Duration of parental care in avian species varies widely, from altricial to precocial species. The seabird family Alcidae is unique among birds in the variation of mass and age at nest departure. The common guillemot Uria aalge exhibits an intermediate nest departure, where chicks leave the nest flightless and only at a quarter of adult body size. The aim of this study was to examine factors controlling ...

Birds are endothermic homeotherms that regulate internal metabolic heat production to keep a stable body core temperature. Lung ventilation, which is required to obtain oxygen for metabolism, is potentially a large source for heat and water loss. In a polar habitat with low year-round temperatures and scarcity of food in the winter, conservation of heat and water is crucial for survival of the ...

The apicomplexan parasites including the causative agents of malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii) are running the risk of developing resistance to existing drugs. Members of the phylum Apicomplexa harbour a relict plastid, the apicoplast, which show homology to the chloroplasts of plants and algae. The apicoplast appears to be indispensable to the parasites, and due to its ...

The Earth is in constant movement around the Sun – this has created environments with changing light throughout the day and year. Through evolution animals have adapted to this change in light and circadian and circannual rhythms have evolved to enhance fitness and survival. Animals living in the Arctic region have a different relationship to light changes as for several months a year the Sun ...

Fjords are important high latitudes ecosystems, many have beside planctonic ones, a unique ecosystem associated with seasonal ice cover. During the development of the spring season conditions, two major type of primary producers contribute highly to the biomass production: sea-ice algae inhabiting brine channels and bottom surface of the ice (sympagic algae) and phytoplankton, living in the water ...

Zonation patterns within a high Arctic, hard bottom community within the Hinlopen Strait, Svalbard were investigated using image analysis of underwater photoquadrates. This long term study consists of depth transects taken over a six year period were on a sublittoral vertical wall permanent monitoring station. Analysis indicated that the depth in which the greatest number of species occurred increased ...

Mercury (Hg) is considered as a global threat which is emitted in the environment through natural sources or anthropogenic activities. Emissions of mercury decreased during the last decades because of the implementation of mitigation measures. However, with the ongoing climate change, ecosystems are directly (e.g., rising temperature) or indirectly impacted (i.e., altered ecosystem by e.g., invasive ...

The present study investigates concentrations and temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) from Svalbard, Norway, adjusted for sex, age, body condition, diet, reindeer mortality and sea ice coverage. Number of reindeer carcasses in Adventdalen and sea ice coverage of Isfjorden in the spring preceding the trapping season were used as indexes for climate ...

In 2019, a new species of sucking louse was observed in arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) on Svalbard and Northern Canada. Abnormal patterns of fur loss, inconsistent with normal moult, were observed across the neck, shoulders and back, raising concerns as to how the animals would cope with damaged fur during the cold Arctic winter. This study investigates the impact of these lice on Svalbard arctic ...

Peatlands constitute the largest natural reservoir of carbon on the planet making them key components in the global carbon balance. Peatlands are mostly found in the northern hemisphere under cold conditions. As the world is warming and arctic peatlands are becoming heavily influenced by increasing temperatures, an increased interest in the peat soil microbial systems have arisen. Methane, a potent ...