslof I.Bogoslof I.

Little DiomedeLittle Diomede

Total Mercury, Common MurresTotal Mercury, Common MurresFrom: Christopher From: Christopher et al.et al. 2002 2002

> 95 % in the form > 95 % in the form of methyl-Hgof methyl-Hg

St. Lazaria I.St. Lazaria I.

n=9n=9

n=11n=11

n=11n=11

n=9n=9

n=10n=10

From: Vander Pol From: Vander Pol et al.et al. 2004 2004

Common MurresCommon Murres

Gulf of AlaskaGulf of AlaskaBering SeaBering Sea

From: Vander Pol From: Vander Pol et al.et al. 2004 2004& Vander Pol, unpublished& Vander Pol, unpublishedCommon & Thick-billed MurresCommon & Thick-billed Murres

Chu

kchi

Sea

Chu

kchi

Sea

Total MercuryTotal Mercury

BO = Bogoslof IBO = Bogoslof ILD = Little Diomede ILD = Little Diomede ISG = St. George ISG = St. George IEA = East Amatuli IEA = East Amatuli ISL = St. Lazaria ISL = St. Lazaria ICO = Common murreCO = Common murreTB = Thick-billed murreTB = Thick-billed murre

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Eg

g m

g/g

Hg

BOCOBOCOLDCOLDCO

SGCOSGCO SGTBSGTB

BOTBBOTB EACOEACOSLCOSLCO19991999

SLCOSLCO20012001 SLTBSLTB

Bering SeaBering Sea Gulf of AlaskaGulf of Alaska

From: Christopher From: Christopher et al.et al. 2002; 2002;Day, Day, et al.et al. in press in press

Common MurreCommon Murre

Thick-Billed MurreThick-Billed Murre

Stora KarlsöStora Karlsö

E. Finmark & Kola PeninsulaE. Finmark & Kola PeninsulaSvaldbardSvaldbard

Prince Leopold I.Prince Leopold I.

Farrallon I.Farrallon I.

STAMP ColoniesSTAMP Colonies

Comparisons to Comparisons to other coloniesother colonies

CA, USA1993

Norway1992-1993

Alaska, USA1999-2000

E. Canada19981993

± 91

ng

/g w

et m

ass

CO CO COCOCOCOCOCO TB TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB SP

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

28 47 100 99 154 153 183

BDE congener

ng

/g w

et m

ass

+/- 13.47

Common Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEsPolybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs

Wide variation in values; no significant differences between species; BDEs 17, 71, 66, 85, and 138 were below the limit of detection

From: Vander Pol, unpublishedFrom: Vander Pol, unpublished

St. Lazaria I., Gulf of Alaska

Species Differences?Species Differences?

From: Vander Pol From: Vander Pol et al.et al. 2004; Vander Pol unpublished; Day 2004; Vander Pol unpublished; Day et al.et al. in press in press

MurresMurres

Hg: Hg: St. Lazaria – COMU > TBMUSt. Lazaria – COMU > TBMUBogoslof & St. George – TBMU > COMUBogoslof & St. George – TBMU > COMU

OCs:OCs: St. Lazaria – COMU = TBMUSt. Lazaria – COMU = TBMUBogoslof & St. George – TBMU > COMUBogoslof & St. George – TBMU > COMU (except for HCB) (except for HCB)

Murres sampled in 1999Murres sampled in 1999Gulls sampled in 2005Gulls sampled in 2005Pelicans sampled in 2005Pelicans sampled in 2005

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

CommonMurre(1999)

GlaucousGull (2005)

CommonMurre(1999)

GlaucousGull (2005)

Glaucous-Winged

Gull (2005)

CommonMurre(1999)

CommonMurre(1999)

Glaucous-Winged

Gull (2005)

BrownPelican(2005)

Org

anot

ins

spec

ies

(pg

(Sn)

.g-1,

wet

MBT DBT TBT

Common Common murremurre

Little Little DiomedeDiomede

n=6n=6

CommonCommonmurremurre

St. St. George I. George I.

n=6n=6

CommonCommonmurremurre

East East Amatuli I. Amatuli I.

n=6n=6

CommonCommonmurremurre

St. St. Lazaria I. Lazaria I.

n=7n=7

Glaucous Glaucous gullgull

NoatakNoatakn=5n=5

Glaucous Glaucous gullgull

Hooper Hooper BayBayn=5n=5

GlaucousGlaucous-winged -winged

gullgull

TogiakTogiakn=6n=6

GlaucousGlaucous-winged -winged

gullgull

SitkaSitkan=5n=5

Brown Brown pelicanpelican

Charleston, Charleston, SCSCn=2n=2

Organotin CompoundsOrganotin Compounds

MBT = monobutyltinMBT = monobutyltinDBT = dibutyltinDBT = dibutyltinTBT = tributyltinTBT = tributyltin

Chukchi SeaChukchi Sea Bering SeaBering Sea Gulf of AlaskaGulf of Alaska AtlanticAtlantic

Temporal Trends?Temporal Trends?

Bogoslof I.

St. George I.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

4,4'-DDE Cis-nonachlor Dieldrin HCB Heptachlor epox Oxychlordane

0

50

100

150

200

250 4,4'-DDE Dieldrin HCB Heptachlor epox Oxychlordane

+ 266

1973-76 1999

1973-76 2000

*

**

*Values are ng/g wet mass

From: Ohlendorf et al. 1982 & Vander Pol et al. 2004

St. George I.

Bogoslof I.

• For most OCs & Hg: Gulf of Alaska > Bering Sea For most OCs & Hg: Gulf of Alaska > Bering Sea (HCB shows a reverse pattern) (HCB shows a reverse pattern)

• OCs & Hg: Alaska murres OCs & Hg: Alaska murres murres from other parts of murres from other parts of the northern hemispherethe northern hemisphere

• Differences in TBMU vs COMU vary by regionDifferences in TBMU vs COMU vary by region

• Organotin: murres > gullsOrganotin: murres > gulls

• Too early to see temporal trendsToo early to see temporal trends

• Difficult to compare to 1970s work of Ohlendorf, but Difficult to compare to 1970s work of Ohlendorf, but contemporary murres generally have lower OCs, except contemporary murres generally have lower OCs, except for HCBfor HCB

Summary - MurresSummary - Murres

Based on recommendations resulting from the STAMP Long-Range Planning Workshop held at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitors Center, Homer, Alaska, February 2005

St. Lazaria I.

St. George I.

Improve temporal trends informationImprove temporal trends information

Thick-billed murresThick-billed murresCommon murresCommon murres

Gulf of AlaskaGulf of Alaska

Chukchi SeaChukchi Sea

Cape Lisburne

Bering SeaBering Sea

St. Lazaria I.Viesokoi Rock

Hooper Bay

Gull I.

Middleton I.

Establish baseline data on gullsEstablish baseline data on gulls

Noatak R. Delta

Glaucous gullsGlaucous gullsGlaucous-winged gullsGlaucous-winged gulls

Safety SoundPenny R.

Ualik Lake

Kikertalik Lake

Shaiak I.

St. Lazaria I.

St. Lawrence I.

Middleton I.

St. George I.

East Amatuli I.

Improve geographical trends informationImprove geographical trends information

Cape Lisburne

Thick-billed murresThick-billed murresCommon murresCommon murres

2003 Common murres2003 Common murresGulf of AlaskaGulf of Alaska

2002 Thick-billed murres2002 Thick-billed murres

Additional AnalytesAdditional Analytes

Hexabromochlorododecane (HBCD) – another BFR

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) – PFOS; PFOA, etc.

Stable isotopes – trophic position

Fatty acids– food web/prey selection differences

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Funding: USGS/BRD, USFWS, NIST, BIA, NPRB

Partners and Collaborators: Point Hope IRA Council—Earl Kingik, Wildlife and Parks Director and Russel Lane, resident); Maniilaq Association—Enoch Schiedt and residents of Deering; Little Diomede Island residents; Kawerak Inc.—Austin Ahmasuk, Subsistence Director, and residents of Nome and Shaktoolik; St. Lawrence Island (Brandon Waghiyi and local residents); Paimiut Traditional Council—Albert Simon, Hooper Bay; Native Village of Mekoryuk—Marvin Kiokun, Natural Resources Director; Togiak Traditional Council—Francisca Kamkapak, Tribal Environmental Program Manager and Peter Lockuk Sr.; St. George Traditional Council—Anthony Merculieff, Executive Director, and Andy Malavansky, Island Sentinel; Sitka Tribe and Jack Lorrrigan, Tribal Fisheries Biologist; Loran Buck, Kodiak local biologist; Seldovia Tribe—Michael Opheim, Environmental Coordinator and Paul McCollum, Seldovia Tribe Environmental Program Consultant; Nick Tanape Sr., Traditional Ecological Knowledge Specialist, Nanwalek; Paul McCollum, Nanwalek IRA Council Environmental Program Consultant; University of Alaska; USGS/BRD; USFWS; BIA; ADF&G; Canadian Wildlife Service.

Special Thanks to: Glenn Chen (BIA); Vern Byrd (USFWS); Tony DeGange (USGS-BRD); Michael Smolen, WWF; Lyman Thorsteinson (USGS-BRD); Minerals Management Service (MMS)