Polycyclic aromatic compounds in a northern freshwater ecosystem: Patterns, sources, and the influences of environmental factors

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) - a large group of organic chemicals naturally present in petroleum deposits (i.e., petrogenic) or released into the environment by incomplete combustion of organic materials (i.e., pyrogenic) - represent a potential risk to the health of aquatic ecosystems. In high latitude freshwater ecosystems, concentrations of PACs may be increasing, yet there are limited studies in such systems to assess change and to understand threats. Using 10 years of contemporary data from passive samplers deployed across five regions (n = 43 sites) in the Mackenzie River Basin, we (i) describe baseline levels of PACs, (ii) assess spatiotemporal patterns, and (iii) evaluate the extent to which environmental factors (fire, snowmelt, and proximity to oil infrastructure) influence concentrations in this system. Measured concentrations were low, relative to those in more southern systems, with mixtures primarily being dominated by non-alkylated, low molecular weight compounds. Concentrations were spatially consistent, except for two sites near Norman Wells (an area of active oil extraction) with increased levels. Similarly, observed annual variation was minimal, with 2014 having generally higher levels of PACs. We did not detect effects of fire, snowmelt, or oil infrastructure on concentrations. Taken together, our findings suggest that PACs in the Mackenzie River are currently at low levels and are primarily petrogenic in origin. They further indicate that ongoing monitoring and testing of environmental drivers (especially at finer spatial scales) are needed to better predict how ecosystem change will influence PAC levels in the basin and in other northern systems.

Sources of exposure to lead in Arctic and subarctic regions: a scoping review

Understanding lead exposure pathways is a priority because of its ubiquitous presence in the environment as well as the potential health risks. We aimed to identify potential lead sources and pathways of lead exposure, including long-range transport, and the magnitude of exposure in Arctic and subarctic communities. A scoping review strategy and screening approach was used to search literature from January 2000 to December 2020. A total of 228 academic and grey literature references were synthesised. The majority of these studies (54%) were from Canada. Indigenous people in Arctic and subarctic communities in Canada had higher levels of lead than the rest of Canada. The majority of studies in all Arctic countries reported at least some individuals above the level of concern. Lead levels were influenced by a number of factors including using lead ammunition to harvest traditional food and living in close proximity to mines. Lead levels in water, soil, and sediment were generally low. Literature showed the possibility of long-range transport via migratory birds. Household lead sources included lead-based paint, dust, or tap water. This literature review will help to inform management strategies for communities, researchers, and governments, with the aim of decreasing lead exposure in northern regions.

Good neighbors? Does aggregation of nests in an Arctic-breeding shorebird influence daily survival rates?

Our current understanding of the factors that influence where birds nest is incomplete, yet such information is important for accurate demographic assessments. To address questions related to spatial distributions of shorebird nests and to evaluate factors that may affect nest distribution in these species, during 2017 and 2019, we studied a small population of semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla breeding in the Central Canadian Arctic, near the Karrak Lake Research Station, in Nunavut. The spatial distribution of semipalmated sandpiper nests at this site suggested loose aggregation, with median nearest neighbor distances of 73.8 m and 92.0 m in 2017 and 2019, respectively, while no nests were detected on mainland areas in the vicinity. Evidence for the influence of nesting distribution on the daily survival rate of nests, however, was mixed. Neither nearest neighbor distance nor local nest density had a significant effect on daily nest survival in 2017, but in 2019, the best approximating model included an effect of local nest density, which indicated that nests in areas of high density had reduced survival rates. Contrary to other studies assessing settlement and nest site selection in semipalmated sandpipers, the spatial distribution of nests in this population demonstrates aggregation in an otherwise territorial species, but suggests that aggregated nesting can impose a cost on nest survival under certain conditions.

Incubation temperature and PCB-126 exposure interactively impair shorebird embryo and post-hatch development

In oviparous wildlife, many critical physiological and behavioural components are strongly influenced by the embryonic and early post-hatch developmental environment. As such, early life stages in these species are highly vulnerable to both natural and anthropogenic stressors. For example, in birds, incubation temperature may influence the rate of egg development while also affecting contaminant metabolism and absorption in body tissues, resulting in potentially multiplicative impacts on embryonic and posthatch development. We tested the hypothesis that cumulative effects of early contaminant exposure and temperature stress can negatively affect avian development and may have interactive effects that are more detrimental than either stressor individually. Using a controlled egg injection and incubation study on killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), eggs were exposed to a known endocrine disruptor, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126) and incubated at either low (36 °C), intermediate (37.5 °C), or high (39 °C) temperatures. Our results indicated that eggs incubated at low temperature had earlier detection of heartbeat, longer incubation length, lower growth rate post-hatch, and higher post-hatch mortality, compared to eggs incubated under intermediate temperatures. Higher incubation temperatures resulted in shorter incubation length, earlier detection of heart rate and faster righting time. As predicted, embryo and chick mortality were greater in the PCB-dosed birds incubated at intermediate and high temperatures. Incidence of distended yolk sacs (%) also increased with PCB exposure in all temperature groups, with the largest increase in the high temperature group. Overall, our results show that low incubation temperature can cause greater adverse effects than PCB-126 exposure alone, but that negative effects of PCB-126 exposure are exacerbated by high incubation temperatures. These findings suggest that in natural settings, shorebird embryos may be more susceptible to contaminant exposure when incubated at temperatures either below or above the apparent optimum.

An outbreak of West Nile virus infection in captive lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) ducklings

This report describes West Nile virus (WNV)-associated mortality in captive lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) ducklings that occurred in Saskatchewan, Canada, in July and August 2007. There were no clinical signs or gross necropsy findings suggestive of the cause of death; however, microscopic lesions were consistent with WNV infection, including nonsuppurative encephalitis and myocardial, pancreatic, and splenic necrosis. Necrosis of the thymus and thyroid was also observed in some birds, which has not previously been reported in association with WNV infection. Immunohistochemistry revealed WNV antigen in multiple tissues, including thymus and thyroid, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction resulted in the identification of WNV gene sequence in all of the ducklings that were tested. This outbreak is of interest because waterfowl (Anseriformes) are not thought to be particularly susceptible to WNV, and there is little information about WNV infection in prefledging birds. The apparent susceptibility of lesser scaup to WNV demonstrated in this study may have implications for declining lesser scaup populations in the wild.